1953 Crown Graphic. Cord attached to Solenoid on Camera and Solenoid Input on Glaflite set to either N or 1. Shutter trips but no flash.

Flash does work when Shutter to Shutter connect in place.

1) Is there a fix?
2) What is the advantage of using the the Solenoid anyway?
3) Unrelated dopey non -flash question. When setting the speed on the camera, are the shutter speeds absolute. eg. if you set the shutter between 200 and 400, does it shoot at 300? (as i said "dopey question"

1. http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/GrafliteManual.pdf
Problem in the graflite, switch contacts corroded. Disassemble, clean contacts, reassemble. The fact that the flash fires connected direct to the shutter contacts verifies that the bulb contacts are working.
http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/GrafliteService.pdf
or http://www.southbristolviews.com/ click on Graflex Manuals in the left plane.

2. Flash sync with shutters that have no flash sync contacts.
http://graflex.org/helpboard/viewtopic.php?t=1453
Remote/ electronic shutter release.

3. No. The speed ring on most shutters adjust the delay gearing and is not linear. You would have to experiment with exposures or a shutter speed tester to find a intermediate point that would have the desired speed consistently.

added 8-16
I took a look at the instruction book (first link ) pages 11 and 12. Switch set to N, cord from solenoid socket to solenoid, bulb in bulb socket-press red button on Graflite-bulb should fire and shutter should open fully by the time the bulb in use reaches its peak.
Switch set to 1, cord from solenoid socket to solenoid, cord from shutter flash sync terminals to Graflite shutter socket, bulb in bulb socket-pushing red button on Graflite trips shutter via the solenoid, shutter flash sync fires the bulb.

If the bulb fires with no cords connected and switch at N but not with cords attached then the switch contacts are corroded and need cleaning for the Graflite to function properly.

I like to use mine as simply an electronic shutter release. Having the Graflite Handle attached to the camera gives an excellent place to use your right hand to augment holding the camera with two hands.. I also set up my 1953 Crown by a bird feeder and use a long extension cord connected to the battery case for remote exposure.

When using electronic flash, the handle is the ONLY convenient way to hold the camera with only the right hand and trip the shutter, while you are handholding the electronic flash (attached via a sync cord to the shutter) with your left hand..

It is still a usable attachment after all these years.