Graflex Crown/Speed/Super Graphic Ownership?

[k_jupiter]

2x3 Speed [101 Ektar],
2x3 Crown [103 Optar],
3x4 Speed (Aniv.) [180 Tessar],
3x4 rb Graflex [?],
(2) 4x5 Speeds (Pacemaker) [150 Fujinon, 150 Xenar].


tim in san jose

 

[Fotoguy20d]

4x5 Pacemaker Speed
4x5 Pacemaker Crown
4x5 Anniversary (Wartime) - 4 (1 with military C-3 marking, 2 for parts)
3x4 Anniversary
2x3 Pacemaker Speed - 2
2x3 Pacemaker Crown
2x3 Century - 4 (1 with red bellows/gray body)
2x3 Miniature Speed

3x4 RB Series D
4x5 Graphic View II
National Graflex II

until I downsize some more....

Dan

 

[Fotoguy20d]

There's a guy on graflex.org with the serial number list, or what remains of it..
also many people on that site can roughly give you a good guess at it.

I think the list disappeared - the guy wanted to keep it a big secret for whatever reason.

 

[BradS]

I have 2. A 1946ish (how do you guys date them?) minty 4X5 Speed, and a 1923ish top handle 5X7 Speed that Fred Lustig just restored the shutter in. They are tools in my satchel. The main draw is the focal plane shutter for fast speeds with very fast antique lenses. Funny how fast I got used to no movements. Just aim and take the pitcher.

Jim,

check out the Graflex Exchange at South Bristol Views. There is a thread or sub foroum thingy that has a partial serial number to date list and another place where you can ask about specific serial numbers - of camera bodies not optar lenses.

I think most folks go by the lens serial number though - only really works for the Xenars and the Ektars - as you've already pointed out.

 

[agman]

It's the only LF camera I own..a TRF Crown. Love it and just acquired another. This is an expensive mistress.

 

[fschifano]

I have a '57 Crown with the top mounted rangefinder. Also have a very old Speed with no rangefinder, but it's a real junker. I'd like to find a Speed or Crown with the side mounted rangefinder, so I can mount a 180 or 210 and use that hand held.

 

[Curt]

Just the 2x3 back that I put on a Busch 23, I'd love to have one, I used a Graflex D 4x5 with a bagmag back in college, it was fun to use. I wish I had one just like it today, it was a loaner.

 

[Don Dudenbostel]

My Pacemaker was a gift from my dad in 1964 and was my first good camera. I shot almost exclusively with it for about 4 years and then started using Leicas due to my work as a PJ. I worked for the government in the mid 70's and used a variety of speeds from the olive green military model to late super speeds I still have my original Crown but now rarely use it. No way I would get rid of it though. Just too much sentimental attachment plus it's a fun camera to shoot once in a while.

 

[Steve Hamley]

Don,

My dad also bought me my Crown which was my first LF camera. It came from Thompson's and like you, won't ever sell it.

Cheers,

Steve

 

[munz6869]

I just took my baby Crown Graphic up to the Flinders Ranges in South Australia over the short Christmas/New Year break - I love the way I can be ponderously fiddly with it, or just use it as a rangefinder and still make lovely pictures. At the moment I am "47mm-mad", so 2/3 of the pics are vast landscapes, but I'm sure I'll recover from this soon...

Marc

 

[Terry Again]

Hi,
For what it's worth I saw an ad on the Kansas City Craigslist by a guy that has 3 type 5 film holders he wants to sell at 15 each or a little less for all 3! And has original boxes. I don't know IF anyone here will pass the word on to other owners or if there's a better place to post something like this or if these have no value? I have no idea just thinking.
Have a good one,

 

[Ria]

4x5 Pacemaker Speed Graphic w/135mm Optar: My first "ready-made" large format camera; which I bought after having built and used a monorail 4x5 kit camera and decided that I was into large format for the long haul.
Pre-Anniversary Baby Speed Graphic: I got this one at a bargain basement price because it was in bad shape cosmetically and the focal plane shutter did not work. The bellows, however, was (is) in good shape. I took out all the shutter mechanism, removed all the crappy leather covering and refinished the wood. Semi-permanent installation of a 6x9 roll film back and a rigid wooden/aluminum handle made it good to go.
Also in 2 1/4 x 3 1/4, though not Graphic, a Burke & James as well as a Busch Pressman, (which is a really pretty camera).
Ther are those who disparage the Graphics for their limitations, (lack of movements for ex.); but it is my firm belief that the 4x5 Speed or Crown Graphic is the ideal way to get into large format photography. I think it just makes sense to get the basics firmly in mind before getting into more complicated issues and the, admittedly tank-like, Graphics are ideal for this.
Ria

 

[ragc]

Anniversary Speed Graphic 4x5. Doesn't get used much, but it is because lack of time: I'd love to quit my job and play more often, but I gotta feed my family!

 

[cooltouch]

I owned a late model Crown for a while until, in a moment of weakness, I let a "friend" talk me out of it. Dang. Wish I wouldn't have given in and sold it.

Best,

Michael

 

[Robert Brummitt]

I owned a late model Crown for a while until, in a moment of weakness, I let a "friend" talk me out of it. Dang. Wish I wouldn't have given in and sold it.

Best,

Michael

I did this too but it wasn't friend. She was a potential girlfriend who wanted to try her hand in photography. I was a victim of hormones and a flowing red hair siren sound. Hey I was 20 something.

 

[BradS]

I did this too but it wasn't friend. She was a potential girlfriend who wanted to try her hand in photography. I was a victim of hormones and a flowing red hair siren sound. Hey I was 20 something.

Excellent!

 

[gunzel]

I have a Crown Graphic I picked up cheap at a junk shop and have slowly been gathering the bits and pieces to try it out which I hope to do soon.

 

[timing]

I've just received a lovely Crown today in the post - I can't believe a camera of such age could look so clean.

It's my first LF camera and can't wait to put some film through it - most likely Efke from my local supplier.

 

[jmendez]

Have two, a 1951 2x3 which is out for repairs to the shutter and a 1951 4x5 crown. I have never used the baby. I have only used polaroids through the crown, both through the ground glass and with the rangefinder. Both came out great. Am still debating with myself which to use, sheet film or quickloads.

 

[Joe Grodis]

In the summer months I use a '44 Speed (4 x 5) with a crown front standard. I did a 65 F8 SUPER ANGULON lens upgrade, Hugo Meyer range finder, and added modern accessory shoes to mount range finder & light meter. Great camera that seems to have a never ending service life.

 

[John Curran]

A Crown and a Speed. Use them all the time, infact since having read "The Negative" by Ansel Adams, 4x5 b&w is my new passion.

 

[Wade D]

I use an old Anni Speed Graphic with the original 127mm f/4.7 Ektar lens. It still works great and I shoot about 45 or more sheets a month. Great old camera.

 

[Moopheus]

The other day I ran into a guy lugging a Crown Graphic around downtown Boston on a tripod. I let him take my picture and we chatted for a bit about our old cameras. The high point of my day.

 

[BradS]

I just scored another! ... a Top RF Crown Graphic with a decent 135mm Optar in Graphex. Amazingly, the RF is spot on! Way cool. Shot a few test sheets today. Might get around to developing them tomorrow. Excited again!

 

[photobum]

I have a late model Crown w/135mm Xenar and 203 Ektar. I use it as my main camera while on motorcycle trips and a back up at other times. BTW I had just tested both lenses against a modern Rodenstock 135 and Caltar 210. The Xenar blew the Sironar N away and the Ektar edged out the Caltar II compact.