Graflex 120 roll back, dark slide broke ..

[peter k.]

Has anyone had this problem before and just used a 2x3 film holder dark slide, which is the same length, but is 1/16" narrower! When placed in the roll film back its can move side to side an 1/8th", which gives me concern that the back will not be light tight when taken off the camera.

We have a 3x4 dark slide that is useless, as its just a little to short, for the holder that it came with, and causes a light leak. This could perhaps be cut down to the size needed.

Any ideas, suggestions?
Thanks p.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

EDIT: Never mind... it seems your holder is for a 4x5 body.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Peter, you can test the thing for light tightness without using film. Open the shell, put an FPA's dark slide in as far as it will go and run a bright light around the gate while looking for light coming through the edges. I've always thought that 2x3 Graflex FPA dark slides were good replacements for original dark slides for 2x3 Graflex roll holders but have never tried one to be sure.

 

[peter k.]

Dan... yep.. but right now its got over half a roll of film in it.. soooo may just have to shoot the rest of it before we can free up the camera.. And an old dark slide from a 2x3 pack film holder is also a 1/16th narrower.

 

[shutterfinger]

I've got a Graphic 22 for 4x5 body with the handle broken off at the edge of the film holder. Just takes a little pressure to pull it out.
Bought a box of darkslides from Pacific Rim Camera a couple of years back but nothing the correct size.
Where did yours break?

 

[shutterfinger]

I've always thought that 2x3 Graflex FPA dark slides were good replacements for original dark slides for 2x3 Graflex roll holders but have never tried one to be sure.

They're also shorter.

 

[peter k.]

Right at the junction of the function of the dark slide to the handle. The thin black steel, very little of it is left in handle. Whats left is not enough to JB weld it to the inside strip of the handle. Its just a center piece left.

 

[shutterfinger]

Put your thumb in the center and slide out until it can be gripped.

 

[peter k.]

Guess we didn't make it clear in the first post. The broken dark slide is out of the roll film back, used a pair of small vice grips to attach to it and pulled it out, and now a narrower, dark slide from an empty 2x3 film holder is in it.
But fear, because it is narrower, to take the roll film back off the camera.

Solved:
Solution.. Advantage in this case of the Grafflex back, is when opened it does not reset to 'S'.
Took an empty Arista 4x5 dark plastic bag, with camera and two small boxes, and placed just the film roller part of the back into that secured darkness, and left it in the dark bag.
Took the housing of the back, with a very bright narrow beamed light, and as Dan described, went about the edges.
Its tight, even when we pushed it from one side to the other, with its extra 1/16th of play. Were in luck, it light tight!!!
So for those who may get in same predicament, yes a 2x3 dark slide from a film holder will work, even though its narrower.

Next
Tomorrow, Hopefully the Graflex back will advance properly, when we take a test shot. It should.
It will also be interesting, to see what it looks like when it gets develop, as the emulsion side got rubbed, I'm sure against the empty 4x5 plastic dark bag.. . .