Graflex.org

[Steve S]

I recently received a Crown Graphic Special in nice working and cosmetic order. The ground glass corresponds to the vernier distance scale and the cam for the 135mm Xenar is in place and working to the extent that it is doing the parallax correction in the viewfinder as the bellows is moved from 6 feet to infinity.
However at some point someone has put an accessory shoe on top of the rangefinder housing and in so doing damaged the internal workings of the rangefinder.
Neither of the mirrors move when the bellows is focused and there is no rangefinder double image visible. When the rangefinder cover is removed the chrome tube extending into the rangefinder housing from the eyepiece seems to have been cut.
I wonder if anyone can point me to pictures of what the internal workings of a functioning top mounted rangefinder are meant to look like. If I can get this I can at least try to make a repair.
Thanks, Steve

[Steve S]

This is the inside of the rangefinder top cover. It shows where the chrome tube from the r/f eyepiece seems to have been cut


This is the top of the camera showing the non moving mirrors (A and B) and the working pivot arm which moves to produce the parralax correction in the viewfinder C

[tsgrimm]

http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/TRFService.pdf

Hello Steve,

I suggest that you start with the above link and go from there.
www.southbristolviews.com

I haven't owned a top rangefinder model for a while, I'm a 2x3 man now.

Graflex replacement parts and service are available in the states but probably not in the U.K.

There are accessory rangefinders that were made by the millions to fit the many brands of 120 folders and 35mm cameras manufactured in Europe after WWII. The one that I have is a Telex (Watameter) and should fit the accessory shoe installed by a previous owner. A quick search of e-Bay will turn up a couple of them. Kodak rangefinders only fit a Kodak accessory shoe.

Search the board for some more help.

More knowledgeable persons will be along soon to help you.

Tom

[Les]

What I'm seeing is the wrong eyepiece rather than it being cut. The photo below shows a typical eyepiece that is black, sticks out farther (and actually has a thread in there on some of 'em) but does not have a tube inside the top as yours does (it's pretty dark in there so you eye doesn't wander around, so no need for a tube.

Les



_________________
"In order to invent, you need a good imagination and a lot of junk" Thomas Edison

[Steve S]

What can I say? Brilliant response and exactly what I was looking for. It looks like the mirror at A is jammed solid so this is my first job; to get it moving again. If I can do that everything should fall into place with a bit of work. By the way even the rangefinder illumination is working when I put batteries in. That could be really interesting to use once I get the r/f working.
Thanks again, Steve
PS If I fail, yes I had thought of putting another clip in rangefinder in the accessory shoe.

[ngonping]

regarding the photo of the crown, on the crown i bought from hk, one of the metal clips on my focusing hood is not flush with the hood surface, but bent slightly. is it a simple process to fix the clip back onto the hood?