Graflex.org

[Flashnut29]

Hi I am a newbie here. I was wondering if anyone knows what kind of bulb (flashlight bulb? or something special?) is supposed to go behind the glass eye on my Graflex 3 cell Pat#2310165.

[Flashnut29]

Also I am an amateur collector so I am asking for some advice. As a collector do you guys care just about functionality or do you also care about cosmetics? My heiland 3 cell 7" reflector has some chips to the black paint and I'm in a dilemma whether I should touch them up to improve the look or just leave them as is.

[45PSS]

I'll leave the bulb question to someone else but if there is a model number, or name such as Graflite or Graflex Flash, on it that may help but patent numbers don't mean much.
As far as refinishing, items in collector circles are worth more in origional condition, in user circles the better the condition the more valuable even if it has been refinished or refurbished.
Restoration sites:
http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/forum/
http://www.historiccamera.com/restore2.html
http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/articles.html
Charles

_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[Flashnut29]

Thanks for the info on restoration! My flash has no product number only patent number. It is a Graflex 3-cell flash gun that pre-dates the Graflite (and it is the model that SW fans are trying so desperately to obtain. The bulb I am talking about goes in the glass eye part (the flash did not come with the bulb so I have no frame of reference for what make or size to use)

[MR]

Any small flashlight bulb should work in the focussing light. In case you didn't know, the small switch on the side near the top slides up and down to turn the bulb on and off.

Heiland reflectors aren't hard to find cheap, so if you're just looking for your unit to be clean and spiffy, repaint it. They don't have much collector value.