Graflex.org

ascex · Joined: 27 Mar 2002 Posts: 22 Location: united kingdom

I wanted to try the 54 bag mags ive got on my anniversary speed(spring back),is the graflex back ,apparently fitted on some pacemakers ,interchangeable ;are there many of these graflexed back speed graphics about

t.r.sanford · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 11:40 pm Post subject:

There certainly were 4x5 "Graflex" backs made for the "Speed" (and "Crown"), and it would be easy enough to install one; they're just held in place by small screws. In the old days, people who mostly used the big reflexes often made this conversion in order to use the same backs with both cameras. I don't know whether you could buy a "Speed" with the "Graflex" back, and I have never seen one; but they do, or did, exist.

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

actually there are two graflex backs up on ebay right now, one from an Anny and another for a Pacemaker

ascex · Joined: 27 Mar 2002 Posts: 22 Location: united kingdom

thanks for the info , I see the newer one in Aus which fetched quite a lot -it attracted worldwide bidding,but was this one 2981474345 a graflex back(it seemed the right sort of money to me

)

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

Nope. This is the common spring or Graphic back. Early Graflex backs have one slider at the top and a fixed rail at the botttom. The Aussie auction had the hard-to-find Pacemaker Graflex back which looks darn similar to a Graflok back, except it lacks the hook in the center for the Graflok rails to grab onto.

ascex · Joined: 27 Mar 2002 Posts: 22 Location: united kingdom

thanks for your response Les ,why do you think there was much demand for that one on ebay -is it likely they were wanting to use bag mags I cant think people would want to use the old film holders unless they were switching with reflex cameras ,was this back ever fitted to graphic view,did they make newer holders like fidelity ,or a modern polaroid back to fit-I see the register is different from spring /graflok back.

glennfromwy · Joined: 29 Nov 2001 Posts: 903 Location: S.W. Wyoming

I think I have a Graflex back off of a military Pacemaker Speed. It has the two sliders like a Graflok, without tabs. It doesn't have a light trap groove, which struck me as odd. But then, neither does my pre anniversary 3X4 with the Graflex back. Doesn't matter, I don't have the focus panel for it anyway, nor do I have a 4X5 bag mag. Oh, well.

_________________
Glenn

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

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

They made the Graflex back though the 50s, but its real heyday was before the Graflok back. Yes the Graphic View did have the option for a Graflex back in 4x5 and possibly in 3x4, not sure about the last part.

The Graphic Polaroid back that used roll type Polaroid film was used until the introduction of the model 500 Polaroid back in the late 60s, so IF Polaroid made something to fit a Graflex back it would have been the big heavy,and now useless, Graphic Polaroid back, not a 500 or a 545.

glennfromwy · Joined: 29 Nov 2001 Posts: 903 Location: S.W. Wyoming

Les, did the Polaroid roll film holder fit a standard Graflex back, or did it require a special back?
The reason I ask is that the back I have has the letters NPC cast on the inside. NPC made Polaroid stuff. I had gone by the assumption that this back I have is indeed a Graflex back. Could it be something else?

_________________
Glenn

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

ascex · Joined: 27 Mar 2002 Posts: 22 Location: united kingdom

ive just measured the register on my bag mags and its (greater)different from the later type graflex slotted holders ,the earlier shorter type seem the same as my bag mags.
so presumably the later pacemaker graflex back takes the longer film holders-so are there 2 types of bag mag and how can one identify without actually measuring them.

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

Well, the long film holders came out just after the war, and about the same time that Folmer Graflex Corp. changed its name to Graflex Inc.

So I would expect that any bagmag made by Graflex Inc would have the same registration.

I'm not sure, but I think there were three major styles.... leather covered from before 1920, gray laquer from 20 through the 30s and then black wrinkle finish, which started in the 40s with the Anny.

ascex · Joined: 27 Mar 2002 Posts: 22 Location: united kingdom

further examination of the remainder of my magazines shows them to all vary quite widely in flatness as well as register-I will have to adapt them to another camera to try them ,Im hoping to see the chap I bought them off ,as he used to use them in the war to see if the flatness was any real issue -although all shots would have been taken at infinity