Graflex 3-A

[Fotoguy20d]

I won a Graflex 3-A on ebay and now I'm wondering what I should do with it. It takes postcard size photos on 122 film. I was thinking of building adapters/spacers so I could put 120 into it and take 2 1/4 x 5 1/2 size photos (4 to a roll). I figured on using my Nikkor 90mm SW on it but it won't fit on the lens board and even if it did, the camera needs a 6 1/2" minimum focal length lens (I guess to clear the mirror). Doesn't seem like much fun taking a panoramic photo with a "normal" lens. Any suggestions on what to do with it (other than putting it on display)

Thanks,
Dan

 

[removed account4]

hi dan

i have wanted that camera for years !
it didn't come with a lens ? hmmm you can always stick
a pinhole or zone plate on there ... and if you can make spools
( check the side - secret compartments ! )
roll your own paper to make paper negatives ...

is it the autographic version or the standard version that you have ?
the autographic one has a metal stylus and a door flips up that would
have allowed you to write notes on the film-paper which transfered
to the film like carbon paper.

have fun!
john

 

[panchro-press]

I thought there was some outfit that sold 122 film.

Dave

 

[Rick A]

There are plenty of inexpensive lenses available to use in the 127-150mm range that will cover that format. Not quite w/a, but will still give that effect given the cropping. See if you can find a 127mm off a Polaroid 110(either Wollensak or Rodenstock). I have the Ysarex (Roddy) and its just wide enough to have a nice effect with 4x5 for landscape and groups.

 

[Fotoguy20d]

It's arriving today (finally) so I'll get to give it a close look. No lens but I have a couple of 7" Kodak Anastigmats which would work with it. I paid $10 less than it was going for back in the day - didn't seem too bad to me.

It isn't the autographic one (I have a 120 format Kodak Autographic something or other - still has a piece of the carbon paper in it) - serial number dates it to around 1915. And, it looks to have two spools with it already (I actually have a few lying around at home - one has an exposed roll of color film on it). In that picture of the curtain, does it look like someone put in a mask to take smaller photos?

Paper negs - brilliant idea - I'm definitely going to try that (and if that works, I have 8x10 ortho-lith film) using the backing paper from the exposed roll I have.

And I like the pinhole idea. I have several (too many) Ektar 127 and Optar 135s - problem is the camera needs (according to the catalog I got from camera eccentric) a 6 1/2" minimum lens. With a 5" deep body, even working around the location of the standard using a recessed lensboard, 4"-5" from film plane to lens will put the lens well inside the body where it will get hit by the mirror.

Dan

 

[Fotoguy20d]

Like so many other projects, this has been sitting around. The curtain is dry but moves through most of its range - runs out of speed at the bottom - some pledge might fix that. The shutter fires using the lever on the right side, but the lever for lifting the mirror and firing the shutter does not work - it's frozen in place. So, there's work to be done on it. Or not... I bid on another one last week - seller listed it as for parts only, which seemed perfect for me. I got it for $20. It's also minus the lens but the lens board (with retaining ring) took the Anastigmat 33 I had lying around without one (and which cost me 99 cents). Here's the funny/annoying/difficult part. It works perfectly, the hood is nice, the curtain soft, the bellows light tight. The only thing wrong is the external leather is a bit rough, the handle is missing, as is the latch for the top (so a handle wouldn't be useful right now anyway). The first one is from 1915 or so (from the SN list) and non-autographic. The new one is from around 1920 and is autographic. There are some slight but noticable differences in details - the newer one is taller, the levers and such are different. My thinking right now is the older one goes on display and the newer one will get converted for 120 roll film and get put to use.

 

[erikg]

You are a man after my own heart. You get this thing, it doesn't quite work and you are not totally sure what to do with it so what do you do? Get another! I understand this madness. Sounds like you are on the right track, though maybe. Panoramic can still be pretty interesting with a longer lens, sometimes something even longer than normal can work well, the aspect ratio is still fun to work with.

 

[Fotoguy20d]

Get another! I

That's how, early on in my Graflex Acquisition Syndrome, I ended up with 6 Century Graphics, a 2x3 Speed and 2x3 Crown - I finally got it down to 4 and the speed. And 7 4x5 Pacemaker models in various states of repair. ALways a slightly better one just around the corner.

I have a 5x7 RB CYcle Graphic which is minus back and some minor metal bits. Bid and won another "5x7" on ebay to use for parts - turns out to be whole plate (but in decent enough shape)

Dan

 

[erikg]

What is it with these things? My list is about as long as yours. In my defense I have gotten to the point of having 4 working cameras (in this class!) with what is not working being really beyond repair. Dan, are you on flickr? I have a graflex slr group there, maybe you have already posted to it, but if not, please do. You don't see the real vintage cameras like the 3a's and the Cycle Graphics very often.

Erik

 

[Fotoguy20d]

I just set up a flickr account (same username as here and LFF for convenience). I have some photos from my 3x4 RB Series D I can post. Oh, did I forget to mention I also have (in decending order of functionality): RB Series Ds in 3x4, 4x5 (in need of some TLC but working), and a 4x5 Tele (completely non-functional and in need of a shutter tear down). I echo your qustion. I do try to get them up and running and back out of the house but some are keepers - I now have it down to a single Pacemaker Speed which I use regularly - sent both Crowns (top and side RF) on to homes where they'll get used, I hope. The other 7 should follow someday.

Dan

 

[Sirius Glass]

Fotoguy,

Get on graflex.org and see if you can get in contact with Bert who repaired Graflexes and Graphics for twenty-six years for advice on how to proceed.

Steve

 

[mhcfires]

My 3x4 Auto-Graflex seems to have the best shutter of my larger cameras. The viewing hood is held together with gaffer's tape, but it works. I usually use the 2x3 RB Model B with a rollfilm adapter. It works best of all the SLR's. I also have a 4x5 Pacemaker in great shape and a 4x5 Crown in need of a bit of TLC.

 

[anikin]

I've done 122 to 120 modification of my Kodak 3A camera. I used 35mm film canisters for spacers. See my
Kodak 3A album for details. The only gotcha with my camera was the lens. The aperture numbers are marked
in the old US system, and not in F-stops. I lost a few shots to over/under exposure because of that. Anyway, these
old cameras are such an engineering marvel! The are a real pleasure to use.

 

[removed account4]

nothing like getting a "parts camera "

have you gotten a 1a yet ?
i nearly won one a while back but unfortunately
the big dogs came at the end and sniped
the auction up beyond my budget.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Mine has a 5x7 Bausch-Lomb Tessar Ic lens.I need a few spare parts for the cocking mechanism,where can I find such items?

 

[Fotoguy20d]

John,
I think you and I got sniped on the same camera (they come around so rarely). It looked to be in pretty nice shape.

Mike,
From everything I've read (and from the ones I've seen), there's little to no difference between the mechanisms on the SLRs and the Speed Graphics. Externally, the 1915-ish 3-A and my very early Speed look identical. Ditto the 1920s one, the RBs and a pre-anny speed. Is yours a 5x7? THe only part that might be tricky is if you have one of the unusual sized shutters (5x7, postcard sized speed, etc) and need rollers or the curtain.

Dan