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pjviitas · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Baffin Island

I have just procured a Crown Graphic Special which I feel is in pretty good shape.

The only problem is, I know absolutely nothing about anything except 35mm photography.

Anyway, I have figured out everything else on the shutter except for the little post between the flash synch switch and the shutter cocking lever.

The other thing I was wondering is how much play should the shutter/lens assembly have in the lensboard? Mine has no play in or out but some play when rotating the assembly while say changing the shutterspeed.

Hedgehog

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2146 Location: New Jersey

Henry · Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 1:38 pm Post subject:

If it's a Graphex shutter, you cock the shutter and move the lever down and in towards the shutter body; this opens the shutter blades. Focus on the ground glass at wide open aperture. After focussing, you can either (1) pull the lever back out to its resting postion; the shutter stays cocked and you can now take your picture (don't forget to first stop down to the proper exposure!); OR (2) fire the shutter; this returns the focus lever to its resting position. Now you will have to re-cock the shutter to make the exposure. I usually use method (1) on the theory that the fewer times I cock and release the shutter, the less mechanical wear and tear over the long haul.

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2146 Location: New Jersey

pjviitas · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Baffin Island

Ok...I might be asking about something so obvious that you guys are missing it.

I figured out what the press shutter is but I am more interested in a small cylindrical post between the shutter cocking lever and the flash sync selector.

Hedgehog

pjviitas · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Baffin Island

The shutter assembly doesn't really turn on the board...it's more of a very small rotational shift.

If you think I need to tighten something, where can find this retaining ring?

Hedgehog

Henry · Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:26 pm Post subject:

Right you are, Dan. I knew there was a reason that I don't like them!

45PSS · Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:49 pm Post subject:

My manual does not show a -P version so the protrusion in question is:
A. the pc connector, metal outer-plastic center-small metal sleve in the center.
B. Shutter release cable socket, metal sleve that appears to be hollow with threads inside.
To tighten the lens locknut/retaining ring:
Remove the lens board, observe the lens retainer ring on the back: rotate lens as when cocking shutter, hold retainer ring and return lens to correct orientation by turning clockwise; or hold lens in correct orientation and turn retaining ring with retaining ring spanner wrench.
Exercise care not to scratch lens.

To remove lens board:
Losen manual trip lever and position out of the way.
Slide top lens board lock to the left.
Slide the bottom lens board lock to the right.
Pull lens board and lens srtaight out.
Have camera laying on its back or slightly rotated backward as lens/board assembly may fall out if the camera is level or rotated foward when preforimg these steps.

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Graflex Corp.was a (silent) supporter of Rain Forest Devastation.

[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2006-06-27 13:53 ]

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2146 Location: New Jersey

pjviitas · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Baffin Island

It looks like a pc-connector then...metal inner cylinder inside of a plastic cylinder inside of a metal outer cylinder.

Not sure if I will ever need a pc-connector but at least I know what it is now...thanks a bunch.

Anyone wishing to comment on pc-connectors would be appreciated.

Will keep you posted on how I make out with the retaining ring.

Hedgehog

pjviitas · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Baffin Island

After getting the lense-board assembly off and examining the retaining ring it didn't appear to be snuggly tightened to the back of the lense-board.

The retaining ring seems to unscrew quite easily so i removed it along with the shutter assembly from the lense-board.

Careful examination revealed a guide pin on the back of the shutter assembly meant to mate with the lense-board.

In turn, there appeared to be a flange on the retaining ring meant to take up the slack between the lense-board hole and the body of the shutter assembly.

After reflecting on this it appeared that the flange on the bottom of the retaining ring had been riding on the back of the lense-board and not screwed down snuggly bottoming the retaining ring onto the back of the lense-board.

I proceeded to assembly everything properly ( and put a finger-print on the back of the lense ) and the retaining ring bottomed wonderfully snug to the back of the lense board however...no retaining ring spanner!!!

I snugged the retaining ring down very carefully with 2 screwdrivers but it is not tight enough since there is still a tiny bit of rotational play in the shutter assembly. Needless to say trying to tighten it any further with the wrong tools is not a good idea.

Anyone know where I can get a retaining ring spanner?

Hedgehog

pjviitas · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Baffin Island

After cleaning the lense that I had dirtied, I thought I would take another stab at getting that retaining ring a little tighter.

Being extra, extra careful I got it snug enough to stop any rotational movement.

I believe a retaining ring spanner is still in order but at least the retaining ring is nominal for now.

The camera is back together and waiting until I have a chance to learn about it more and possibly tune it up another notch.

Thanks for all your help gentlemen and any info on getting a retaining ring spanner would be greatly appreciated.

Best Regards, Hedgehog

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2146 Location: New Jersey

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

While it's probably a PC flash connection (for Prontor-Compur) It might also be am ASA Bayonet. I just looked at my 203 Ektar from '61 and.....Oh never mind, mine's a Kodak and they pushed the bayonet flash connection more than anybody else.

45PSS · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 2:20 am Post subject:

Any camera store that handles large format accessories should have a retaining ring spanner or http://www.skgrimes.com/span/index.htm

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