Folmer Crown Tripods

[Terence]

So I now have three of these things: a #4, a #2 and a #2A (military issue).

My question is, why can I find alnost no info on these on the "standard" websites (APUG, LF Forum, Phot0.net, etc)?

They are very light, quite sturdy, pack down very small, etc. Sure, they don't lend themselves well to heavy heads, but they're perfect for most LF field cameras, etc. where you are typically leveling the camera anyway.

I dare say they're a much under-rated, if they're rated at all. They're not incredibly cheap, but they're cheaper than many other options that are more wobbly.

I've got all I need so I won't be fighting over any more . . . unless a #3 or #5 comes up . . .

 

[Dave Parker]

A good place to find out about most things graflex is the graflex.org website, there is a pretty strong following for most things that this company produced over the years.

Dave

 

[Terence]

Yikes. I even have the site book-marked. Even still, there's not much on there other than that the #1 is uselessly small.

I recently used the #4 with my Korona 8x10 and found it sturdy enough. The best part is the size of the "table" (for lack of a better name) makes the combo more stable than my Bogen tripod heads.

 

[Changeling1]

So I now have three of these things: a #4, a #2 and a #2A (military issue).

My question is, why can I find alnost no info on these on the "standard" websites (APUG, LF Forum, Phot0.net, etc)?

They are very light, quite sturdy, pack down very small, etc. Sure, they don't lend themselves well to heavy heads, but they're perfect for most LF field cameras, etc. where you are typically leveling the camera anyway.

I dare say they're a much under-rated, if they're rated at all. They're not incredibly cheap, but they're cheaper than many other options that are more wobbly.

I've got all I need so I won't be fighting over any more . . . unless a #3 or #5 comes up . . .

You should post some pix of these sturdy little items of photographic americana!

 

[Terence]

Appropriately enough for this forum, I don't own a d!g!t@l camera. Maybe I'll use the one at work.

 

[RichSBV]

There is a huge amount of info on these tripods in the graflex.org forum if you do some searching...

The #1 may be small, but it is the only tripod designed to fit inside the original fiber Graflex cases. And it does work effectively with a Speed or Crown even if a little fragile.

The #2 is pretty rare. I've never seen a #3 and find no reference to Graflex making one?. #4's can be gotten, but for the price a new Berlebach is a much better choice. Even though I would love to own another #4, for the cost I use Berlebachs... In the 30's, the #4 went for a whopping $10...

As far as I know, Graflex never went above the #4. So if you get your hands on a #5, sell it to pay off your house or donate it to the Eastman House ;-)

 

[Terence]

The Graflex.org site had two comments in the forums from people with #3's. I haven't seen one though.

I like the #4 over the Berlebach because of the larger area of the head. I also got it for half the price of a Berlebach. The Berlebachs always feel wobbly with my old, heavy view cameras with their wide flat bases. The legs are better on the Berlebach, but the head is too narrow and acts like a flag pole. I have the same issue with my Bogen pods. they're great for 35mm and medium format, but not up to my old LF beasts. I bought a Gitzo for use with my 8x10 and 8x20. It has a nice wide base as well, although I haven't found a head I'm happy with yet.

My #2 Crown needs to be cleaned up. It's a little skody. The 2A I got more for camera display purposes. It was brand new (NOS), in-the-box, USMC-issue. Pretty sharp. It also feels much more stable than the #2.

I found one reference to a #5. As near as I can tell it was the early name for the later "Commercial" model.

 

[dmax]

Terence,
How much bigger (proportionately) is the #5 tripod that Graflex made compared to the #4?

 

[RichSBV]

The Graflex.org site had two comments in the forums from people with #3's. I haven't seen one though.

I like the #4 over the Berlebach because of the larger area of the head. I also got it for half the price of a Berlebach. The Berlebachs always feel wobbly with my old, heavy view cameras with their wide flat bases. The legs are better on the Berlebach, but the head is too narrow and acts like a flag pole. I have the same issue with my Bogen pods. they're great for 35mm and medium format, but not up to my old LF beasts. I bought a Gitzo for use with my 8x10 and 8x20. I[µ5º”fnice wide base as well, although I haven't found a head I'm happy with yet.

My #2 Crown needs to be cleaned up. It's a little skody. The 2A I got more for camera display purposes. It was brand new (NOS), in-the-box, USMC-issue. Pretty sharp. It also feels much more stable than the #2.

I found one reference to a #5. As near as I can tell it was the early name for the later "Commercial" model.

You're right. I had completely forgotten that Les owned a #3. Must be fairly rare as I've never seen it in the ads or being sold in the past few years...

I would agree also about the top plate and stability. I would only counter that I prefer the leveling ball on the Berlebach and had no problems back with my 16 lb 8x10 B&J Commercial View even extended. I now use a much lighter camera though... The other "problem" I had with the #4, as with all of them, is the lack of leg stops. Sure a simple chain would suffice, but again the Berlebach just works for me. And now with a little mental prodding, I may have paid about half the Berlebach for my #4 also? They're just too hard to find when you need one though

I would have no doubt they made a #5, but again never saw one in the catalogs or for sale. Now if I could get one of those for a good price I would deffinitely grab it

Enjoy yours! I wish I could use mine as it's a perfect match for my camera, but for myself I just can't put up with the minor annoyances...