Does anyone have a spare Speed Graphic viewfinder they would like to sell?

Steve Smith · Oct 27, 2008

I am (sort of) restoring a beat up old speed graphic. It came without the top mounted viewfinder or the flip up sight for the wire frame finder.

I would be interested in buying either of both of these parts if anyone has them spare.

(I tried a classifieds ad. with no success. I'm assuming more people read the forum threads than the classifieds).

Steve.

Ole · Oct 27, 2008

I had one, but sold it since I didn't have a Speed Graphic.

Of course a few months later I got a Speed Graphic - without viewfinder! I do have the "gunsight" though - but I'm using it.

Steve Smith · Oct 27, 2008

Ole said:
I had one, but sold it since I didn't have a Speed Graphic.

Of course a few months later I got a Speed Graphic - without viewfinder!

That's quite a common chain of events with me.

If I don't find one, I think I could use the viewfinder from a Polaroid Super Swinger (or similar).

Steve.

Ian Grant · Oct 27, 2008

Steve the rear sight for your camera would be quite easy to fabricate as it's only a hinged piece of brass with a square viewing hole.

There is a guy in the US who regularly has Speed/Crown Graphic parts for sale on Ebay, I'll try and find his details for you.

Ian

Ian Grant · Oct 27, 2008

Here's the link Canyonlandgraphics. He has a viewfinder listed.

Ian

Steve Smith · Oct 27, 2008

Thanks for the link. I found his name on a Photonet thread and I have since placed a bid on a viewfinder.

I see he has a Graflok back there including the rear sight which I was thinking about bidding on. I notice that it has four fixing screws whereas my spring back has five. Apart from the screw positions, are the two interchangeable?

EDIT: I'm being stupid (again). It's a 3x4 back.

Steve.

eli griggs · Oct 27, 2008

I took the wire and handle off my pre-anniversary while cleaning up some minor issues, got busy and forgot where I put them, LOL,...NOT! So far I miss the handle way more than the wire and I, thankfully, did not remove the pop-up sight.

I hope you don't mind but I'll suggest the following.

Try bending one up from brass wire or welding rod as a stop-gap solution.

Perhaps someone here can scan a wire frame and post it here as a pdf for a guide.

If the mounting hardware is gone, a snip from a piece of brass sheet will substitute. Go to the hardware for small brass WOODscrews.

Finally, Golden Acrylic flat carbon black will cover the brass nicely, if first lightly sanded, and you can 'set' the paint with a low heat treatment.

I like the Acrylic for ease of use; you can also use it on other non-critical photographic items, it's easy to remove and non-toxic.

I hope this helps, Eli

Steve Smith · Oct 27, 2008

I have the wire frame, it's just the rear sight I dont have.

However, if it's just a plate with a square hole in, it sounds like a job for my (work) CNC router tomorrow!

If someone could measure the size of the rectangular opening for me, that would help.

Steve.

Ian Grant · Oct 27, 2008

They are both 3x4 backs Steve. There's no real advantage of changing the back unless you really need a Grafloc type for a Roll film holder, also the back of your camera looks good anyway. The later backs gun sight wouldn't match your frame finder as they are different heights.

Ian

Ian Grant · Oct 27, 2008

Steve Smith said:
If someone could measure the size of the rectangular opening for me, that would help.
Steve.

The hole is approx 1/4" square but can just as easily be round like the later type. I just checked the finder on a 9x12 camera, which is similar.

Ian

Daniel_Buck · Oct 27, 2008

steve, I've sent you an email.

Steve Smith · Oct 28, 2008

Ian Grant said:
They are both 3x4 backs

I managed to bid on one of them before I realised it wasn't 5x4. Luckily I've been outbid!

Ian Grant said:
There's no real advantage of changing the back unless you really need a Grafloc type for a Roll film holder, also the back of your camera looks good anyway.

Having re-furbished my back, I don't intend to dump it and I probably would not use a roll film back anyway. I do have a Graflarger cold light source though and I was thinking about that. I would only get a Graflok if I found one cheap.

Steve.

TracyStorer · Oct 28, 2008

Steve Smith said:
...sounds like a job for my (work) CNC router tomorrow!...

I was going to offer to get one cut on the waterjet for you the next time I'm having some thin parts made, but it sounds like you've got access to good toys too.

Steve Smith · Oct 28, 2008

TracyStorer said:
I was going to offer to get one cut on the waterjet for you the next time I'm having some thin parts made, but it sounds like you've got access to good toys too.

Oh yes! I've got the CNC router, an X Y knife cutter and a laser cutter to play with. Add that to our industrial screen printing machines and I have loads of fun toys to play with!

Water jet sounds good though.

Steve.

Does anyone have a spare Speed Graphic viewfinder they would like to sell?

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