Getting ready to modify a 4x5 Anniversary, but...

[waynecrider]

Looking around in Ebay for a better bellows for my Anni project I come across a model at $400 plus dollars on a buy-it-now and another that will probably reach that figure. I didn't know these cameras were in that range being that they are pretty hefty with their brass rails and shutter mechanisms. Now I'm wondering if I should put it back together (a larger project ) or continue with my new project of incorporating the focus mechanism into the body along with rails front to the back and dumping the cover and rear shutter. This would give me a handheld 4x5 with ability to shoot 65mm to 150mm lenses using an inverted recessed lensboard. The rear shutter curtain btw is trashed or I'd use it with shutter. So I'd need a new rear curtain and probably a new front bellows unless I reconstruct what I got. Hard to choose now.

 

[Ian Grant]

Wayne, I have a Speed Graphic that was factory modified, evidently by another company before final finishing etc, and the rail is fitted into the body and the top cut away to allow WA lenses.

Crowns & Speeds can be bought for $100 in reasonable condition with a clean lens & working shutter, but pep[le are trying to drive the prices up, typically as far as £300-£400 ($600-$800) on Ebay.co.uk.

Since I took this the bellows are restored, spirit levels painted and the camera just needs final re-assembly

Ian

 

[freygr]

Wayne, I have a Speed Graphic that was factory modified, evidently by another company before final finishing etc, and the rail is fitted into the body and the top cut away to allow WA lenses.

Crowns & Speeds can be bought for $100 in reasonable condition with a clean lens & working shutter, but pep[le are trying to drive the prices up, typically as far as £300-£400 ($600-$800) on Ebay.co.uk.

Since I took this the bellows are restored, spirit levels painted and the camera just needs final re-assembly

Ian

I have not seen a 4 X 5 speed graphic go for less than $100 that is in good condition on ebay (USA) for the last few months in fact the last couple of cameras I was watching went for close to $200.

 

[Ian Grant]

I was watching one 3 or 4 days ago, with 4 hrs to go it was still under £20 at $39 not sure what it finally sold for. I search ebay.co.uk and it shows US Ebay as well, (if I tick search worldwide).

You are right prices are rising ludicrously, but I have still seen them very occasionally for just over $100

Ian

 

[waynecrider]

Ian thanks for that picture. I see where the put a short base board on and I kinda like that. My project would involve cutting the rail almost in half and installing the assembly into the base of the body, but I would also cut out the top like yours. Your Graphic is a little older looking at the speed finder and bracket for the front standard. Ever weigh it?

I was hesitant on the renovation at first but I'm going to go ahead and make it a body with no cover although I do like that short bed. It doesn't fold does it? I ask because of the cut out in the bed.

I'd like to see other examples of Graphic renovations if anyone has done any.

 

[Jim Jones]

Wide Angle Pacemaker camera

Ian's wide angle modification of a pre-Anniversary model Speed Graphic is similar to a much cruder one I did a while back. The lack of front tilts on such a camera is often no handicap. Prices for these old Speed Graphics may be much lower than the more desirable and practical Crown model. One can always make this modification to an Anniversary model, and use a Crown front standard modified for practical swings and tilts, if needed. This pinhole conversion is from a battered Pacemaker model. The bed and front standard were used on other projects, and replaced with a shortened bed from a Century model, and an Anniversary standard. The bed is rigidly attached to the camera body.

 

[Ian Grant]

Wayne, yes that Graphic is pre-Anniversary. I bought two Speed Graphics off Ebay last year being sold as a package to build one good camera out of parts, what the seller neglected to say was that the two models were so different that no parts were interchangeable, the other was a late Speed Graphic minus its shutter. The cameras looked terrible and I thought I'd made a huge mistake, luckily not very costly. Both with not very much effort, and a couple of parts, both cameras are almost fully restored.

The Wide angle Graphic appears to have been a special, it allows rise with a lens of 90mm or shorter, other US companies/workshops took part made Graphics and converted them for specialist use, one notable example was for Police ID cameras. When I stripped the body there was no trace at all of the screw holes etc which would have been there if it had been a later conversion.

The bed is fixed and doesn't fold, to improve rigidity and also give some strength the camera has an additional aluminium base plate. Without this plate the bed would be vulnerable as it is only screwed to the base of the camera internally, contrary to many reports these Graphic bodies are only made of some kind of box wood.

I haven't seen another converted Graphic but I did see an MPP wide-angle conversion about 18 months ago, this had been factory modified in the 1960's for a photographer who specialised in architectural work and had all the top of the body cut away to allow for rise with a wide-angle lens.

I think if I were to convert a Graphic from scratch like Jim I'd much rather have the later Speed/Crown front standard with it's shift & tilt which I'd reverse to allow front tilt, I've tried this on my main Crown Graphic but you can't fold the camera up when used like this, however if the bed was fixed then it would be far more appropriate.

Ian