I'm combining two Miniature Speed Graphics to make one complete one, but in one area they're both missing the same thing: The viewfinder eyepiece. On the newer of the two cameras (875763), a flat, double-prong spring is sticking up from the bottom of where the eyepiece would go, and on the older one (262888), even that spring is gone, apparently ripped out of the Bakelite housing.

I found an instruction manual for the Anniversary Graphic online, and I see now that there's a tubular eyepiece in the back of the viewfinder that fits in the hole and rotates to correct for parallax, and the flat spring was there to hold this in. Does anyone have one of these that he'd be willing to lend me so I can measure the focal length of the lens inside and how far off-center it is? (Alternatively, if someone has an eyepiece to sell, I'm interested!)

262888 is listed as a 4x5 Speed Graphic mid year 1940.
875763 is listed as a 4x5 Speed Graphic early 1952.

Miniature Speed Graphics serial number is ink stamped on the bottom of the body top on the handle side.

P.M. sent.

I would like to know how Miniature Speeds wind up with 4x5 serial numbers one of which is a Pacemaker series. Anniversary and Miniature Speeds serial number is on the bottom side of the camera top on the handle side, Pacemaker cameras have a plate riveted to the bed between the rails.

I've gotten two of these posts (plus a PM saying the stamped numbers aren't even the real ones, which are somewhere else -- no comment on that).

I admit I goofed on the serial numbers, which are the ones stamped on the underside of the top of the body in an area that's not particularly easy to see. On the newer camera, there's a chunk of wood missing where the left side of the first digit of the serial number is, so I read that wrong. It's not 875763 but 375763.

For the older camera, I don't even have a good excuse, but just read it carelessly. It's not 262888, but 252833.

I've now checked both of these multiple times in good light and under high magnification and I'm positive they are correct. So if anyone has further complaints, your complaint should be addressed to The Folmer Graflex Corporation, not to me.

Many readers use serial number posts to date their cameras. It usually helps to use a flashlight to read the numbers on pre Pacemaker series cameras.
Sometimes the numbers are poorly stamped. Some take 3 tries to get it right.

375763 is in the middle of a large batch of 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 Speed Graphics listed 12/29/1945 with 3 additional orders listed mid Jan 1946.

252833 is in the middle of an order for 1000 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 Speed Graphic cameras listed early March 1940 with a second order listed on the same day for 600 cameras.

Its unknown what the production rate was but with the military gearing up for war it was high, and demand of returning service men resulted in a high production level as well.