Graflex.org

Robadore · Joined: 01 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

I hope I have the correct forum here. I just bought a beautiful Century Graphic, like new, really. It came without a lens which is no problem as I have another Century and a number of lenses. My problem is the rangefinder. For some reason the rangefinder arm was not seating correctly in the roller on the rail at the bottom. As the focus knob was turned there would be a click sound as the arm jumped off the roller on the bottom. As it turns out (I think) the roller was not seated squarely where it is screwed into the focus rails. No matter what I did it would not seat squarely, so I put a shim under it and that fixed that. I then had to slightly bend the very end of the arm. It now will seat squarely. But my main problem is now the re-tighten the arm at the top where it had been. Can anyone help me here? I am hoping that I will not have to open the rangefinder to do this. I am really not apt enough in the brains department to tackle internal rangefinder adjustment. I just want to retighten the arm. I can make the rest of the external adjustments from there as I do know how to do that part. I hope I have made sense here..Thanks to all..Robbie

Robadore · Joined: 01 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

Whoa! I cannot believe this. After spending a lot of time on this yesterday I had nearly given up hope. Now, after five minutes of fiddling I have it set correctly. It was all trial and error, just moving a little each time until at one point I tightened the set screw and the arm was exactly in the right place. So now I am good to go. Thanks to all who at least read this! Robbie

shutterfinger · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 57

Kalart or Hugo Meyer?

Robadore · Joined: 01 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

Sorry, Kalart. I believe all the Centurys were equipped with the Kalart..

45PSS · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 12:01 am Post subject:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/thirteenthumbs/3EE483
called a no adjustment hole kalart newer versions are very similar in makeup and the same in operation/mechanics.

The arm you were having trouble with connects to A in the 3rd photo.
Arm alignment on the shaft is usually the cause of the arm not engaging the rail eccentric.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sPJkp-Mdghc0FwQkRuWEhFZEE/view?usp=sharing
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

Robadore · Joined: 01 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

Thank you very much! The arm placement and the roller angle were the culprits here. This camera shows absolutely no sign of use. I have a feeling that the rangefinder coupling never worked properly right from the factory..a lemon if you will. Even with the top of the arm set all the way against the inside of the body it still would not seat in the roller. And the roller on the bottom was clearly not at a right angle with the focus rail. The only way to re-seat it was to place the shim under it the make it square. I used a snip of Tri X film. Then, only after I bent the bottom tip of the arm did it seat. It was just way, way off from the beginning. There were no signs at all that anyone had ever tinkered with it. The good thing is that it now works like a new camera and is as if new..so I am very pleased. It is a late model from 1968 or thereabouts. No I must decide which lens...a Kodak 105 3.7 Ektar with rebuilt shutter or a Linhof select 105 3.5 Xenar, also with new shutter. Thank you for your interest and contribution..Robbie Bedell

45PSS · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 2:18 am Post subject:

A Karalt on a Miniature Speed would not operate properly. A prism was used where yours has a movable mirror. The prism frame was not square and one of the alignment screws was overtightned beyond design limit to compensate.
On the inside of the case was 12/16/1940. That was a Monday, must have been some party over the weekend.

Misassembly in 1968 very likely as Graflex was changing hands, unknown what Kalart's status was at the time but rangefinders were all but obsolete.
Sometimes a klutz puts things together leaving parts out and no indication they were ever in there. TriX is .007 inch thick. If the eccentric was not square to its mount it had has been bent by a klutz.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

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

But Charles, Miniature Speed Graphics were offered with Kalarts. Did you mean Hugo Meyer?

Robadore · Joined: 01 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

45PSS · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 7:34 pm Post subject:

Robadore · Joined: 01 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

I had not thought of a piece of 4x5. That may have worked even better. But all is well now. I got the rangefinder all set today and it all seems 'dead nuts'. It's a great camera. I am starting out with the 105 Ektar. I will play with that for a while and then try the Xenar. I have a 100mm Symmar convertible on my first Century. I am juggling too many cameras! Thank you everyone! Robbie