Graflex focal plane

Dwayne Martin · Dec 20, 2015

I have a very old but very usable accessory focal shutter made by Folmer&Schwing. It has a clear inside opening of just over 6" x 8" and the part that would actually seat into the view camera (black part) is just under 9 5/8" both ways. The outermost dimension is over 10". It has pins in order to click into place like a deardorff back. Does anyone know if it was made for one specific camera like say a Century or could it be somewhat universal. I realize I could build a adaptor to make it fit most view cameras but some advice on what camera it was made for would be a big help.
thanks

Sirius Glass · Dec 20, 2015

Post your question on http://www.graflex.org/helpboard/

gone · Dec 20, 2015

My guess is that it was made to fit a Tourist Graflex SLR camera, probably a 5x7 model. Does yours look like this? Could be a very handy thing, and of some value and worth to the right person.

http://graflexcamera.tumblr.com/post/86022880286/the-early-graflex-focal-plane-shutter

shutterfinger · Dec 20, 2015

Probably for a 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 pages 66 & 67 of http://piercevaubel.com/cam/catalogs/1909ekcproflp737.htm possibly for Plate View Cameras. I had some old guy to to pawn one off on me listing it as an 8x10 camera. I made him take it back and pay the return shipping.

That's the first I heard of a Tourist Graflex. There is no mention of it on http://www.graflex.org/ .

Sirius Glass · Dec 21, 2015

shutterfinger said:
Probably for a 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 pages 66 & 67 of http://piercevaubel.com/cam/catalogs/1909ekcproflp737.htm possibly for Plate View Cameras. I had some old guy to to pawn one off on me listing it as an 8x10 camera. I made him take it back and pay the return shipping.

That's the first I heard of a Tourist Graflex. There is no mention of it on http://www.graflex.org/ .

Then you really need to get a copy of this book http://www.amazon.com/REVIEW-OF-GRAFLEX-AMERICAN-CAMERAS/dp/B002B5HADC It will open a new world of Graflex and Graphic cameras to you.

shutterfinger · Dec 21, 2015

Then you really need to get a copy of this book

Had one, sold it when I liquidated most of my gear. Don't see the need to buy another one.

Dwayne Martin · Dec 27, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Then you really need to get a copy of this book http://www.amazon.com/REVIEW-OF-GRAFLEX-AMERICAN-CAMERAS/dp/B002B5HADC It will open a new world of Graflex and Graphic cameras to you.

Thanks for that. I ordered the book!

Dwayne Martin · Jan 1, 2016

I received the book and I'm glad to have it but it does not include any information on focal shutters that fit the rear standard of other cameras......

Sirius Glass · Jan 1, 2016

Specifically what do you want to know? How to build a Graflex/Speed Graphic focal plan shutter? The type of material available today and where it can be found to build a shutter? A specific shutter patterns? I do not know where to find information on shutters for non-Graflex and non-graphic cameras.

Dwayne Martin · Jan 2, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
Specifically what do you want to know? How to build a Graflex/Speed Graphic focal plan shutter? The type of material available today and where it can be found to build a shutter? A specific shutter patterns? I do not know where to find information on shutters for non-Graflex and non-graphic cameras.

I suppose what I'm looking for is which camera does it fit. If I knew I would keep an eye out on eBay. I do like that book by the way!

removed account4 · Jan 2, 2016

post #4 has a catalog with the cameras that were being offered at the time by the same
company. my poor uneducated guess is seeing it is bigger than 8x10 it might fit
a century 11x14 camera, ( the ones listed in the catalog ) ...
maybe it fits one of these
they are both from the same time period
and i believe both made by the same maker.

shutterfinger · Jan 2, 2016

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_format see the single image table.

It has a clear inside opening of just over 6" x 8"

The outside dimension of the frame will be larger than the format by 1/2 to 1 1/4 inches in both dimensions.
Its for 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 Whole Plate cameras. Focal plane shutter openings are roughly 1/4-3/8 inch narrower than the format size they were made for.

