Hello,
I just purchased a WW II speedgraphic and would like some help on its history. Is there a source for how many were made, types, serial numbers, etc? Does anyone know how they were issued originaly? I don't have a lens, lens board or flash. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

From the little I can gather, the first batches, (anything from the first months to the first year Dec'40-Dec'41) the military Speed graphics were identical to the civilian kind. (We were caught napping and Uncle Sam took it off the shelf.)

I don't have any data to back it up, but would assume the proponderance of them went out with a 127 ektar, but I can see if they had cameras that needed lenses, anything in the 127 to 135, to even a 152 would be used.

I want to say later, the government convinced kodak to make shutters in matte black, later, the whole camera went black to save on chromium, These were later in the war--late '43-'45.

I don't think they made an OD green model until after the war, or very very late if they did.

Do a search on ebay for "speed graphic lens" might add the word military in there too. somewhere on there is a black faced Kodak supermatic shutter 127mm ektar. The kicker is it has a 1940 dated lens. Not sure how or why.

I haven't found any info using the government data. Uncle Sam does a great job of saving/making so much data that it's impossible to trace 50+ years later.

Try posting the Graflex serial number here. Gandolf has the serial number book and may give you an idea of when it was made.

flatfour,
I just purchased the same model, sounds like.I can't believe the great cond. it's in. Mine has an Graflex, Optar 127mm, f/4.5 lens. Original or not, I'm not sure. It came with a military case and flash, and also had a log booklet from the Univ. of Arizona (1966). Reguarding a trip to Europe. (???)
K. Pruitt