Speed Graphic.
Lenses: 90 Prontar, 135 Schneider, 210 Caltar and 240 Schneder G Claron all mounted on proper boards.
My understanding: 210 and 240 focus only on ground glass using tripod. No use of infinity stops or scale on front of bed to left these two longer lenses.
90 and 135 calibrate the infinity stops for each lens and calibrate the scale on the bed by lining up the infinity marks on both sides.
Questions: Is what I have said above correct?
The instruction book indicates a need for different scales for each lens. Do I need a different scale for the 90 and 135 lenses?
Walter

Yes, you do. Graflex optically measured each lens and then machined a focusing scale for it, therefore there may be 4 or 5 different scales for any marked focal length.
Getting the percise one these days will be difficult. I have a marked 135, scale for a 132, and it's off 6 inches at minimun end of scale, less elsewhere.

what's more the 135 lens is not a graphic lens but a NEW schneider kreuznach. does this mean that there is no scale made for this lens?

with this i assume you remove both sides of the scale, right???

Yes, the scale(s) are a two piece assyembly.

It should not matter who or when the lens was made, at 1.5% production tolerance a 135 will range from 132.975mm to 137.025mm. Using pacemaker cam list as a guide (focus scales matched) Graflex had 5 or 6 ranging from 132mm to 138mm. http://graflex.org/speed-graphic/top-rangefinder-cams.html

Others on this site have a list of the focus scales numbers (they're on the bottom side of the scale). Using an existing set of scales as a guide, a tripod, and carefull measurement, one could make a scale set.

Charles

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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2002-08-20 21:24 ]</font>

Now for a question you probably don't want to hear.

With the exception of having a camera "complete down to the last detail"
Why do you need focus scales? When you use your 35mm camera, do you ever guess focus estimating the distance and focus using the scales?

I have a Crown special with its original 135 scales, and I added a set for a 250mm. I've never used them once.

Now if you have a top rangefinder I can see scrounging for a cam.