Graflex.org

[thereisnocat]

This past week, I received a Graflex RB Series B 4x5 that I had one on one of the auction sites (not the big one). The leather is scuffed, but none of it is peeling. The handle is gone, replaced with some string. The shutter seems to be in good shape. Near as I can tell, it's an early one, serial number 122271. Looking at the various serial number lists online, I don't see any 4x5 RB Series B near that, but other cameras near there seem to be from around 1923.

When I received it and opened it up, it was in pretty good shape, but it was clear that the ground glass was missing. Anyone have any tips on how to replace it? Best sources for ground glass for this beast?

One interesting thing; it came with a Graflex Plate Magazine. 12 septums inside, each of them filled with another numbered septum for film. Anyone have any experience with the Plate Magazine? Were the fillers purpose built, or are they Cut Film Magazine septums?

[shutterfinger]

122271 listed in mid Nov. 1922, may have actually been made in Jan 1923.
Telescopic design rebadged Series B. The Telescopic was being phased out and the Series B introduced with 1923 the cutoff date and introduction date for both models. Series B labled bodies have been reported as early as early 1922 with Telescopic labeled Series B designs as late as 1924.
https://graflex.org/graflex-products-list.html

If its the ground glass that goes under the view hood measure the recess of the opening and order a piece cut to size off ebay, its nothing special. Are the springs present?

Bag Magazines of that era came in two flavors, plate magazines and cut film magazines.
Download the instructions here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sPJkp-MdghNFVsYXk0a1dUTHM/view?usp=sharing

[thereisnocat]

[shutterfinger]

I think the original gg was 1/16 -3/32 thick, 1/8 will work but care must be taken to get it in.
The front goes between the spring arms and the metal frame. The frame is adjusted to compensate for the mirror angle. The spring on the rear is missing an arm. Measure the thickness of the spring, .010 to .025 inch thick.
Using the original as a template cut a new arm for the missing side. Cut a strip the same width as the arms that fits from mid point of each arm across the center to the mid point of the other. Solder the brace to the center, existing arm and replacement arm. The brace can be thinner than the arms.
With the rear spring removed from the body slip the gg under the front spring arms, ground side down, then let the gg seat onto the wood frame. Set the rear spring into place and secure with the screws. The springs should just hold the gg so that it does not slip or lift up.
Download https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sPJkp-MdghRkRId1EwT0dpNkk/view?usp=sharing and
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sPJkp-MdghS2llS1VaRkRIWUk/view?usp=sharing
Figure 1 is a Series B, figure 4 is a Series D.
I have a handle template if you need it, give me your email via private message.

[thereisnocat]

PM sent. Thanks for the detailed instructions.

No removable lens board on this camera. Definitely fits the Series B description better.

[Tim Floyd]

I'm replacing mine with a brighter finder I bought off eBay, and I noticed that someone placed shims between the camera and the prior ground glass, I assume to micro adjust for focus.

Should the new fresnel lens just lay in the camera without shims, or is there an adjustment to be made. I assume to do this one would compare the focus on the fresnel lens to the focus on the rear ground glass?

Thanks,

Tim Floyd
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Tim Floyd

[Tim Floyd]

Great explanation, and instructions, by the way!

[Tim Floyd]

THANK YOU, whoever sent the link to the graflex repair/maintenance PDF!
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Tim Floyd