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[rwhitbread]

I recently purchased a Miniature Speed Graphic for its Graflok back. (Said back to be transferred over to my near mint 1945 Miniature).

The one camera I just purchased as a few "issues" with it, so the price was right. after thinking about it a bit more, I think I have most of the parts and repair material on hand to address the most of the "issues" (Listed below)

1) some bubbling of leatherette on front
2) tarnish, some paint loss and scratches on rangefinder
3) spot of superficial rust on back cover.
4) Lens has internal dust with larger specks and fibers, some separation and haze at the perimeter towards front element
5) shutter curtain is wrinkled.

I can deal with 1 through 4 (the latter through replacement; I happen to have a working and clean replacement shutter and lens of the same size).

Its number 5, "shutter curtain wrinkled" that I have no experience nor knowledge about; I am assuming they are talking about the FP shutter curtain.

Can the curtain be flattened out, treated and reinstalled, or are we talking about a full rebuild/replace exercise.

While I do not "need" a second 2x3 Speed Graphic I have not decided whether top keep it or sell it., In either case, I'd rather get it back into full order before I make that decision.

I will not know the extent of the wrinkling until the camera arrives "about a week or so), but in the mean time I thought I'd bone up on FP shutter repair techniques.

Any advice is appreciated.
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Richard R.Whitbread

[45PSS]

The Miniature Speed is a 2x3 version of the 3x4/4x5 Anniversary Speed.
Download this manual http://www.graflex.org/manuals/4x5-Anniversary-Speed-Graphic.pdf and follow the guidelines for the FPS.

If the wrinkles are from the rubberized coating dry cracking strip the rubber off the base material with Lacquer Thinner and a wide putty knife held at a 90° to the material, wash then paint with 2 to 3 thin coats of Golden #1040 Carbon Black artist paint or Tulip washable fabric paint, ebony or black. If the wrinkles are from the curtain being improperly wound then place it on a smooth hard surface, rubberized side down, and iron with a steam iron on Silk setting.
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The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[rwhitbread]