Graflex.org

[Incunabulator]

Picked this up to shoot glass plates with a Graflex Jr I’m restoring. https://imgur.com/a/cCN2r2F

Plate magazines seem rather rare, or at least I have only ever seen a few in this size. It’s in quite good shape for the age, the leather bag is supple and light tight, which is a pleasant surprise. Is it made by Folmer & Schwing? There are no markings I can find other than the serial number which is #158. If it is F&S, any idea how many of these were made or an approximate date?

Septums are mostly good, a few slight bends that I can fix, but there is a little corrosion / rust on a few. I can easily polish it off, but any tips on black paint to refinish? I’ve re-done a few grafmatic septums before and have never been happy with any paint I’ve tried.

Leather covering is okay, there is some heavy gouging around the lid clasp and it’s starting to separate in a few places. I’m stripping down the Graflex Jr to pair this with so the leather might go on this holder as well, have to think about it.

The pin (wood screw) that holds the lid clasp on is bent and doesn’t hold the lid on tightly, I’ll have to fix that.

Darkslide is extremely brittle and looks to be delaminating or cracking. Although it is functional and light tight, I’ll replace it with one from another holder.

[45PSS]

There is no known serial number listing for accessories. The 158 may be a casting number.
As far as paint for the spetums Rust-Oleum flat black https://spraypaint.rustoleum.com/products/protective-enamel-spray?ls=7776830&lc=Flat%20Black is the best choice I know of.
1 light coat should be adequate if allowed to cure for a week or two before use.
I just finished the bed blocks on a 1948 Speed with the satin black.
Rust-oleum 2x will dry too thick with a single coat. There may be a flat black auto touch up paint that will work.

https://www.boltdepot.com/ is the source I use for the brass wood screws used in Graflex cameras and accessories.

You can get a copy of the instruction manual for the Bag Magazine here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1sPJkp-MdghNFVsYXk0a1dUTHM/view?usp=sharing
Plate and film magazines operate the same.
The plate magazine was available through the early 1920's.
http://piercevaubel.com/cam/catalogsekc.htm
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