Does anyone have any photos of the back of a Graflex Compact Reflex, I've just acquired a camera from Paris (France) and the back isn't complete.

Also any experience of removing then refittingg the shutter curtains. I'm assuming the mechanism is similar to the 1909 Folmer Patent for the 3A.

Ian

I found a picture of the back of a Compact Reflex on an auction website. It's fitted with a film-pack holder:
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10169425

Hi IanG

What size is the compact Graflex ?

I have a 5x7 compact SLR that I'm restoring and it's a weird beast,
it has dual curtains ! One is for the film plane and the other is
the focal plane shutter.

This is the one I have ( the front one ) if it's the same I can post pictures
of the back disassembled -

Quote:

it has dual curtains ! One is for the film plane

Its called a "capping shutter".
I have Bert Saunder' info I can forward if needed.
Leave your email in a PM if you have not contacted me by email before.

Billy Canuck wrote:

I found a picture of the back of a Compact Reflex on an auction website. It's fitted with a film-pack holder: http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10169425

Thanks, just what I needed to see. I bought a lot of Grflex parts mainly for Speed/Crown Graphics and the camera was part of the deal but the back's not complete.

Now I can see that I have the parts & some spares (some off a larger Reflex Graflex as well).

45PSS wrote:

Quote: it has dual curtains ! One is for the film plane Its called a "capping shutter".

Yes it's a capping shutter, but not a self capping shutter like more modern post WWII cloth curtained SLR's (35mm & 120 formats) or the older British LF SLRs.

Ian

Hello Ian,

Here is a picture of backs of Compact Graflex with 3 1/4 X 5 1/2 format.

The camera on the left is working; "some" restoration needed on the other.

There are indeed 2 curtains, not similar to the 3A (one curtain) :

Some explanation about these two curtains :
the outer, the main curtain, is the focal plane shutter seen on many Graflex reflexes; the inner is an auxiliary shutter. There is a spring for each curtain.
The auxiliary shutter closes when the mirror is set in focusing position, because the too small mirror doesn't entirely close.
If the release lever is tripped, the mirror lifts clear and this auxiliary shutter opens, then the main shutter can take the exposure.