Looks like a crown, what does it say on the top bar that holds the lens board in, but again, I am almost sure it is a crown. I would like to see a straight on frontal as well as a pic of the rear.

Dave

That's what I was thinking too, but couldn't read what the front said. I'm very new to large format and don't know much yet, but I'm reading and learning.

Take a look at the link again I posted a couple more pics.

Thanks for your help!!!!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: gunslinger on 2006-12-10 00:31 ]</font>

Looks to be a Pacemaker Crown...take a look at the camera section on the website, pretty comprehensive description of most of the models.

Dave

It is a 2x3 SPEED! Look closely at the bottom picture. There is a raised section just behind the Kalart RF and at the bottom is a light dot which is the govenor selection lever, if the body was smooth from the front shutter release to the rear it would be a Crown. I almost missed the raised section also but caught it on second look. It is a 2x3 as the solenoid is mounted horizionally above the lens, this was only done on the 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 cameras due to the small size of the front standard and lens boards. With the graphic back it is most likely a 1947 to 1951 version.

I can see in the photos that the lens is a Wollensak 135mm in Graphex #2 shutter.
The camera body is a Pacemaker Speed Graphic 45 (4x5") with the traditional Graphic Spring back (as oposed to the modern Graflok international back with removable focussing panel and accessory slide locks).
Or is it a 3x4?



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: troublemaker on 2006-12-10 01:46 ]</font>

It appears to be Pacemaker Speed Graphic 454 ($x5 format), pre-1955.

Pacemaker: The principal clue is the presence of the body release; the focal plane shutter control panel also appears to be of the Pacemaker type.

Speed (vs. Crown) - We can see the the focal plane shutter control panel.

45 (4x5) - We can tell the case size by the relative portion of the case height taken up by length of the side rangefinder.

(One respondent has suggested that it is a 23 (2x3) owing to top mounting of the Kalart solenoid, certainly common on the 2x3 size, but the case/rangefinder proportions don't jibe with that.)

pre-1955 - Indicated by the side (rather than top) rangefinder; it moved to the top in 1955 on the 4x5 size machines.

I'll go along with Doug, but add that it's probably a pre-1950. Somewhere between '47 and 55 Graflex moved from leather to leatherette. My Korean War Speed with o.d. green cover is leatherette and I'm assuming it was made around '50 or '51, and this one is certainly leather. It's at least a pre '52 as that's when they started putting buckles on the handles.

The solenoid mount is also unusual. The solenoid isn't mounted to the top of the camera like a 2x3, but mounted on a fairly large flat piece of sheetmetal that is mounted behind the lens. It's one of the few set ups where the solenoid pushes the trip lever rather than pulls it.

Thanks everyone for the replies. It sounds like this is a 4x5 speed graphic? What's your opinion on buying this for my first large format camera? Seller doesn't know if it works or not, he is not a photographer. What is a good average price to expect?

Also, been looking at a lot of camera's and saw one with a reddish color bellows. Does that mean anything? All of the ones I have been looking at have had black bellows.

Thanks again for all the replies keep 'em coming if you see/think of anything else.

Are the bellows light tight?
What lens/shutter is attached?
Does the front (lens shutter) work properly?
Does the Focal Plane Shutter work?

Things one needs to know to give an honest appraisal.