Graflex.org

andrew boardman · Joined: 09 Jul 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Cambridge, Mass.

I have a Speed Graphic (Graflok back with side-mounted Kalart if it matters) which dropped this on the floor when last opened:

I can't for the life of me figure out what it actually is (aside from a flat metal plate with two notches which has bent and then broken), and near as I can tell the camera (which I actually just borrowed for some landscape photography while on vacation) works fine! Any ideas? Do I actually need it? Thanks for any clues!

bertsaunders · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:15 am Post subject:

This is a shim that goes under the short rear body rail to level it... the end has been broken off, so it is only usefull as a pattern!
Have a nice day...Bert

45PSS · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:17 am Post subject:

That dohickey is a case yoke guide shim. The case yoke guides are just behind the yoke(rails) that the rear portion of the yoke goes into when you run the yoke into the body. Run the yoke out so that it is completely out of the body and on the bed. Check the blocks for looseness. Straighten the block shim and put it under the bed block that does not align with the yoke when the yoke is run into the body then check yoke alignment. Or go to http://www.southbristolviews.com/ and download the Top Rangefinder Service manual under the Graflex Manuals link and follow the instructions for bed installation. The only difference between the Top and Side Rangefinder Pacemakers is the Rangefinder.
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The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

andrew boardman · Joined: 09 Jul 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Cambridge, Mass.

Wonderful, thanks! Looks like no critical dimensions except for thickness, so it's trivial to make replacements, too. (Yes, replacements. I found another one floating around in there just now.) Interesting that I didn't notice (and still don't see) any issues running the bed back into the camera, although it may just be due to the now-shimless bed block still being a touch loose.)

As a follow-on question, I'm now wondering why on earth they went wandering in the first place. My best guess is that the bed block screws had just loosened a bit over time, and at some point I ran the bed out all the way and the shims were then free to escape.

45PSS · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 8:22 pm Post subject:

your quess is as good as any.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.