Graflex.org

smirshkahoven · Joined: 16 Dec 2018 Posts: 3

Hi all - I recently acquired a pretty much mint Graflex "23", SN 413541 and Flash Synchronizer, both in their respective boxes. Only flaw I could find (I think) is that the finder on the 23 was the "long finder" and it looked like it was not original to the camera. I purchased a "short finder" from an eBay seller who advertised it as a "Baby Pacemaker" finder, but I'm not sure it's correct having now found conflicting information as to which finder is correct in this case. Can anyone help me verify which finder I should have? Thank you!

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2120 Location: New Jersey

There are short tubular viewfinders for 2x3 Pacemaker Graphics, and then there are short tubular viewfinders for 2x3 Pacemaker Graphics. I just measured mine:

2x3 Pacemaker Speed Graphic, approximately 3 1/4". Your camera and mine are the same vintage.

2x3 Pacemaker Crown Graphics (two of them), approximately 2 1/2"

2x3 Century Graphic (supposedly nearly identical to 2x3 Crown), approximately 2 1/4:

You want a TVF that's no shorter than the camera's body is deep.

45PSS · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2018 12:15 am Post subject:

SN 413541 listed as a 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 Pacemaker Speed in the first quarter of 1947.

http://cameraeccentric.com/html/info/graflex_5.html covers this camera.
It shows the "short" optical viewfinder on the 2x3 Speed.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

smirshkahoven · Joined: 16 Dec 2018 Posts: 3

That's interesting and I appreciate both replies - if I read them correctly, I should have either a 3 1/4" finder or a "short" finder. The camera as I received it (presumed original) had the longer 3 1/4" finder but with the "short" finder I purchased mounted on the camera it looks like the photo in the Graflex manual. Is there any way to resolve this with certainty? And thanks again for your help- I hope to have a nice working camera when I'm done. Also looking for a 120 film back.

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2120 Location: New Jersey

The short finder as shown in the manual is wrong for your camera. It is for the 2x3 Crown, which has a thinner body than the 2x3 Speed. Your camera and mine have the correct original issue 2x3 Pacemaker Speed Graphic TVF, with the eyepiece roughly flush with the back of the body.

There were no rules in Rochester and no one followed them.

smirshkahoven · Joined: 16 Dec 2018 Posts: 3

That makes sense and I appreciate your help. Thanks! Now I need to find a mint or near mint long tubular finder since the one on my camera had suffered corrosion and has been deep sixed.

45PSS · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2018 3:33 am Post subject: