Graflex.org

BobBlakely · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 5 Location: Southwest USA

I purchased one of these (entire original case & accesories) a while back on ebay. The Graflex serial no. is 892188 and the US Army serial no. is 233. It belonged to a reserve unit and is in PRISTINE condition save for a little brassing of the front molding from rubbing in it's case. It is in every way a Pacemaker EXCEPT it is not a complete Graflok back! The magnesium back casting is obviously identical to the Graflok and accepts the same Graflok GG frame, but it has no slidelock assemblies like my other KE-12(1). There are small raised circles where the screws for the slidlocks would attach, but the screw holes were never drilled. I'm tempted to drill the holes for the original self tapping screws and install sidelocks. Also, the FP shutter is slightly different, being some design between an Aniversary and a Pacemaker. Also, the back, instead of being sort of a "sand paper" olive green like my other KE-12, is simply flat olive green. Like my other KE-12, there is no combined FP-lens shutter release as in the Pacemaker. Apparently the camera came out in several variations - all with the same designation? Is there ANY history of Graflex production and variations during the war years? WWI, WWII, Korean?

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

Yes that is the correct back for the camera. Leave it to the government to want half a Graflok back. I would leave it the way it is. It certainly is more interesting this way than "fully functional" The military even had a model designation for this back, but I can't recall it right now.

As to production numbers and variations, Well if it did exist it hasn't been found. Most of the time Graflex was more concerned about getting the camera out that recording every little change they made. If one supplier of paint dried up, they found another. So some of the paint is smooth, others mottled. Tim Holden told me they changed suppliers of ground glass 4 times during the Anniversary model before the war.

One of these days I want to start a data base for just this type of thing, but I can't host cgi and don't have the time/expertise/captial to start it up.

45PSS · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:04 am Post subject:

and the military designation was derived from the useage requirement the camera was purchased for, not camera design or model variation.

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The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

rjb1 · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Middle Tennessee

Here's the list of my post-WWII Speed Graphic military cameras:

G. Serial: 85615x KE-12(1) Army serial: 245 Color: OD crinkle finish Full-graflok back

G. Serial: 85638x KE-12(1) Army Serial: 1740 Color: OD slick finish Half-graflok back

G. Serial: 86067x PH-47J Army Serial: None Color: OD crinkle Full-graflok back

G. Serial: 89374x KE-12(1) Army Serial:46
color: OD crinkle Full-graflok back

G. Serial: 89399x KE-12(1) Army Serial:2010
OD slick Half-graflok back

G. Serial: 89492x KE12(1) Army Serial:1285
Black crinkle Full-graflok back

They seem so random as to serial number, Army serial number, color, and back configuration that it may make things even more confusing.

Perhaps others can add to this and some patterns may appear.

Joel

BobBlakely · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 5 Location: Southwest USA

I too have a PH-47-J - crinkle (sand like, actually) finish.

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UweFlammer · Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Germany

Since yesterday, i am also proud owner of such a beast. Could not resist when i saw a complete military Speed Graphic outfit at in a used camera shop: Original case with camera KE-12(1), tripod, flashgun, sheet film holders, Polaroid back, cables, lens hood, some filters. The set was former property of U.S. Army Signal Corps, military serial no. 1804. Graflex serial no. 89354x. Camera and tripod are painted olive. Lens is Graflex Optar 4.5/127 mm.

Unfortunately, the instruction manual was missing. Somebody here who can provide a copy or point me to a ressource in the net? Feel free to email me at uweflammer(at)web.de

Best regards
Uwe

[ This Message was edited by: UweFlammer on 2006-03-15 09:20 ]

pv17vv · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 6:21 pm Post subject:

Nabend Uwe !
Wo bist Du in D ?
K ? M ? HH ? B ? oder ?
Grüß aus Belgien.
Georges

UweFlammer · Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Germany

Hello Georges,

S !!

See the homepage of my photo club here:
http://www.bosch-fotogruppe.de

Best regards!
Uwe