Graflex RB 4x5 shutter curtain detached from roller

Hi, Recently I acquired a Graflex RB Series B 4x5 camera for longer lenses. The focal plane shutter is not working. But I found out that the shutter curtain seems to be intact and in good shape, it is just detached from the bottom roller. I can even see the old glue mark at the edges of the shutter curtain. You can find a photo below.

So are there any easy ways to re-attach the end of shutter curtain to the bottom roller? I took off the rotating plate already, but have no idea how to access the roller without removing the side panels? Any hints and tips will be appreciated. I'm also watching some youtube videos, but most of them are about adjusting the tension of the shutter.

Or a different question: Do you know how to open the bottom of the Graflex RB? Are the screws hidden underneath the leatherette? I heard there are eight of them.

I have no real help to offer but I'm hoping someone else chimes in. It's sort of amazing how long those curtains hold on before finally giving up.

Can you show a picture of the other side of the curtain? Since there is glue on the backside of the curtain, I wonder if the curtain is wrapped tightly around the roller and glued to itself, rather than being glued to the roller.

if there are no staple holes in your fabric or staples in your rod it was glued, wrapped and glued some more. Contact cement works well.
yes, under the leather are screws, most box cameras and their fancy offspring had screws under the fine morrocan leather. the question is
why was the shutter torn from the rod, if your brake is gone, it's like with a chariot (, might not end well.)

reddesert said:

Can you show a picture of the other side of the curtain? Since there is glue on the backside of the curtain, I wonder if the curtain is wrapped tightly around the roller and glued to itself, rather than being glued to the roller.

Click to expand...

Very good point! I don't have the camera with me right now, but I remember that the other glue residue is on the other side of shutter curtain, and about 3-4 inches away from the edge of shutter curtain. It does seem like the curtains have been glued to itself, instead of to the roller.

I don't know if the shutter curtain is original or replaced, but it seems to be in excellent condition. I cannot pull the shutter curtain out more than 10 inches, and I guess I have to remove the top gear box (and perhaps the mirror shaft) in order to free the rest.

ezphotolessons said:

if there are no staple holes in your fabric or staples in your rod it was glued, wrapped and glued some more. Contact cement works well.
yes, under the leather are screws, most box cameras and their fancy offspring had screws under the fine morrocan leather. the question is
why was the shutter torn from the rod, if your brake is gone, it's like with a chariot (, might not end well.)

Click to expand...

I cannot see for sure, since the bottom roller is only partially visible without opening the bottom plate.

Ok, problem solved. I was able to re-attach the shutter curtain (with Pliobond), adjust speed, and get this old girl running again. Speed test at lower tension seems fine, and I will test higher tension tomorrow once the Pliobond is fully set.

Regarding opening the bottom: I was too dumb not to notice the bottom metal plate with 8 screws. Once that is off, the lower shutter roller is easily accessible.



Also I was able to drive out the pin to disconnect from the mirror box, thus avoiding taking the mirror axle.



Finally there was also a bent metal piece in the shutter curtain gear box that prevent it from properly working.

Beautiful!!!

For future reference, I found the following two videos and one written instruction very helpful in repairing focal plane shutters on Graflex RB SLRs.

"Repairing a Shutter Jam on an R.B. Graflex - Series D 4x5 SLR" by Matt Demsky​

"Graflex SLR Shutter Tension Tutorial" by Graham Burnett of Graflex Parts

Graflex Resources by Erik Gould
https://www.erikgouldprojects.com/coldcoffee/2022/1/9/graflex-resources

There is a PDF of his shutter repair notes with the dimensions of the 3x4 curtain.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cradbo5kzdzgmyw/Graflex repair notes.pdf?dl=0