Graflex.org

[IanG]

I bought 2 Speed Graphics off ebay, sold asa package to build one good working camera.

Problem was one was pre-Anniversary the othe post and no parts are interchangeable.

The pre-Anniversary model is almost totally restored, the wooden body french polished instead of its leatherette.

But I can't find any Speed Graphic thats similar, it has a fixed lens bed that has never folded up into the body.

Any help identifying the model would be appreciated. Here's a link to some images

http://www.lostlabours.co.uk/Uploads/rear_speedgraphic.jpg
http://www.lostlabours.co.uk/Uploads/base_speedgraphic.jpg
http://www.lostlabours.co.uk/Uploads/mid_restoration_speedgraphic.jpg

Ian

[Dan Fromm]

[IanG]

Dan

This Speed Graphic was definately built this way from new. I had to dis-assemble the camera due to heavy corrosion of the aluminium base plate, and most of the leatherette was loose or mising. All the metal work has now been repainted since the photos and the camera re-assembled.

The front standard and rail assembly/focus mechanism show no signs of modification. It appears this camera was a non standard model, built by Graflex

Ian

[bertsaunders]

IanG,
Lens standard and body appears to be a standard 28/1939 model Pre-Ann! It looks like the hardware and curtain have been removed, perhaps you will replace them at some point!
The inner rail system has been removed, and the outside rails (that are normally on the door) run into the body.....this is the original door cut down, the cutout in the front is where the half moon catch was located, and a portion of the hinge end of the door has been cut off!
Again hard to see on the photos, but appears to have a Kalart RF installed, can see the top of the swing arm and what appears to be the top of the RF...this would date the camera body to the mid to late 30's, as the 1928 model was not supplied with the Kalart (unless factory installed perhaps?)I have (2) 1928 bodies that were never drilled for the Kalart arm hub, and (2) bodys that had Kalarts mounted on them!
It could have been a factory modification
but I doubt it, except for the base plate, everything else is standard hardware on this camera as far as I can tell from the photos!
It would be a simple modification that most anyone could do in a home workshop!
Email me and I will send a photo of my 28 model, as well as the Paine review photo!

bsaunders1@bak.rr.com

Have a nice day......Bert








[ This Message was edited by: bertsaunders on 2006-10-29 10:49 ]

[Les]

From the front standard, the camera started out as a mid 30's Pre Ann, probably '37-38, and was modified for use with a wide angle lens and the sport finder. I'm guessing about a 90mm

The mini bed looks like a wide angle bed for an RB cycle Graphic, but could be a custom piece. ****

I can identifiy all of the holes on the handle side except for the large hole in the top left corner, the two holes just below it look like they would fit a Mendelson flash.
bracket.

On the whole this does not look like the work of Graflex.

Had I been able to see it in unrestored condition, it's possible a case could be made for it as a Graflex mod. (How was the leather dealt with around the cut out? was it sliced and the edge left bare or was a new piece made for the entire top and folded in and around the cut out? Did the smooth line in the leather follow the cut out or did it just stop suddenly?

The serial number may have helped out, but it looks like the serial number was removed when they cut up the top.

Les

****After looking at my Pre Ann, Bert is right, it's just the normal bed cut down. One of the signs of a Graflex custom is to have things done that an ordinary or even extrodinary cabinet maker/machinist couldn't/wouldn't do, like professionally recovering the body in the same manner and with the same material Graflex would have used.
This one doesn't come up to that standard. That doesn't rule out the possiblity it was a Graflex mod, it just makes it much more difficult to prove.



[ This Message was edited by: Les on 2006-10-29 11:06 ]

[IanG]

Thanks Bert and Les

The shutter mechanism is all intact and working, the photos were taken mid restoration, while the french polish was drying.

Les the leatherette was very badly damaged but did appear to all be original.

"I can identifiy all of the holes on the handle side except for the large hole in the top left corner, the two holes just below it look like they would fit a Mendelson flash.
bracket." The two lower holes are for the third spirit level.

There are no screw holes to indicate a hinged bed had ever been fitted, which is why I think the camera was made like this. I'd guessed it was for a WA lens.

Anyway the camer looked a total disaster when it arrived, now it's a good user, and will have an excellent 90mm Anglon fitted soon.

Ian

[Les]

is there a serial number stamped on the inside of the body anywhere? Usually they are on the underside of the top part of the body--the part that's been milled away. If this modification was done in Rochester, perhaps they put the serial number elswhere.

Les

[IanG]

Just checked Les, no markings at all.

The camer has the apperance of being made for a specific purpose, no folding lens bed, designed for a WA lens.

Ian

[glennfromwy]

I have seen several similar mods go across the auction block. All are similar only in that they look like the same basic design. Different models from different time periods. Another rhing I noticed is that they all look like something done in someones workshop. Yours is a little different, with the cutout on the front of the bed.

_________________
Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"

[bertsaunders]

"There are no screw holes to indicate a hinged bed had ever been fitted, which is why I think the camera was made like this."

The hinged portion was cut away, that is why the long rails hang over into the body!
And the depth of the body looks normal also, the cutout for the lens standard advance knob is still there, so the body was not cut down depthwise at all, except for the notch in the top front....We generally agree that the camera was modified to use a wide angle lens, and I assume the cutout was cut for clearance for the "swing up" sports finder!
The back had me puzzeled for a while, to many holes across the top that attach it to the body, this back looks normal, with the wood stripped off of it....but I saw (4) holes, not (3) across the top....Light flashed...and mystery solved...there was a fold over rear sight for the sports finder w/2 holes in the vert support!
IanG, be sure to post a photo of the finished camera, looks like you are doing a nice finish job on it!
Bert

[ This Message was edited by: bertsaunders on 2006-10-29 21:32 ]

[IanG]

I will post pictures when fully restored Bert, shouldn't take much time to finish now.

Just had a very interesting conversation and it appears that my camera may well have been built as a special order, body & parts fron Graflex but finished elsewhere.

This begins to make sense as here in the UK a standard production camera would be modified for military, police or prison service use, and probably other uses too.

Ian

[glennfromwy]

Just saw another similar thing this morning on eBay with a buy it now price of 35.00.

_________________
Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"