My 1944 Anniversary Speed Graphic (4x5) had been retrofit with a Graflok back. I have bought on eBay a Graphic ("spring") back to put it back into more nearly original configuration. The back (not here yet) evidently has no focusing hood. I have a couple of 4x5 Graflok focusing hoods. Is it likely that these will fit the Graphic back?

Probably not, the spring back had a focus hood incorperated into it that was not removable, the graflok backs had a metal removable hood that snaps in and out on the sides, the hinge on the spring back was screwed right into the back and the side curtins screw under the mounting strips for the ground glass..so not a good chance here.

Dave

Hi, Dave,

Quote:

On 2006-08-08 08:11, Rangemaster wrote: Probably not, the spring back had a focus hood incorperated into it that was not removable, the graflok backs had a metal removable hood that snaps in and out on the sides, the hinge on the spring back was screwed right into the back and the side curtins screw under the mounting strips for the ground glass..so not a good chance here.

Makes sense. I have to find some pix.

It may be that the back I bought is some funny kind (oh, great!). The pictuyre shows, on the clips that hold the GG, the little tabs into whoich the latches for the removable hood go on a Graflok back (for example).

Of course, this back has obviously had some p[eculiar experiances, so who knows what mismatched parts are in it!

Here's a link to the pic:

http://i15.ebayimg.com/02/i/07/d1/5b/b0_1_b.JPG

But I see here what you are talking about:

http://nove111.lunarpages.net/aug1k.jpg

This is a Pacemaker Crown, so that is obviously not the original back. (It's probably the kind I should have for my Anny!)

Maybe there are two vintages of Graphic back, the newer ones (used for retrofit) with a removable hood.

Oh, well, as my wife Carla says, "This is learn by buying"!

Thanks for your insight.

Best regards,

Doug

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Doug Kerr on 2006-08-08 09:16 ]</font>

I think there were two versions of the "Graphic" spring back, the older one with a fixed hood featuring two cloth curtains on the sides, and a newer one with the same removable all-metal hood design as the later "Graflok" hood. If this is so, it would be reasonable to suppose that the late-model "Graphic" hoods would fit forward onto the "Graflok" focus panels. But Graflex did not always do rational things like that!

Doug,

If the first picture is the back you purchased, then you did get one of the later backs that used the removable hood, if thats the case, you should be okay to go, it looks in the image, that that graphic back as been mounted to a back for another type of camera, I can see the mounting screws very clearly in the back and it seems to be grafted to another back, if that is the case, you should be able to remove it and attach to your camera without any problems..

Dave

Hi, Dave,

Quote:

On 2006-08-08 11:41, Rangemaster wrote: . . . it looks in the image, that that graphic back as been mounted to a back for another type of camera, I can see the mounting screws very clearly in the back and it seems to be grafted to another back . . .

Yes, we suspect it has been grafted to the back of some larger view camera.

I think it will work out.

Thanks again.

Best regards,

Doug

I wouldn't be surpised if it fit a Kodak 5x7 2D.

Hi, Les,

Quote:

On 2006-08-08 14:53, Les wrote: I wouldn't be surpised if it fit a Kodak 5x7 2D.

Good thought. Looks about the right size, certainly.

Best regards,

Doug