A question for Graflex experts

[David H. Bebbington]

I recently acquired a 3x4 Crown Graphic outfit from a fellow APUGer and am exploring this with interest. It came with a 2-cell Graflex flashgun and some interesting accessories, including a Kalart Focuspot, which, although I have never handled one before, I have worked out (I think) bayonets into the top of the Kalart rangefinder and takes a power feed from the household socket on the flashgun to the male bipost connector on the accessory (and then projects spots of light through the rangefinder to help focus in total darkness). I have ordered new cables from Paramount Cords of NY and look forward to playing with this when they arrive.

One accessory has, however got me beat. It is a cable about 6" (six inches) long, it has a bipost connector on one end and what looks like (but cannot be) an engine oil-pressure sensor on the other. The metal part in question has a 5/8" thread, is 1 3/8" long overall and has what seems to be a spring-loaded ball bearing at the bottom end. There is no socket on any of my flashguns or Graphic cameras which would accept this fitting. Does anyone know what the heck it is?

 

[Dave Parker]

It almost looks like the bi-pole flash snyc for the old Graphax battery stobe lights, the bi-pole connector would attach to the shutter and the threaded end would screw into the batter pack, when the shutter was tripped it would generate a small charge that would activate the batterypack and fire the strobes..

One of the local stores still has one of these in stock that I took in from an estate, I will stop and check it tommorow..

Dave

 

[David H. Bebbington]

Thanks for your reply, Dave. Don't worry too much about finding another, though, I don't need one as I do not have a Graphax strobe, only bulb-type guns. Good to find out what it is, though!

Best wishes,

David

 

[Curt]

I saw one of those in an emergency room one time does that count?

I have a Busch Pressman C 2x3 and have the Kalart and Focus Spot. I can't find a replacement bulb for it and need a better flash unit. The first negatives were out of focus. I was shooting at infinity and although it looked sharp on the ground glass it was not. I have since readjusted the infinity stops and the image is sharp on the gg. I need to go throught the Kalart check described on the Graflex.org. Do you have an HR sync above the lens? I would like to have a tube flash instead of a bulb unit. Maybe a conversion of some kind. I have a lens without threads for filters. I am going to make an adapter that takes a hood and filters. Or shouldn't that be a filter and hood?

I hope you have as much fun with yours as I am with mine.

Curt

 

[Jim Jones]

. . . I have a lens without threads for filters. I am going to make an adapter that takes a hood and filters. Or shouldn't that be a filter and hood? . . .

Curt

Consider getting the old "series" filter adaptors, filters, and hoods. Your lens probably uses a series 6 or 7. They are authentic, versatile, and convenient. Old camera shops may have them in junk boxes. I've also bought them on ebay.

 

[df cardwell]

David

This, from my "Graflex Expert". Now you owe him lunch !

There are two different flash units that can be described as a "2-cell Graflex". Since you have a Crown I suspect your flash is a Graflite--the newer model with several household outlets near the top of the battery case.

There was however an earlier version, officially called a Graflex Flash unit. It had two round 'ports' on either side and a single household outlet just under a glass eye. The eye was nothing more than a magnified flashlight lamp and could be used to help light up a place that's too dark to focus the RF on. The Focoscope was a big improvement on the auxiliary light and made it redundant. But the focoscope needed power. Thus your "oil pressure sensor" cable.
Remove the glass eye and light bulb, screw this in and you've effectively moved the lightbulb jinto the Kalart rangefinder. BTW popular lore claims that the focoscope was designed to help construction photographers photograph the interiors of B-17s.

Here's a shot of the original Graflex flash. Back in the 70s some young director/producer was making a movie in England and needed some props, but had no budget to create things from scratch. Somebody went off to a camera show (boot sale) and came back with a Graflex flash unit and and English copy of a Heiland flash. Add some bits from a calculator, parts of a windshield wiper and the Light saber was born.

http://home.twmi.rr.com/lnphoto/GM/lateflash.jpg

 

[mgb74]

Consider getting the old "series" filter adaptors, filters, and hoods. Your lens probably uses a series 6 or 7. They are authentic, versatile, and convenient. Old camera shops may have them in junk boxes. I've also bought them on ebay.

Jim is referring to the push on adapters that accept series filters. It may take some scouting aground to find one since it's increasing hard to find "old camera shops". But they're out there somewhere. If you have a typical (usually around 100mm) lens on your 2x3, series 6 is the way to go.

 

[David H. Bebbington]

David

This, from my "Graflex Expert". Now you owe him lunch !

There are two different flash units that can be described as a "2-cell Graflex". Since you have a Crown I suspect your flash is a Graflite--the newer model with several household outlets near the top of the battery case.

There was however an earlier version, officially called a Graflex Flash unit. It had two round 'ports' on either side and a single household outlet just under a glass eye. The eye was nothing more than a magnified flashlight lamp and could be used to help light up a place that's too dark to focus the RF on. The Focoscope was a big improvement on the auxiliary light and made it redundant. But the focoscope needed power. Thus your "oil pressure sensor" cable.
Remove the glass eye and light bulb, screw this in and you've effectively moved the lightbulb jinto the Kalart rangefinder. BTW popular lore claims that the focoscope was designed to help construction photographers photograph the interiors of B-17s.

Here's a shot of the original Graflex flash. Back in the 70s some young director/producer was making a movie in England and needed some props, but had no budget to create things from scratch. Somebody went off to a camera show (boot sale) and came back with a Graflex flash unit and and English copy of a Heiland flash. Add some bits from a calculator, parts of a windshield wiper and the Light saber was born.

http://home.twmi.rr.com/lnphoto/GM/lateflash.jpg

Thanks for this info. My flashgun is the earlier type which appears in your pictures. If your expert ever comes to East Kent in the UK, he is more than welcome to lunch!

Regards,

David

 

[df cardwell]

Thanks for this info. My flashgun is the earlier type which appears in your pictures. If your expert ever comes to East Kent in the UK, he is more than welcome to lunch!

I'll let him know ! Does APUG get 3% ? Now that Sean has turned pro, maybe you should just send him a pint !

don

 

[David H. Bebbington]

Here's another puzzler:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7596617727&sspagename=ADME:B:AAQ:UK:1
Definite pick'n'mix approach here - I think this started out as a Home Portrait Graflex SLR and then acquired a vertical-format-only 5x7" spring back and quite a neat 2-way tilt front movement, together with a modded lens panel to take (3x4?) Anniversary Speed Graphic panels. Could be a handy piece of kit - can anyone identify the parts more closely than me?