Graflex.org

[cchaven]

I'm new to the forums and have two Anniversary Speed Graphics...one is what appears to be a military version...totally blacked out with the exception of the two rings on the front of the Kalart rangefinder. It's in pretty rough shape, it's serial# 338582 suggesting it's from 1944? It has a black Kalart with a serial# D13111, whereas my 1941 Speed has a silver Kalart of Serial# E63332. Oddly, the 'C' lensboard from my 1941 Speed doesn't fit the black 1944 Speed...it won't push back to lay flush..but a heavy metal lensboard and a homemade lensboard I have both fit both cameras. The 1944 came to me without a lens and right now I have a 1943 Kodak Anastigmat 161mm 4.5 barrel lens mounted on it on a very heavy metal plate lensboard. It seems a bit fitting since that is the lens one sees on pictures of the K20. It has a rough, spackle type finish between the lens rails. It has a Graflex back on it.

[bruiser]

Hi cchaven and welcome!

Your all black Speed is from c1944 and could well have been military but as all (later) 1942 - 1944 Speed Graphics had black metal hardware (civilian and military) it's a little difficult to pinpoint its background.

See if you can find for it a black (Signal Corps) or silver faced Supermatic shutter with a 127mm Ektar, serial number beginning with EM or EE. That will give you a correct outfit for that time.

To get a few ideas take a look at the military cameras page on my site: http://graflex.coffsbiz.com

Cheers,
Bruce