I have one of these on the line, and am puzzled by one thing about the camera. The lid is hinged at the back, and none of the references I have say they were made that way. All the books show pictures of cameras with the lids hinged at the front. While I have not received the camera yet, the photo of it sure looks as though it was made with the back hinged lid.

Did the factory make them both ways? This camera appears to be a late one, with the rectangular hardware on the right side of the body.

In the book A Review of Graflex looking at pictures only 60% of Graflex SLR cameras had their view hood covers hinged at the rear and 40% hinged at the front. The picture of a 3 1/4x5 1/2 is hinged at the front. Production range 1915-1925. 5x7 (1916-1925) Body sold for $90 in 1916. Shutter control plates changed to rectangular shape in 1921. It had a durability problem due to extra light baffles needed to make it compact.

The rear folding view hoods were introduced on F&S cameras prior to 1923, so it would not seem impractical to find them on any model that was produced thru 1925, and it would be a simple modification to make with the stationary back...maybe special order???
Have a nice day.....Bert

I now have the camera and it sure looks like it was built with the rear-hinged lid. So I guess they made them both ways. The latest patent date is '17, but I'll ask Gandalf to date it and we will see if it is a late one.

Bert:

Elsewhere I believe you said that you used neatsfoot oil, even on synthetic materials. The hood on this camera needs some attention, but it looks to be some kind of synthetic over fabric. I had not seen anything but leather on Graflexes this old, so thats a bit puzzling. The hood is, as usual, stiff and a bit brittle. I wanted to check with you before giving it the neatsfoot oil treatment. If it is synthetic, I'm not sure what else to use on it except maybe the lemon pledge.

I've removed my focus hood, saturated it internally and externally with Lemon pledge and wiped the excesss off 2 hours later with a 50% to 60% inprovement in softness.(ready to crack and disintegrate to useable.)

_________________
While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a quality photograph is worth a million.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-11-22 23:26 ]</font>