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jdman · Joined: 13 May 2001 Posts: 302 Location: Midwest

Tonight while holding my Pacemaker 4x5 by the Flash, I must have hit the clamp quick release button. I was left holding the Strobonar while the camera headed to the floor. I guess luck was with me as it hit on the back and only broke the ground glass. Had a Graflok back and that flew off. You would think after 40 years of fooling with these things I would know better. I normally have my hand in the strap but did not do that either. Russ

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

Does the Strobanar use the same clamping system as the Graflex flash (not Graflite) where it pinches the 5.8" wide strip on the side of the camera/Kalart rf?

If so, there's supposed to be a small screw in the strip near the top. It's supposed to keep the camera from doing just this. Early, well even the later Pacemaer bracket was designed so that the camera couldn't fall through the flash bracket.

My problem was just the opposite. I set up to do a shot and my flash slid off the camera. The 50 year old flash cord sacraficed itself when the flash, filled with three D cells, ran out of cord before it hit the floor. the cord's insulation broke into a million pieces.

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jdman · Joined: 13 May 2001 Posts: 302 Location: Midwest

I had graflite clamps on it, and I was trying it out to see how it would look on the pacemaker. Sync is now intermittent on the shutter, must have twisted one of the biposts. I am just so happy the fall did not hurt the tracks or break the hinges. Will repair today as I have a extra graflok back. Russ

larrys · Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 42 Location: SW Ohio

Ok...call me a newbie idiot, but as I build this rig I've been putting the fixed clamp on the top of the flash and the release one below (and I'm missing the leather strap). Reasoning was something like -- It can support the flash either way, but if the release clamp lets go you have a few milliseconds to react with your other hand while the camera swings toward oblivion on the top clamp as you hold the flash. But of course I could be wrong....
-ls-

jdman · Joined: 13 May 2001 Posts: 302 Location: Midwest

You probably have a good point, it is I have always put the release on the top. I did find however 2 things wrong with the clamp, the spacer was missing from the bottom of the spring which meant less spring pressure, and the strobonar is just slightly larger than a graflite tube causing a slight mis-alingment. I have corrected both items. Russ