And, No I do not know what companies made cameras in this format or for how long.

shutterfinger · Jan 3, 2016

There are currently 4 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 plate cameras on ebay. A Rochester Optical Company (ROC) and a Wista Rittreck with 5x7 and 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 backs, a Ross in the UK and an American Optical. I'm not sure your FPS will work on the Wista but it will on the ROC. I don't think it will work on the American Optical or the Ross.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...TRS0&_nkw=6+1/2+x+8+1/2+plate+camera&_sacat=0

Dwayne Martin · Jan 5, 2016

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the help! I will let you know when I get a camera that fits it.

removed account4 · Jan 5, 2016

Devorobin said:
Thanks guys, I really appreciate the help! I will let you know when I get a camera that fits it.

have fun, that FP shutter looks like fun, and a rare beast, so when you decide you don't want it anymore you can resell it for at least what you paid.
a word of advice ... store it completely UN wound ... like less than "0" tension if you can. that was what i was told by a graflex repairman years ago ..

good luck !
john

Dwayne Martin · Jan 5, 2016

FPS

jnanian said:
have fun, that FP shutter looks like fun, and a rare beast, so when you decide you don't want it anymore you can resell it for at least what you paid.
a word of advice ... store it completely UN wound ... like less than "0" tension if you can. that was what i was told by a graflex repairman years ago ..

good luck !
john

Thanks John I will, I store all of my cameras that way. This thing works incredibly well considering the actual age. I re hydrated the cloth with pledge according to the gurus at the graflex web site and if worked beautifully. The shutter works like it was made last week!

Sirius Glass · Jan 6, 2016

jnanian said:
have fun, that FP shutter looks like fun, and a rare beast, so when you decide you don't want it anymore you can resell it for at least what you paid.
a word of advice ... store it completely UN wound ... like less than "0" tension if you can. that was what i was told by a graflex repairman years ago ..

good luck !
john

So was I and I learned the hard way.

shutterfinger · Jan 6, 2016

Folmer & Schwing/Graflex says to set the tension to 1 and the curtain Closed after open but Open on the lowest tension setting is acceptable.

On some recent repairs I improved weak tensioning springs by removing them from the tension shaft, coating with oil, wraping in steel wool then in aluminum foil, then placed in a 450 oven for an hour, turned the oven off and removed 30 minutes later. Turned a non op camera into just usable, 1 speed per aperture. The same technique on a working spring that produced 1 speed per aperture only improved by 10% or so, the speeds were only slightly faster.

If there is a serial number on your FPS please post it.

Dwayne Martin · Jan 6, 2016

shutterfinger said:
Folmer & Schwing/Graflex says to set the tension to 1 and the curtain Closed after open but Open on the lowest tension setting is acceptable.

On some recent repairs I improved weak tensioning springs by removing them from the tension shaft, coating with oil, wraping in steel wool then in aluminum foil, then placed in a 450 oven for an hour, turned the oven off and removed 30 minutes later. Turned a non op camera into just usable, 1 speed per aperture. The same technique on a working spring that produced 1 speed per aperture only improved by 10% or so, the speeds were only slightly faster.

If there is a serial number on your FPS please post it.

There is no serial number but here is a photo. The shutter release is interesting, it pulls the trigger instead of pushing it. It pulls against a wire tied just above the trigger.
By the way the repair you describe above is very clever! I will remember that one...

shutterfinger · Jan 6, 2016

Fairly early design. Rotate the FPS 90° so that the controls are on your right. Common serial number locations are lower left corner or front side opposite it, stamped into the wood or on the bottom side of the top. It will be a 4 or 5 digit number.

The spring tip was borrowed from a spring making tutorial post in the Camera Building, Repairs and Modifications section of this site a while back.

rjmeyer314 · Jun 26, 2016

shutterfinger said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_format see the single image table. The outside dimension of the frame will be larger than the format by 1/2 to 1 1/4 inches in both dimensions.
Its for 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 Whole Plate cameras. Focal plane shutter openings are roughly 1/4-3/8 inch narrower than the format size they were made for.

And, No I do not know what companies made cameras in this format or for how long.

I have a working Graflex 8x10 focal plane shutter. Shutterfinger is right on his size estimate that this one will fit a whole plate camera. I was lucky in that the one I brought fit on one of my three 8x10 cameras, in my case an 8x10 Century Universal. I suspect they were made for all popular view cameras of the day (1905-1930 or so).

Graflex focal plane

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