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RB Series B date & ????
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AuthorMessage
45PSS
Joined: 28 Sep 2001
Posts: 4081
PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 4:16 am

Seller said it's a '23 and by simular serial numbers suggest late'22 to early '23.
s/n 119544
Handle is missing from top. Bertsaunders said that different sizes were used for the same model. Distance between rivets centers is 1 3/8 inches with a length <strike out> 5 27/32</strike out> 4 55/64 (4.485) inches. Anyone care to measure theirs and give me a total length of the handle?
Thanks,
Charles

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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-08-21 17:55 ]</font>
camz
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 138
PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 5:07 pm

Is this an RB Series B 4x5? Mine is 1-3/8" between the rivets (small strap) and 4-13/16"
lengthwise. Overall, the strap is 7" long.
Serial No, is #125231.
camz
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 138
PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 5:10 pm

Also, #132074, same measurements exactly. Are you reproducing these handles and straps?
45PSS
Joined: 28 Sep 2001
Posts: 4081
PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 1:00 am

1). It is a 4x5 RB series B.
2). I corrected the measurement in origional post.
3). I'm considering getting some from Bert Saunders, member bertsaunders, and do not know if he has them pre made or uses supplied measurements to make new ones. The handle is missing from mine, only the rivets from the old remain.
camz
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 138
PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 3:18 am

How's the rest of the camera? Hood, bellows, curtain?
45PSS
Joined: 28 Sep 2001
Posts: 4081
PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 2:29 am

After soaking with a half a can of Lemon Pledge soft, pliagble, dieing for some film opposed to dirty, dry and cracking with moveables sticking. I soaked the view hood inside and out, softened it up enough to use, it would have cracked and fallen apart without. I put a few drops of TriFlow on the shutter roller ends and adjusted the tension easily.
camz
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 138
PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:23 pm

Sounds good. I'm looking for other lenses which will fit the RB Series B lensboard. Quite a few of the 7-1/2 inch lenses from that period appear to have the same size and thread. I was curious if other B owners have experience with lenses other than the standard Anastigmat.
camz
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 138
PostPosted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 5:18 pm

The real problem with these handles on the reflex models is that the retaining straps are only a single piece of leather, and not sewn. Consequently, they become dried out, worn, and eventually fail. Because they are riveted to the top, replacement is problematic. So, the old handles just get tossed. You wonder why Graflex didn't make them as robustly as they did the handles.

I do have one replacement handle which incorporates both the handle and the straps into one piece. I think this is a better solution for a user camera, because it distributes the load more evenly along the handle.
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