Luddite Frank
Well-known
Are there any on-lline resources for dating Graphic press cameras ?
I have a Pacemaker Speed 4x5 that I'm trying to research... has the side-mounted Kalart RF, Graflok back, FP "back-shutter", and Optar 135/4.7 in Graphex shutter...
S/N on the bed is 8288xx... ( Revised ! )
I have a Pacemaker Speed 4x5 that I'm trying to research... has the side-mounted Kalart RF, Graflok back, FP "back-shutter", and Optar 135/4.7 in Graphex shutter...
S/N on the bed is 8288xx... ( Revised ! )
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FPjohn
Well-known
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JoeV
Thin Air, Bright Sun
My Anniversary Speed has the side-mounted Kalart RF, there's a procedure somewhere on the Graflex.org website showing how to align the cam for your lens, so you can shoot with the wireframe viewfinder and focus with the RF, not having to reference the ground glass at all, ala press photog style.
The idea when using the RF is that you extend the bellows out to some predetermined stops on the focusing rails, which are calibrated preset with your specific lens and RF cam setting, so that the image is in focus on the ground glass when it's also in focus in the RF, for a wide range of distances on the bellows. Then, as you rack the focus knob in and out, they'll track together.
Another great thing about your camera is the focal plane shutter. This gives you the opportunity to use almost anything that focuses an image within the distance range of your bellows as a lens. You can make crude but workable lens boards from thin model aircraft plywood, painted black, and stick almost any lens on it. I'm using a 50mm diameter, 150mm focal length binocular objective from a 7x50 binocular. Wide open it's f/3 and very blurry on the edges, and stopped down to about a 1/8" hole is pretty sharp; a great portrait lens. The curtain shutter lets you time the exposures for lenses that don't have integrated shutters. This is one of the very best features of these old cameras that conventional LF cameras lack, a focal plane shutter.
~Joe
PS: I wouldn't date her, just go ahead and get hitched.
The idea when using the RF is that you extend the bellows out to some predetermined stops on the focusing rails, which are calibrated preset with your specific lens and RF cam setting, so that the image is in focus on the ground glass when it's also in focus in the RF, for a wide range of distances on the bellows. Then, as you rack the focus knob in and out, they'll track together.
Another great thing about your camera is the focal plane shutter. This gives you the opportunity to use almost anything that focuses an image within the distance range of your bellows as a lens. You can make crude but workable lens boards from thin model aircraft plywood, painted black, and stick almost any lens on it. I'm using a 50mm diameter, 150mm focal length binocular objective from a 7x50 binocular. Wide open it's f/3 and very blurry on the edges, and stopped down to about a 1/8" hole is pretty sharp; a great portrait lens. The curtain shutter lets you time the exposures for lenses that don't have integrated shutters. This is one of the very best features of these old cameras that conventional LF cameras lack, a focal plane shutter.
~Joe
PS: I wouldn't date her, just go ahead and get hitched.
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Luddite Frank
Well-known
I was a whirlwind courtship (less than 20 minutes! ) ... she's mine now !
I checked-out Graflex.org, which is a great site, but unless I missed something, the only dating info they supply is based on the serial number of the lens, presuming the original lens is still on the camera. ( They had no listing for my 135 Optar ).
The reason I mentioned that my RF is a Kalart, is because some Graphics came with Hugo Meyer RF's ,which can approximate a vintage...
So, if anyone can help me find a date for Graphic 4x5 body s/n 8488xx, let me know !
Thanks!
LF
I checked-out Graflex.org, which is a great site, but unless I missed something, the only dating info they supply is based on the serial number of the lens, presuming the original lens is still on the camera. ( They had no listing for my 135 Optar ).
The reason I mentioned that my RF is a Kalart, is because some Graphics came with Hugo Meyer RF's ,which can approximate a vintage...
So, if anyone can help me find a date for Graphic 4x5 body s/n 8488xx, let me know !
Thanks!
LF
Solinar
Analog Preferred
Frank - it is my understanding that the Pacemaker 45 switched to a top mounted, combined RF/VF in 1955.
Using that logic, your Pacemaker Speed 45 should be from 1947 to 1955. Just a guess. The serial number for the camera is on the front bed. You can probably find someone at graflex.org to help you narrow it down.
Using that logic, your Pacemaker Speed 45 should be from 1947 to 1955. Just a guess. The serial number for the camera is on the front bed. You can probably find someone at graflex.org to help you narrow it down.
venchka
Veteran
There is a list of camera numbers and years somewhere on the internet. I have seen it. I just don't recall where.
K14
Well-known
1948-1949 from the non-book list.
825252 4x5 pacemaker speed 1949
829099 pacemaker speed 1948-1949
Gary
825252 4x5 pacemaker speed 1949
829099 pacemaker speed 1948-1949
Gary
MaxElmar
Well-known
Go to the discussion forums on graflex.org - they're pretty active, and one of the old hands there will come up with a date from your serial number in a day or so. They're great folks and ready to help you use that "anny" or pacemaker.
Luddite Frank
Well-known
All -
Thanks for the replies and referral to Graflex.org.
Looks like my beast is c. 1949-50.
Now to convince myself to overcome my dislike of loading film-holders, and do shoot something !
( Looking forward to shooting something more manageable than my Calumet mono-rail ! )
Thanks for the replies and referral to Graflex.org.
Looks like my beast is c. 1949-50.
Now to convince myself to overcome my dislike of loading film-holders
, and do shoot something ! ( Looking forward to shooting something more manageable than my Calumet mono-rail ! )
K14
Well-known
Now to convince myself to overcome my dislike of loading film-holders
Do it Frank! I've had my 1944 Anniversary for over 3 years with some use. I only used it mounted on the tripod, glass back focusing. I finally decided to couple it with my Optar 135 and now I'm doing hand held rangefinder portraits.
This changed the whole use of this camera. Lately I've started the week loading up 3 film holders. I shoot some various subjects and by Friday hit the darkroom tray processing with the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba on the headphones... Cheers!
Gary