What are the differences between a 4x5 Crown Graphic and same but with word: "Special' on front?

In order to make a common Crown into a Special. Remove the ektar lens, replace it with a Rodenstock Xenar 135mm, occasionally add a left hand shutter release bracket that looks identical to a two piece electrical cord strain relief, and drop the price $20.

yes "specials" were cheaper than normal cameras when they came out. I don't know if that is because the lens is not as good, or if the deutchmark vs dollar was so lopsided at the time.

TO LES....Thanks....again you told me what I wanted to know!

I've checked the latest McKeown's guide and it states that it's the same as the Pacemaker but sold with Schneider Xenar f4.5/135mm lens, rangefinder/viewfinder mounted on top and Synchro-Compur 1-500,B.
This description matches the one i own except that the lens is 4.7 and not 4.5 as is stated on the guide.

My apologies. I said Rodenstock I meant Scheider. Most models were in Syncro-Compur the very late models have a Rodenstock Xenar in a copal shutter, but these are rare.

Les, can you further describe this "left hand shutter release bracket that looks identical to a two piece electrical cord strain relief"? I've never seen a pacemaker that didn't have the right-hand release bracket. Was it in addition to that? Was it a cable release?

Inquiring mind wants to know!

No it's not a cable release, its just a "thingy" that was supposed to hold an old style cable release--the kind with a small dia fixed part, no screw lock or collar lock.

The cable release simply slipped into the U-shaped part so your left thumb could trigger the shutter. I had one on my special when I first got it. Mine was mounted with one small wood screw to a point just above and behind the leather handle. I'm gonna try to post an image stolen from the public research library aka ebay. This is of a century and they mounted it on top. This was a 10 cent item to Graflex and in no way changed the design of the body.






<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Les on 2002-02-03 20:37 ]</font>

Thanks. Now I understand. I had one of those installed on a Century I bought, and on a 45 TR Crown [not a Special]. Must have been an available accessory. They do work well.