Graflex.org

Wooster · Joined: 29 Feb 2020 Posts: 5

I've just received my first Speed Graphic (serial 904478), and whilst it's a wonderful thing, I have some concerns!

I didn't realise when I bought it, but shortly afterwards I noticed it must be a Pacemaker Speed Graphic, owing to the small number of FP shutter speeds. However, I wasn't prepared for the fact that there is no option to use a shutter release cable with the FP shutter, which seems to be to be quite a spectacular omission, and a real problem when it comes to long exposures.

I didn't even know they came without an FP shutter cable port. Can anyone help me with any further information about this camera? Am I going to need to sell and replace it? I wish I'd paid better attention and waited for a normal Speed Graphic, but this is a bit of a minefield for the beginner.

Thanks.

AnselMortensen · Joined: 30 Dec 2019 Posts: 18

Hi,
Your Pacemaker looks like some sort of transitional model from Anniversary to Pacemaker.
Mine is newer, and very different...no provision for cable release on mine either.
The shutter trip lever on yours looks like an Anniversary, but missing the part that the cable would screw into....not sure about that.
Are you aware of the small lever at the bottom of the plate, below the FP sync terminals? Moving that lever presents more shutter speeds in the window by moving a slider under the glass.
Hope this helps.

Wooster · Joined: 29 Feb 2020 Posts: 5

Wooster · Joined: 29 Feb 2020 Posts: 5

OK - a bit more research and I believe this is a military model, which is unusual entirely in black. That's nice from a collection standpoint, but disappointing from the point of view of using it.

45PSS · Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 7:36 pm Post subject:

904478 is in a batch of 3000 cameras listed in May 1955.
Your camera is a military version. The military version does not have the body release.
The side rangefinder has been removed. It was likely a Kalart.
The Optical Viewfinder is not present but the shoe for it is.
It has a Graflok back.

Military cameras were painted black or camouflage starting in 1941 as the chrome would give the photographer away in combat situations.

The lens board and lens would have been black also.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

Wooster · Joined: 29 Feb 2020 Posts: 5

Thanks, that's what I thought. Gutted to have something so utterly useless, but there we are.

45PSS · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 12:42 am Post subject:

Wooster · Joined: 29 Feb 2020 Posts: 5

45PSS · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 3:21 am Post subject:

This factory service manual https://graflex.org/manuals/45-Pacemaker-Speed-and-Crown-Graphic.pdf covers the focal plane shutter servicing. There is a minor difference in the outside plate of the fps. It should not be difficult to fabricate a cable release socket to fit and operate the the fps lever.

A standard Pacemaker Speed has the cable release socket in the body release and the shutter selector switch has to be set to Rear for it to trip the fps.

This service manual https://www.cameramanuals.org/prof_pdf/c-3_graflex_camera.pdf is for the military version of the Anniversary Speed. The fps is covered in detail.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.