Graflex.org

hporter · Joined: 16 Jul 2005 Posts: 26 Location: Houston, Texas

I would like to find a roll film holder for my RB Series D 4x5. Is there an easy way to visually differentiate between a holder designed for the Graflex back, and one designed for the Graphlok back?

I have been looking on eBay, but not having seen one in person, I am unsure how to properly identify one.

Thank you,

Harold S. Porter

45PSS · Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:17 pm Post subject:

Graflex have a square grove for a light trap and a grove in the center of the top and bottom edges. The Graphic have a square ridge or two 3/4 inch apart for the light trap and the grove for graplok attaching is 2/3 the distance from the outside edge to film plane. Graflex film holders/roll film holders are 1/8 to 1/4 inch wider than the graphics. Early production Graflex are wider than newer versions and I do not when they changed but guess it to be 20's or early 30's. Length of Grafphic and Graflex are the same.
The 23 Graphic I have for Graflok in 4x5 has two square ribs 3/4 inch apart for the light trap and the board is 1/4 inch thick along the edges. A graflex will have the groves for light trap and be about the same thickness.

_________________
While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a quality photograph is worth a million.

[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-07-17 13:19 ]

glennfromwy · Joined: 29 Nov 2001 Posts: 903 Location: S.W. Wyoming

Simply : Look at the light trap rib/groove arrangement on the dark slide end of the holder. The holders for the Graflex back have the light trap groove in the holder. The rib, if there is one, will be on the camera back. Some early backs did not have ribs, but felt light seals. The ones for the Graphic (spring or Graflok) backs have the light trap groove in the camera back and the rib(s) are on the holder.

_________________
Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"

hporter · Joined: 16 Jul 2005 Posts: 26 Location: Houston, Texas

Thank you very much for the quick replies. I appreciate the assistance very much.

Regards,

Harold

JanetQ · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Michigan

I read the comments and really feel dumb - I am sitting here with 4 rollfilm backs, one for my 4x5 and 3 for my Mamyia Universal (?) and my 23 Century Graphic (?). Could some one explain in simplier terms or a diagram? Janet

mopar_guy · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:30 am Post subject:

Hello,

I have two different roll holders in front of me in 3x4 size. Both knob wind for 120 film.

Graflex back (old style): looking at the Front side it is smooth with no raised rib. From the back it is labeled "22" GRAFLEX. This is the wider kind that was mentioned.

Graphic back (springback): looking at the Front side there is a raised rib about 5/8 inch from the film opening and the back is labeled "23" GRAPHIC. This is 1/4 inch narrower than the other back. This one works with the Graflok back on my Pacemaker Speed.

The first back is for 2 1/4 square and has rollers.

The second back is for 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 and has rollers.

There may be other labeling.

Hope this helps.

Regards, Dave

cblurton · Joined: 25 Aug 2008 Posts: 29 Location: Hong Kong

C. Henry · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 4:22 am Post subject:

CL;

I suggest that you check that knob wind roll film back to see if the "lip" was removed before you got it. I seem to recall a thread a while back (I think in the Accessories Help Forum) where someone had a roll film back that had been modified in a very professional manner so that it no longer had the "lip" or ridge. If I recall correctly this was discovered only by careful examination of the unit.

C. Henry

cblurton · Joined: 25 Aug 2008 Posts: 29 Location: Hong Kong

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2144 Location: New Jersey

"The other knob-style holder actually has a groove where the lip is on the other holder."

Graflex rollholder to fit a Graflex back. That's Graflex as in Graflex SLR, not as in Graflex brand.

Billy Canuck · Joined: 04 Apr 2006 Posts: 165 Location: Calgary AB Canada

There is very clear information on the 3 different types of Graflex-Graphic backs with good photographs to illustrate same on Jo Lommen's press-camera website,
http://www.xs4all.nl/~lommen9/holders/index.html

mopar_guy · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject:

Craig,
For what its worth, I dug out some sheet film holders in 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 size and my 2x3 Pacemaker Crown. Graflex style sheet film holders are the same width as the Graphic sheet film holder type 5. The Graflex style holders do fit my Graflok back Crown Graphic, but as they do not have the ridge to form the light trap I don't know how well they would work.

As I wrote before, in 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 size the Glaflex style rollholder is wider than a Graphic type rollholder. The Graflex type will not fit into the Graflok back of my 3x4 Pacemaker Speed Graphic but will fit a Graflex RB with a Graflex back.

Regards,
Dave
_________________
I guess that I could get a digital camera but it would be obsolete in a couple of years (three tops). Or I could use my 3x4 Anniversary Speed Graphic. Heck, it's been obsolete for 50 years. That's way better than digital.

cblurton · Joined: 25 Aug 2008 Posts: 29 Location: Hong Kong

Thank you very much for the quick replies and the link. It seems clear that the back wasn't made to be used with my 2x3 Pacemaker. I've shot a roll with it and when it comes back later this week I'll be able to see if there is a light leak problem as I suspect there must be. If so, I'll put it in the drawer and look for an appropriate 6x9 back (I like the format). If not, I'm good to go.

Best wishes,

Craig