Graflex.org

disemjg · Joined: 10 Jan 2002 Posts: 474 Location: Washington, DC

The latest batch of junk included an interesting item, an extended lensboard for Pacemaker 45. About 2 3/8" long, and massively built out of aluminum plate and square section welded together. Just two plates capping the square section, with one plate releived to fit the camera. Well done, but might be the product of a skilled handyman rather than a production item. Surprisingly, the hole for the lens is only 40mm in diameter, so mounting a modern lens should be no problem.

Does anyone remember such a thing being offered commercially?

[ This Message was edited by: disemjg on 2005-10-26 19:43 ]

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

not that I've ever seen

RichS · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 4:07 am Post subject:

I never thought of an extended lens board, and never heard of one for the Pacemakers. But, recessed lens boards were also supposed to not exists until I found one a while back!

It sounds more 'home made' than production. Graflex was known to make some odd things though. A few years ago, I saw a 35mm camera adapter back. It certainly looked home made but functional. Even had a 35mm body on it. The odd thing was the owner's claim that it was made by Graflex, supported pertially by official looking numbers and the Graflex name printed on it... So, maybe you have a one-off made for a customer or maybe a prototype?

Now I have to start thinking about how to make my own as my Super seems to be an inch short of using a 15" Tele-Optar... They made an extender for the rangefinder system, but good luck finding one...

How about a pic of it??

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disemjg · Joined: 10 Jan 2002 Posts: 474 Location: Washington, DC

the old drag and drop does not work; how do I post the photo?

hporter · Joined: 16 Jul 2005 Posts: 26 Location: Houston, Texas

I have a factory made MPP extension board that came with the Micro Technical I bought. It only extends out 7/8 of an inch. I couldn't imagine why it would be needed on that particular camera. I can get 19" of extension without it.

I wish the hole size was large enough to accept my 15" wollensak. I have to rack the bellows out "all" the way on my speed garphic to use it for portraits. I am afraid of damaging the bellow doing that.

[ This Message was edited by: hporter on 2005-10-27 19:10 ]

45PSS · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 4:48 am Post subject:

[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-24 21:09 ]

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

Send the photos to me at LNPhoto@twmi.rr.com and I can put them up

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

PICTURES!

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RichS · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:30 am Post subject:

Wow, two lens boards welded together. Someone had some free time and expertise!

As an addition, I recently found some info on the net during a search. It was suggested to use a cut-out from a muffin pan, attached to a lens board with a lrge hole cut into it to make either a recessed or extended board. The idea sounds good to me. Now I wonder if my wife will miss _one_ muffin section?

45PSS · Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 6:30 am Post subject:

[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-24 21:10 ]

disemjg · Joined: 10 Jan 2002 Posts: 474 Location: Washington, DC

Thanks for posting the pix, Les.

Yes, upon further examination the thing looks to be high grade homemade. Close inspection shows some small ovverruns in the milled channel for the camera end (been known to make a few of those myself...). The two ends are just plate, with the camera side being thicker to allow the channel to be milled. The tube is a single piece of sqare extrusion, which may have been the hardest piece to come by as it is exactly the right size for the job.

If I had to do it I would use thick epoxy to hold it all together instead of the welds. But you sure cannot fault this thing for durability.

[ This Message was edited by: disemjg on 2005-11-04 17:29 ]

Rangemaster · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 4:53 am Post subject:

Durability!!! Heck, that thing looks like a war corespondent could take it off and defend himself with it...might have been military issue during WWII

LOL

Dave

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