A big thank you to everyone on RFF

[wlewisiii]

As has been fairly obvious from my recent posts, I've gotten into LF rangefinding in a big way of late. The old veteran WWII Anniversary Speed Graphic with it's 1943 5" (aka 127mm) Ektar and Hugo Meyer RF came to me from an RFF member who noted my musings one day last winter and sent it to me on an extended loan. As I have had my "learning and playing daily" with it of late, many of you have extended your assistance in many diverse ways, increasing my knowledge and pure pleasure in the process. While there are many good sources of Graflex info out there, there is nothing else on the net that has such an amazingly broad base of knowledge as this place combined with such an utter lack of judgementalism.

Thank you ! to this wonderful community. I greatly appreciate being able to associate with each and everyone of you. This past year I have finally learned that a really good online community can exist and I have been given the grace to experiance it.

And even more, I wish to say "THANK YOU!!!!" to Jorge for creating this place to begin with.

William

 

[jdos2]

BIG Second!

 

[Skinny McGee]

I guess I get to third.... this is a great forum with great folks

 

[Stephanie Brim]

I can second the enthusiasm for this place. My Canon P is here on loan and I don't know what I'd do without it now. I don't have the money for scanning negs so you're going to have to take my word for it for a while, but it's changed the way I photograph things and definitely taught me when I can and can't get away with using a meter. I can't say enough about how great this place is.

 

[bmattock]

I'm going to be asking for help soon. I have two basket case Speed Graphics and will be putting them together if I can. Will need help!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Bill,

If you need parts let me know. I may have some, depending on what it is that you may need for your speeds.

Yes this is a great forum.

Wayne

 

[wlewisiii]

Bill,

If I can share anything (knowledge, physical bits, etc), I'll be happy to help as well.

William

 

[bmattock]

Thanks, guys! I think I'm ok for parts - just looking for another graflok focusing panel and I think I'm good to go for one reassembly anyway. But I have all the parts for a couple of rangefinders in a tupperware container - might be a bit of a chore to figure out slot b into tab a and so forth. So I may be posting frantic questions like that!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

PS - And why, might you ask, did I take them apart in the first place? Well in one case, I got it cheap on eBay because the previous owner had, um, painted it purple. I have deleathered it and am ready to proceed with releathering some day soon. The other I just took apart and am not sure why.

 

[wlewisiii]

Heh. This is where I intend to begin: http://www.cameraquest.com/nude.htm The wood undernieth the leather of my Anniversary model is alleged to be Honduran Mahogany. If that is the case, then the kind of finish easily available at a boat supply store will give me a beautiful camera. Even if it's wrong, I'm probably still better off than the cruft that comes from most leather suppliers these days.

So, when I'm finished, there isn't a press dude who'll be within a 100 meters of this camera. But that's thier loss... 🙂

William

 

[Heath]

I have a Century Graphic so I guess I can add my bit here too. Unfortunately mine didn't come with the rangefinder, so I have to focus using the ground glass, which doesn't bother me too much. I mainly use mine for landscapes. BUt having the rangefinder would be good. Does anyone know where I can get one from?

Heath

 

[Nick R.]

Check out MIA RFF'er Gordon Coale's Speed Graphic:
http://www.electricedge.com/greymatter/archives/00005945.htm

 

[wlewisiii]

Now that's a beautiful camera. It'll be awhile before mine looks like that! But it's great to see it; thanks for the link, Nick.

William

 

[djon]

Important Graflex link (excellent Graflex "Help" Forum as well):

http://www.graflex.org/

fyi I'm selling a Century (6X9) kit with 3 modern lenses (85, 135, 250) and a bunch of backs...see "medium format" classifieds on RFF.