Greetings.

I recently picked up a near pristine 4x5
Autograflex. I think this is an early one
since the last patent date is 1909. The
leather is near perfect and the bellow is
light tight. It is missing the back, so
I'm looking at finding a Graphic back or just
the springs, so I can come up with a back.

I have a nice Anniversary Speed Graphic with
a Graphic back that I could remove and put on this camera, but I don't want to go back & forth, since it would tear up the screw holes.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Anthony

Patent dates are not reliable for dating a camera.

First off Patents were good for 17 years, so a camera from 1926 (1909+17) would have the same patent date.

After 17 years, the patent expires and there is no need to have the date on their. But graflex is notorious for pinching pennies. If it cost them something to remove it, the often times did not, so you could see that patent date on post '26 cameras.

If you can find a 5 or 6 digit serial number stamped into the wood (not on a metal plate) post it here. You might try looking on the underside of the lid.

les

Afraid the backs on these two cameras are not interchangable--about the only solution
is a parts camera with the back on it--very rare to find!

Thanks for the useful replies.

The smaller 3x4 Graflex has been "adapted" with two Graphic metal clips at the top & bottom and a rectangular piece of wood to hold the clips. It nicely accepts a standard 3x4 Graphic sheet film holder; I've shot some negs with this setup and they came out just fine.

Since this camera is missing its leather viewing hood, I could use it as a "parts camera" for the springs for the 4x5 Autograflex and make a similar wooden back. Or I could try to fabricate the springs out of a thin strip of metal if I can't find similar springs.

Anthony

If you fabricate springs, you need some high carbon steel.... or as it is appropriately called "spring steel".

Two solutions, find a blacksmith to help you, or find some spring stock yourself... a hacksaw blade is the right kind of steel, but it may require some heat treating after fabrication. An old trick is to heat it red hot, shape it on an anvil, quench it in water, and then dip it in oil, then sawdust and set it on fire.

Now, I've done some blacksmithing... springs are hard to make, especially small ones. If I were you, I would try to find some parts or get a pro to make the springs for you.

Good Luck

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: daleraby on 2001-12-03 13:53 ]</font>