Big Iron

I made a lot of progress tonight -- part 2

I made a lot of progress tonight -- part 2

There are 5 curtain apertures. The largest is left open when using a leaf shutter. The other 4 come down at a speed determined by the tension setting and are each smaller than the next.
 
I made a lot of progress tonight -- part 3

I made a lot of progress tonight -- part 3

The rangefinder glass surfaces cleaned up nicely. The inner piece with all the mechanism mounts seperate from the outer shell. The viewfinder cleaned up nicely and it's starting to look like a camera again. There is a cover on top of the rangefinder. There is an attachment that shines a light down into the rangefinder and projects two beams of light for focusing in the dark. Where the two beams converge is where it is focused. Pretty neat for late 1940s technology. I need to get one of those lights. I still need to attach the strap and feet and the outside will be done.
 
It's almost done! It still needs the strap, another piece of leather, and the infinity stops and rangefinder need to be adjusted. The shutter should get a CLA but the fast speeds seem fine. It's just the slow speeds that aren't working. Does this mean I will have to take pictures with it?
 
It's a user!

It's a user!

I've moved my Speed Graphic from the "Users to be" list to the "Users" list. It's ready to take pictures. If I only had some film. That's next. Then I will have to find someone to process it.
 
I had a friend who is a leather worker make the strap and then I glued some polar fleece on the inside of the strap to make it a little more comfortable. I'm excited about using this big rangefinder.

It was an article at Stephen Gandy's Cameraquest that was the inspiration.
 
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Fruits!? Fruits?! I've got to make fruits?

J and C Photo have the 3.25x4.25 film. But they insist I send them money. I'm working on that. I'm going to be using Efke 100. I have a lab in Seattle lined up that thinks they can process 3.25x4.25. I also need to make a light tight box to send the film in. Then there will be fruits!
 
Gordon, weren't the old 818 roll film folders of the 3.25 by 4.25 format? Not that is any help, but to me at least it was an interesting size neg. I'd have to guess that it was an ideal minimum size for contact prints.
 
I developed my own tmax 4x5 for a while, not to hard to do but you have to get your hands wet :). Your speed graphic looks really nice, I have one I should strip and refinish. Thanks for sharing you progress!

Todd
 
How about a Polaroid back for it, using pack film? Same 3.25 x 4.25 size, little development hassle, and Type 665 provides a neg too.
 
I do have a Polaroid back for pack film (3.25x4.25) but it fits my Mamiya Universal. Of course, I don't have the 127mm lens that would cover it on the Mamiya. The Mamiya Universal is a press camera in the same tradition of the Speed Graphic and all the other Graphics. It and The Graflex XL were the end of the line for press cameras. I did consider trying to fit the Mamiya Polaroid to the Speed Graphic but it would probably make a lot more sense to get a 127mm lens for the Mamiya. I want to use sheet film on the Speed graphic. Someday I will have a darkroom for developing film, but not yet.
 
I'm glad to see that I'm not the only 2x3 owner here. They are fun to use and I can get fantastic looks when I detonate a flashbulb. Mine is a Pacemaker Crown and is currently equiped with 101mm, Graphmatic film holder (6 sheets in one holder for those not in the know), and the 5 inch reflector on a 3 cell case. I had to beat off a few Star Wars fans to get the flash, but it was worth it. Both of you guys have some great modifications going. Thanks for sharing!

- Randy
 
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