Graflex.org

[Harry_Bottenberg]

[size=18]I have a Super Speed Graphic KE-12(2) 4x5 camera that I have been using the past year or so (Graflex Super Speed Graphic | Flickr). It has the Optar 135mm lens with the Graflex 1000 shutter; unlike most Super Speeds out there it still had the battery cover so I found a pair of 22.5V Volt batteries that fit (after shaving off some of the sides) and was happily surprised that the electronic shutter works (at all speeds, incl. 1/1000th sec).

At first, it didn’t have a spring back on the camera so I used it only with a Grafmatic film holder on the Graflok that is on the back. I later found a functioning spring back which I mounted on the Graflok so the camera is now complete and works fine with normal 4x5 film holders (I never liked the Grafmatic too much).

The next challenge I imposed upon myself is to make the camera work with flash, preferably flash bulbs but electronic flash would be ok too. I obtained a 3-cell Graflite battery case, a 5” dish, a 3-pin polarized Y-cord (Cat. no. 2801) and M-type flashbulbs (Focal 5B flashbulbs). I connected the cord properly following instructions on page 27 in the Super Speed and Super Graphic Cameras manual and set the selector switch on the battery case to 1, and the switch on the shutter to M. Then - disappointment:

Upon pressing the shutter button on the camera or the Graflite case, the shutter would trip but the bulb would not fire (even with different bulbs from the same pack). I tried a different 3-cell Graflite case with the same results. Also, same with changing and testing the batteries in the Graflite case. I did not try a different set of bulbs or a different Y-cord (they are hard to find and expensive). But the cord seems to work at least in the sense that the button on the Graflite case triggers the shutter (although not the flashbulbs).

To see if I could trigger electronic flash I obtained a jumper cord (Cat. no. 2805) and connected it to a Vivitar 285 flash. The flash fired when triggered with either the shutter button on the camera or the Graflite case. However, the film was not exposed - it was completely blank. Same with a Sunpak 544 or a Godox SK400III strobe . Strange, because visually I could see the shutter open when the flash lit up. But there may have been a minute difference in timing causing the negative to remain unexposed. (I have a Stroboflash IV too but haven’t tested it yet - would need a special battery for that and haven’t gotten into that yet)

This has so far been my experience. I suspect that the issue might be with the X and M contacts within the shutter board but there could be other problems of course. I have contacted a couple of repair specialists in the US but no luck so far (Flutot, Nippon Photo Clinic). They don’t work on this camera and its shutter. There was a well-known Graflex 1000 shutter repair person in Texas but he passed away some time ago.

Any suggestions?
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Harry Bottenberg

[Dan Fromm]

Someone has to ask the stupid and insulting question of the day. I'll do it. Please don't be offended.

When you tried shooting with electronic flash was the shutter's M-X lever set to X?

[Henry]

And did you pull the dark slide?

[Harry_Bottenberg]

Yes to both questions, switch set to either X or M as appropriate X for electronic flash, M for bulbs), and dark slide pulled before the shot and re-inserted after.
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Harry Bottenberg

[Dan Fromm]

Next thing to try:

Put the camera on a tripod pointing at a wall. Remove the focusing panel. I think that's what your "spring back" is. Open the lens wide. Set the M-X lever to X. Fire the flash at every shutter speed from 1/1000 down. When you fire the shutter, look through the back of the camera. If you don't see the flash through the lens, try again with the M-X lever set to M. If you still don't see the flash, then its time to send the shutter out for service (I don't know who still works on them) or try to adjust the delay yourself or give up on the shutter and get a lens in a different shutter.

The Graphex 1000 shutter is renowned for flakiness.

[Harry_Bottenberg]

Yes, did that in slightly modified manner (see my first message above). No results. Just to emphasize: bulbs don't fire at all (at M), electronic flash fires (at X or M), at the same time that shutter opens but with film there is no exposure. With dark slide removed of course. So I am thinking that it may be a delay issue with the shutter (assuming the other hardware is ok). Maybe the synchronization is not optimal. I tried slow speeds and fast speeds. I tried opening the shutter which is quite thick like a sandwich because of electronics and mechanisms inside by removing screws on the back but it didn't open and I don't want to force and break things.

I wished there is a repair shop somewhere I could take the camera to but it seems more and more vintage camera repair specialists are quitting; I contacted several but no luck so far.

Anyone knows a Graflex repair specialist?
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Harry Bottenberg

[Dan Fromm]

[Henry]

Following up on Dan's first post, I'll be the second to ask the stupid and insulting question of the day.

You did load the film in the holder the right way, with the emulsion side toward the lens?