Graflex Adapter must go.

[Ducky]

I have what seems to be a very nice Speed Grafic fitted with a film pack adapter. Obviously I want a spring back.
Can the camera be retrofitted or can the adapter be modified to accept a standard spring back (I think that's what they are called)?
Ther Crown Graphic I got from Chaser has me hooked on LF and I now have some carcases to mix and match for a workable camera.
Thanks.

 

[JohnTF]

I am thinking you have the Graphic back, which someone has removed to put on the film pack adapter.

Midwest Photo in Columbus used to have the mother lode of parts for Graflex, and it very well be you can find the parts you need easily, but possibly it may be more cost effective just replace the body with the newer Crown which I think should have had the Graflok back, which is the standard even now.

Around here, from experience, the cameras are very common and undervalued, so if you were to run across a Crown body it would be really low in cost.

As I recall I used to have a Speed type Graphic back, and I took out some screws to put in some clips to hold a roll film back, was not a quick swap. ;-)

If you swap the entire back out for a Graflok, it is straight forward, but am not sure the focusing plane is exactly the same.

You might have to be up for going through some junk bins. ;-)

Perhaps the more sage and cogent minds here have more information?

Regards, John

 

[planetjoe]

There are endless issues with Graflex camera back compatibilities. What you have usually depends on when the camera was made, but there have been countless mods made by the factory as well as previous users. This could be such an example.

A photo of the modified back would probably end debate.

That said, I would think you would much prefer a "Graflok" back, which would bring your camera into modern-ish compatibility with 4x5/LF accessories. Such backs are sometimes referred to as "International"-style backs.

Spring backs - officially called "Graphic" backs, as pointed out by JohnTF - are also useful, cheaper, and are compatible with most everything except for thick MF rollfim backs. You can usually shove most accessories under them, or simply adjust the spring to allow for more clearance.

Avoid, however, the "Graflex" backs, which look like the "Graphic" backs (i.e., they're also spring backs), but were made for the earlier Graflex RB SLR camera. Due to size differences, they are NOT compatible with modern 4x5 accessories, or indeed anything made for the Crown/Speed Graphics in mid-century.

Good info here and here, FYI. Enjoy that camera!


Cheers,
--joe.

 

[Ducky]

Thanks, I think Graflok is what I am looking for. I have another carcas (parts camera) coming soon and It looks like it has what I need. It also looks like 5 screws, 2 on top, two on bottom, is all the change I'll have to deal with.
What I have is not a modification, it's a Graflex film pack in a fitted back that looks like it came on the camera. It's me that wants to fit the Graflok and now I see that it man not be too dificult. Focal length etc. will come later.

 

[JohnTF]

Check your focus, and I think a friend had to remount the bellows when he swapped the whole back, am not sure this is necessary with all of them.

John