Graflex.org

45PSS · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 4:16 am Post subject:

Seller said it's a '23 and by simular serial numbers suggest late'22 to early '23.
s/n 119544
Handle is missing from top. Bertsaunders said that different sizes were used for the same model. Distance between rivets centers is 1 3/8 inches with a length ~~5 27/32~~ 4 55/64 (4.485) inches. Anyone care to measure theirs and give me a total length of the handle?
Thanks,
Charles

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While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a quality photograph is worth a million.

[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-08-21 17:55 ]

camz · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 138 Location: Southern CA

Is this an RB Series B 4x5? Mine is 1-3/8" between the rivets (small strap) and 4-13/16"
lengthwise. Overall, the strap is 7" long.
Serial No, is #125231.

camz · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 138 Location: Southern CA

Also, #132074, same measurements exactly. Are you reproducing these handles and straps?

45PSS · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 1:00 am Post subject:

1). It is a 4x5 RB series B.
2). I corrected the measurement in origional post.
3). I'm considering getting some from Bert Saunders, member bertsaunders, and do not know if he has them pre made or uses supplied measurements to make new ones. The handle is missing from mine, only the rivets from the old remain.

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

camz · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 138 Location: Southern CA

How's the rest of the camera? Hood, bellows, curtain?

45PSS · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 2:29 am Post subject:

After soaking with a half a can of Lemon Pledge soft, pliagble, dieing for some film opposed to dirty, dry and cracking with moveables sticking. I soaked the view hood inside and out, softened it up enough to use, it would have cracked and fallen apart without. I put a few drops of TriFlow on the shutter roller ends and adjusted the tension easily.

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

camz · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 138 Location: Southern CA

Sounds good. I'm looking for other lenses which will fit the RB Series B lensboard. Quite a few of the 7-1/2 inch lenses from that period appear to have the same size and thread. I was curious if other B owners have experience with lenses other than the standard Anastigmat.

camz · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 138 Location: Southern CA

The real problem with these handles on the reflex models is that the retaining straps are only a single piece of leather, and not sewn. Consequently, they become dried out, worn, and eventually fail. Because they are riveted to the top, replacement is problematic. So, the old handles just get tossed. You wonder why Graflex didn't make them as robustly as they did the handles.

I do have one replacement handle which incorporates both the handle and the straps into one piece. I think this is a better solution for a user camera, because it distributes the load more evenly along the handle.