I have never seen a front standard for a Speed or Crown graphic that is made of wood. I have four Graphics and all are of the standard metal design. With the size of the opening in the front standard it looks like someone has made a unit to take a heavy and large lens like the Aero Ektar. A good site to use as a reference for the Graphics is Jo Lommen.
Looks like it's been modified to take square and the standard round cornered lens boards?
Looks like it's been modified to take square and the standard round cornered lens boards?
The other way around, it's an Anniversary Speed Graphic adapted to take the front standard of a Pacemaker Speed or Crown Graphic. That frame to hold the lens board won't take later Pacemaker lens boards
Ian
I agree with Ian, it is an Anniversary Speed Graphic that used to have a rigid front standard, and someone has put the front standard from a Pacemaker on it. I did this myself once, but I can't recall if there has to be any minor modification to the camera or it is a direct swap. The lensboard holder is permanently attached to the bellows, so you still have an Anniversary lensboard holder that takes square lensboards, IIRC 4x4" with about a 1/4" lip. You can buy these from various sources or make them yourself from 1/8" plywood.
The standard is set up for the normal rearward tilt that compensates for dropping the bed, but if you turn it around you can get forward tilt, probably 1 of the 2 most useful view camera movements (with front rise, which you have already). So the front standard swap is a notable upgrade.
I had an Anniversary Speed with a similar front standard https://www.oddcameras.com/graflex_anniversary_speed_graphic.htm but never used it because some weeks later there was a Pacemaker Speed that arrived https://www.oddcameras.com/graflex_pacemaker_speed_graphic.htm. Yours seems in between these two.
Yes, it is modified and maybe even by Graflex! You have the best of all possibilities, a Speed Graphic with tilts that takes a wooden lens board you can make and drill to size or easily source. Saves the sometimes considerable trouble of sourcing metal boards with the proper hole size. Load some film and ENJOY!
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Go to the speed FAQ, read the forums as well.
And, https://www.graflexparts.com/
There are many advantages to theses older lens boards, cheap, easy to make. Great for barrel lenses with flanges as opposed to retaining rings.
Yes, the front standard swap is actually an upgrade. But yes I would turn it around, to get front tilt, which is the most useful of all movements.
Ian
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