1951 Graflex Speed Graphic - Inner RAIL GUIDES - Snapped

AKG414 · Feb 2, 2022

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and had the unfortunate experience of ruining a very mint G.S.G camera today. I was simply trying to close up the camera and it wasn't pushed far enough into the case and by trying to close it, the front rails acted like a lever and pushed the (rear) rails up until they broke right out of their guides. Are these aluminum, as they look almost like plastic?

I'm (hoping) these are replaceable or some place has extras to have this repaired. Does this happen to a lot of new Graflex owners or am I the lucky one who destroyed his camera before the first pic was even taken?

-Brad

shutterfinger · Feb 2, 2022

You have the early version of the Pacemaker Speed Graphic. You have broke the yoke guide, case. The yoke guides case are machined aluminum attached with two screws, mounted on pins, with shims under them to make them align with the bed guides so that the yoke moves smoothly out and in of the case with the bed locked at 90°.
Download: https://graflex.org/manuals/45-Pacemaker-Speed-and-Crown-Graphic.pdf
Visit https://www.graflex.org/
Now to fix this follow the service manual instructions and remove the camera back and bellows. You do not have to disconnect the body release cable at the body. Run the yoke out to its limit, slide the front standard to the front of the yoke and lock. Remove the screws from the case guides then gently pry them up off the pins keeping the shims for each side separate from the other. Turn the guides 180° and reinstall on the pins on the opposite side of the case then install the shims on their correct sides then secure with the screws. Run the yoke in and out full travel of the case section of the yoke to verify correct alignment. Reposition the shims as needed if the case guides are not in proper alignment. Once correct reinstall the bellows and back.
Alternative is to contact https://skgrimes.com/ and ask them to make some new ones. They will likely need the broken one as a template.

AKG414 · Feb 2, 2022

shutterfinger said:
You have the early version of the Pacemaker Speed Graphic. You have broke the yoke guide, case. The yoke guides case are machined aluminum attached with two screws, mounted on pins, with shims under them to make them align with the bed guides so that the yoke moves smoothly out and in of the case with the bed locked at 90°.
Download: https://graflex.org/manuals/45-Pacemaker-Speed-and-Crown-Graphic.pdf
Visit https://www.graflex.org/
Now to fix this follow the service manual instructions and remove the camera back and bellows. You do not have to disconnect the body release cable at the body. Run the yoke out to its limit, slide the front standard to the front of the yoke and lock. Remove the screws from the case guides then gently pry them up off the pins keeping the shims for each side separate from the other. Turn the guides 180° and reinstall on the pins on the opposite side of the case then install the shims on their correct sides then secure with the screws. Run the yoke in and out full travel of the case section of the yoke to verify correct alignment. Reposition the shims as needed if the case guides are not in proper alignment. Once correct reinstall the bellows and back.
Alternative is to contact https://skgrimes.com/ and ask them to make some new ones. They will likely need the broken one as a template.

Oh wow, thank you for this! Ok, can you tell me if the focal plane shutter needs to come out as part of this fix?

Donald Qualls · Feb 2, 2022

And no, I'm certain you're not the first person new to press cameras to damage their camera before they've completely figured out how to use it. I avoided some of the no-nos mainly by a combination of having owned several smaller folding cameras and 9x12 plate cameras before I got my Annie Speed, as well as having a long established repair technician's habit of never forcing anything that seems reluctant. In my job (where I repair power tools) I've fairly often learned that the reason I couldn't get something apart on an unfamiliar model was that I wasn't applying enough force.

Sirius Glass · Feb 2, 2022

Make sure that lens is all the way back into the camera.
Make sure the rails are drawn back properly,
When folding, stop immediately when any resistant is felt.

Donald Qualls · Feb 2, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
When folding, stop immediately when any resistant is felt.

This is the critical point.

bdial · Feb 2, 2022

As you may have gathered, it's a common mistake.

AKG414 · Feb 2, 2022

Folks - THANK YOU!!!

With your help, I was able to successfully swap the guides and my Speed Graphics is back to working order. I seriously was going to model these and make some on my HASS CNC. But time got the better of me. Again, my sincere thanks to help. I hope to be a regular on this forum

Sirius Glass · Feb 2, 2022

bdial said:
As you may have gathered, it's a common mistake.

Usually one only does this only one.

shutterfinger · Feb 2, 2022

Most have followup questions like How do I get the case section of the yoke back into the bed guides?
Good to read you fixed it.

Donald Qualls · Feb 3, 2022

AKG414 said:
I seriously was going to model these and make some on my HASS CNC.

If you have the time, that wouldn't be a bad exercise -- you might even find you can sell these to others who've made the same mistake. At the least, you'll have easy access to spares...

1951 Graflex Speed Graphic - Inner RAIL GUIDES - Snapped

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