Graflex.org

Seedsca

Hi all,

First post and I'm very much looking forward to using this camera! Found it in a small town in Northern California. Antique mall under a table, barely noticeable. $40 did the trick!!

Been shooting film for a while but never large format, so this should be fun.

My questions:
1. I did run into an immediate issue when trying to trigger the focal plane shutter. It won't. I'm guessing the selector slide is not functioning, since even on the BACK setting it will trigger the lens shutter still triggers. I've cocked the winder to 500 and have the lens open (T). Anything I'm doing wrong here?

2. Pretty sure this has a Graflex back. Can it be converted to Graflok? Seems like it would need a bit of modification, but may work. Seems this would give me more options for the film used.

3. What is this custom(?) piece on the top of the lens and what does it do?

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2158 Location: New Jersey

1) Here https://archive.org/details/stroboflash-service-manual/3A%20Graflex%20Servicing/ is a link to a site with, among other things, a 1947 Pacemaker Graphic user manual. About firing your focal plane shutter, stupid question of the day: Is it wound up?

2) Yes, that looks like a Graflex back. It should be held on by several screws. Graflok and spring backs are direct replacements, use the same screw holes. Finding a Graflok back may be a problem.

3) That thingy is a viewfinder. In Graflex-speak a tubular view finder. The piece of metal in front of the finder's front lens is a mask to crop the finder's field of view for a particular focal length. The mask goes into a slot in the frame at the front of the finder. There's a number stamped somewhere on it. Pull it out to find the number. The Rapid Vance .. Guidebook at the link I gave you above has a table that will tell you which focal length you finder's mask is for.

Good luck, have fun.

Seedsca · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 2:27 am Post subject:

Thanks Dan! I'll have a thorough look at the PDF you shared.

1. Having looked at the manual, I am seeing that the body release should indeed trigger the focal-plane shutter. But it doesn't

However, the manual also states that I can use the selector slide to trigger it!!! That does work. I may have to open the shutter plate cover to see why the body release isn't working on that setting. Progress...

2. Thanks for verifying. I do see some ******* on eBay, but they are about $150+. I may have to deal with what I have, which I assume is quite functional still. For the time being, at least.

3. The thing I was referring to is attached to the shutter release arm. It's stamped HR and has some kind of trigger on it. Haven't seen it yet on any web searches or manuals. I think it's a solenoid? Which means nothing to me.

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2158 Location: New Jersey

That thingy is a solenoid. When in use it is wired to a bulb type flash unit. Bulb (chemical) flashes take a little time to build to full brightness when fired. The solenoid releases the shutter with an adjustable delay whose length depends on the type of bulb used. Not particularly useful nowadays.

Seedsca · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2025 9:58 pm Post subject:

Found a Crown Graphic with a Graflok back. Not sure if they are interchangeable with Speed Graphic. The back of the Graflex has a copper tab to create extra drag on the focal-plane shutter's curtain. But the Graflok one does not. Is this because it was on a camera that does not have a focal-plane shutter, or does it "just work" like that?

I'm not finding any Graflok backs with that tab on it. I did see this on Ebay, that seems to be for the Pacemaker, which also doesn't have be tab...

Seedsca · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2025 10:37 pm Post subject:

Here are the images of the Ebay item I mentioned. This makes me think they may indeed be compatible...

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2158 Location: New Jersey

Hmm. The copper tab on the Graflex back is probably for flash sync. Crowns don't have a focal plane shutter, Graflex SLRs do.

Your Graflok back should be a direct replacement for the Graflex back on your camera. Check that the holes for the mounting screws are in the same places on both backs.

FWIW, my first Graphic was a 2x3 Pacemaker Speed that had, like all pre-1949 Graphics, a Graphic (= spring) back. I eventually found a 2x3 Miniature Graphic that had a Pacemaker Graflok back; Graflex sold retrofit Graflok backs for Minis that had the copper strip for flash sync and a flash terminal at the upper left corner. My find had a Pacemaker Graflok. I swapped backs between the cameras and sold the Mini.

Seedsca · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2025 6:58 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that info! The back fits just fine, just didn't have that copper tab. Which, thinking about it makes perfect sense that it would be for a flash sync. Strange that I haven't seen any Graflok backs with that tab. Buuut, that's a problem for future me. In the mean time, I'll take what is available.

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2158 Location: New Jersey

Graflok backs for Pacemaker Speed Graphics don't have the tab because the flash sync is buried somewhere inside the body. Early Graphics' back have the tab and the circuit is completed by a metal staple (I think) in the shutter. Retrofit backs for older (pre-Pacemaker) Graphics have the tab.