Adjusting Focal plane shutter

FM2N · May 4, 2009

Hello All,
I am trying to find info on the best way to increase the tension on my speed graphic. Any pointers or leads would be great.
Thanks for the help.
Arthur

outwest · May 4, 2009

There are manuals on www.southbristolviews.com but if you take the cover off it will be pretty obvious how to increase the tension. Sort of like winding up a window shade spring. Just a few notches at a time though. A good solid close from open to shut is the first goal.

FM2N · May 4, 2009

Thanks Outwest.
Are you talking about the cover on the side of the camera? Mine is a very old speed graphic which has the bottom wheel that goes from 1-6 and the top metal handle that turns from O-T and then from A-D is it one of these places that I should remove to increase tension?
On the web site you give could you tell me where to look exactly?
thanks
Arthur

Ian Grant · May 4, 2009

There's a book online I found via Google and the PDF preview just happens to shows all the relevant info for Speed Graphic shutters. I rebuilt mine sometime before I found this.

I can't remember the book but I did save the pages as JPEG files While my memory's bad the date modified & Firefox history leads me to this link

All the information is there.

Ian

Fotoguy20d · May 4, 2009

There's an army technical manual TM11-2352 that covers their equivalent of the Anniversary Speed Graphic. If you can't find the relevant information on South Bristol Views, I can run you a copy of the pages dealing with the shutter tension but it might take me a few days to get to it, and you'll need to remind me by then (this is shaping up to be a busy week).

Dan

outwest · May 4, 2009

Try http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/AnniversaryService1.pdf page 18.

Ian Grant · May 4, 2009

You'll find the link to "Restoring Classic & Collectible Cameras" that I posted is far better illustrated and helpful

Ian

outwest · May 4, 2009

Ian, apparently he has an Anniversary (or maybe pre-Anniversary) model and not a Pacemaker. The best information in your link is for a Thornton-Pickard with very little on the Pacemaker and nothing on the Anniversary.

Captain_joe6 · May 4, 2009

In a chat with Fred Lustig once, he told me that it was nearly impossible to get the fp shutter to be accurate at all speeds. Either, he said, you can get good low speeds with high speeds that are too long, or good high speeds with low speeds that are too short. He sends all of his out with the shutters set for proper slow speeds, which means slightly long (1/3-stop or so too long) high speeds, which seems fine by me, since the joy of large format is large DOF, which requires (usually), long shutter speeds.

FM2N · May 4, 2009

Thank you all. The information has been great.
Arthur

Ian Grant · May 5, 2009

outwest said:
Ian, apparently he has an Anniversary (or maybe pre-Anniversary) model and not a Pacemaker. The best information in your link is for a Thornton-Pickard with very little on the Pacemaker and nothing on the Anniversary.

The shutter I repaired and restored was a pre-Anniversary Speed Graphic, I can assure you that the principles aren't that different at all from the Pacemaker in the article. I'd add that once you have the shutters apart they are very logical, I managed to repair both the Graphic & Thortnton Pickard shutters without any manuals or articles etc but if I'd seen them then it might have been quicker

Ian

Adjusting Focal plane shutter

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