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verben1 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Philadelphia

Hello every one I'm new to this I'm trying to build my first camera .
here is a quick little story , I met a guy that I did a central ac unit for he loved the work and made me a business prop he is getting in age and he want me to sell all of his cameras slowly ,well I started to sell them on ebay and as i learn about some of these great cameras I have fallen in love with this graphic stile cameras --its starting to get hard to sell them because of some of the History behind them (WWII cameras is what he collected for years)
but I found a Green Graphics PH-47-j Sn# 412 in very good condition
I would like to know if this is a good camera to restore and customize ,sorry for all the babbling.

bruiser · Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject:

YES!!! Restore it please!

The PH-47-J seems to be the rarest and last of the Signal Corps PH series of cameras. They were the also the first true Speed Graphic that the army had made in the OD green finish (The wooden OD green Combat45 was made in 1944-45 but the PH-47-J not until1949-50). So there is some history involved with these.

They were superseded in about 1953 by the very similar looking KE-12(1). The only differences I have been able to find are that the PH has a body shutter release and a full Graflok back, with slides. Can you confirm that yours is built this way?

When you are finished post some photos here!

Cheers,
Bruce

verben1 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Philadelphia

OK thats very interesting I have two other cameras one is green and one black
they are KE 12-1. here are some pic of my PH 47-J

http://truefireforgod.com/green.htm

bruiser · Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 11:02 pm Post subject:

Thanks for posting the photos.

It looks just like mine and it is a fine candidate for restoration. At least all the parts seem to be there.

You have a black KE-12(1)? I have heard of these and I have an all black version, but mine says "4x5 Still Camera, Property of US Govt" on a small front plate, the same size as the military cameras.

Cheers,
Bruce

verben1 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Philadelphia

yes i have a green and a black one of the KE 12-1 . should i sell these?
And what is that cable hanging from the side of my PH 47 and how do i remove the back plate?
one more thing--how can i find the year and what order it was made first or last type of order.Thanks for all your Help I truly appreciate it .

bruiser · Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 8:33 am Post subject:

Sorry about the little delay...time zone difference!

The loose cable is the shutter release that looks like it has one end still connected to the body release. It should then pass through wire loops under the bellows and then be attached to the left (as viewed from the front of the camera) side of the front standard, up near the top. Have a look at a few Crown or Pacemaker Speed Graphics on ebay or Google images to get a general idea. It looks as though you need the shutter 'paddle' which pushes down on the shutter release in order to fire the shutter. Again, check some photos.

Which part of the 'back plate' do you wish to remove? And why?

I see your camera is serial number 855682. Mine is 859220 and apparently 1950 so I guess yours is too.

If you want to sell the black KE-12 email me with a price

or put it on ebay where I will bid instead.

Have fun!!

Cheers,
Bruce

C. Henry · Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 12:20 pm Post subject:

For what it's worth the "Not the Serial Number Book List, But..." compiled by Shutterfinger shows:
853070- 4x5 pacemaker speed - 1950
853078 - -
858257 - pacemaker speed - 1950
From that I would assume that your 855682 is probably vintage 1950 also.

C. Henry

verben1 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Philadelphia

THANKS GUYS I will be putting up the KE 12-1 soon -they need some fixing but I know some one out there can do it..
User name ( In_the_light ) and (brokn_chainz)

verben1 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Philadelphia

Hey bruiser would you please show me your PH47 THANKS -I have not seen any but mine and i would truly appreciate it --THANKS

verben1 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Philadelphia

The KE 12 are up on auction check it out .

US ARMY RARE Item number: 260434543765
US ARMY RARE Item number: 260434383212

willysmb · Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Posts: 128 Location: France _ Europe

Hello Verben,

Why do you limit the sale to USA ?

Laurent

verben1 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Philadelphia

I'll ship out of USA as long as they pay for the shipping terms
I'll try to change that on my auctions.

bruiser · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:47 am Post subject:

I'll post some PH-47-J photos when I get home from work.

Cheers' Bruce

bruiser · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:56 am Post subject:

sorry...duplicate post.

P. Lynn Miller · Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 31 Location: Sydney, Australia