Hi everyone first time post.

I recently bought a Pre anniversary speed graphic but i'm having trouble finding anyone who has restored them.

I am looking for some spare parts but most sources i've came across have passed away.

The bellows and focal plane shutter are pin hole'd so they need to be replaced. Has anyone made their own bellows? How hard was it and is there any plans online? Same with the focal plane shutter. The old one is in 1 piece so i could make some new ones. What is the best material to use? I've heard rubberised silk is the way to go.

thanks!

Hello Andrew,

Your existing bellows can be used as a pattern to make your own bellows
you just need material that's light proof and thin, they're not that hard
to make compared to a larger view camera. If it's just pin holes in the corners
black electrical tape can be used to seal them.

Book binding suppliers may have the covering you need for bellows making
the inner liner can be pneumatic cloth from Player Piano Company ( call them )
or you can use ThorLab's blackout cloth ( not recommended for a shutter curtain too thin )

Search the forum here for info on the focal plane shutter, there's lots here on that.

Sadly, the 'Bay is probably your best source for Graflex parts.

Black electrical tape is a short term stop gap measure. It will shrink, come off and leave a sticky residue behind.

The bellows can be painted on the inside with washable fabric paint or better yet carbon black acrylic artist paint diluted up to 50% with water or thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer.

The same goes for the shutter curtain. If the material is good the the dried rubber coating can be removed with lacquer thinner and a putty knife, washed, painted with two or three thin coats of paint, and it will be as good as new.

The original curtain was .008 inch thick and may swell to .025 inch, thicker will jam in the camera housing or cause the aperture spacing to be off depending on the body.

See: http://graflex.org/helpboard/viewtopic.php?t=5624

I have another question. I'm stripping the black from the brass on the bed. The rail seems like its riveted in next to the focus knob. Anyone know the proper way to remove the rails?

The image stopped working so there is only a link
http://i.imgur.com/Hu8DSBb.jpg?1

Cheers!

Have you tried carefully and lightly prying at that rail ?

Looks to me that rivet has something to to do with the focusing knob
it's position looks to be right over the focusing shaft.
My Anniversary Graphic has a focusing shaft lock at that position.

I just noticed on the 5x7 graflex I'm working on the focusing rail has that same
rivet, it's not attached to the front door, the rivet is part of a bearing
for the focusing knob shaft.
Since you already have most of the focusing knob shaft out I'd
carefully wiggle it to see if you can get the gear end past the bearing
if you already have the shaft out give it a careful pry.

testing my image hosting

How did you get it out? I managed to get the middle portion off. It looks like i need to get the focus knob out first. I don't want to force it.

Yes the focus knob has the pinion gear on it, the gear has to get past
that bearing/bushing that's riveted to the rail, once the gear is past it
that rail should lift right off.

Look for a nail on the front of the rail bed near the focusing knob, it;s tiny,
that brass nail acts as retainer for the focusing knob, if you carefully
remove it you may be able to get the knob completely out.
On my Graflex SLR the nail seems worn, the focusing knob pulls out easily.

Thanks that worked perfectly!

Glad it worked !