I just got in a 5x7 speed graphic, in tuning and cleaning it up I noticed there is no light blocking felt...at all or ever has been on the back for he film holder to rest on. so how does it keep the light from getting in ?
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I assume you have the focus pannel for the back. The spring pressure of the focus pannel and the light trap ridge seat was demed adaquate in the day. Velvet ribbon or other thin material can be added to the frame if needed to improve light tightness.

The 5X7 Speed was made from 1912 to 1925.
https://graflex.org/graflex-products-list.html

awesome, thanks for the extra info


to get the correct stuff/felt where should i go? is this regular upholstry stuff?

i do have the spring back, i took it off to clean and seen there was no felt

awesome, thanks for the extra info
i have a few camera i would like to date, is there a place i can go to do that ?

to get the correct stuff/felt where should i go? is this regular upholstry stuff?

i do have the spring back, i took it off to clean and seen there was no felt

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i have a few camera i would like to date, is there a place i can go to do that ?

Post them here or start a new thread in this section.

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to get the correct stuff/felt where should i go? is this regular upholstry stuff?

A fabric store should have it. Joann fabrics sells a velvet ribbon, good luck finding it though as my local Joanns showes it in stock but nowhere to be found in the store. Crushed dept should be .005 inch thick approximately or shim thee gg to match the new film plane distance and possibly resset the infinity stops.

I don't believe you need the felt at all. I have a 4x5 Anniversary and a Pre-anniversary. Neither has any felt in the back, but there is no problem with light leaks. The same is true of my wooden Burk and James view camera. As 45pss notes, if you add felt, you run the risk of shifting the focus plane. Graflok backs have felt, but it is in a recessed channel and does not interfere with the focal plane.