Grafmatic problem

[campy51]

I shot six sheets and now when I try to remove them the only the dark slide can be pulled. With the X showing I can pull the dark slide but when I push it in slightly I don't get a click and cannot pull the septums out. Any ideas on getting the exposed film out without unscrewing the stops? One sheet is ruined from me pulling the slide and removing the grafmatic from dark bag.

 

[hsandler]

Should not be on X when you open it. Turn it to « 1 ». In the dark, Pull the magazine out by pressing the chrome lever While pulling on the ring. Then, after it’s out, you should be able to release the chrome lever and slightly push the ring in to release the mechanism and pull the dark slide to expose the septums.

https://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/grafmatic/

 

[campy51]

Thanks, that was it.

 

[shutterfinger]

Your grafmatic may have a problem as the tray and darkslide should lock on X.
http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/manual-pdf/grafmatic45service.pdf
2x3 grafmatic manual available on that site also.

 

[outwest]

Before you replace the septa don't forget to push the little tab out of the way so you don't bend them. No.7 (fig 4) in the instructions linked above by hsandler.

 

[campy51]

Before you replace the septa don't forget to push the little tab out of the way so you don't bend them. No.7 (fig 4) in the instructions linked above by hsandler.

What exactly does that tab do and what happens if I forget to do it?

 

[grat]

I think he's referring to the dark slide, which can sneak back up on you while you're loading it in the dark. My grafmatic is full of film right now, so I can't take a look, but I don't recall a tab.

See this video for a full demonstration:

 

[peter k.]

The tab if not pushed back in, will not allow the dark slide to be pushed in, because the septums will still be in the way. If you force the septums down, thinking its just the spring, that is holding them up and out, without this tab pushed in, you will bend them. So verify first, or again if the septums are resisting being pushed in.
Basically think the tab is a reset for the Grafmatic.

 

[hsandler]

Before you replace the septa don't forget to push the little tab out of the way so you don't bend them. No.7 (fig 4) in the instructions linked above by hsandler.

This is the first time I've noticed that instruction. On the one of my Grafmatics that I have empty at the moment, the little tab doesn't move and seems to be just a shallow fixed stop to hold the bottom septum in place. I've never pushed anything out of the way, except the darkslide, and the Grafmatic has been working fine.

 

[peter k.]

I've never pushed anything out of the way, except the darkslide

Interesting.
With my Graftmatic when you leave the unit open, after unloading it, and do not close it up again, that tab is out of the film spetums area. But if you close it, before loading it again, that tab has no spetums to stop it, and the Graftmatic mechanics forces the tab into the film spetums area, when you close it. Thus it then needs to be physically pushed back out of the way before you load the spectums back in. .
Hmmm .. I take it yours does not do this?
But with ours, .. we always verify that the tab is out of the way.

 

[grat]

Ah. That tab is part of the counting mechanism. According to the docs:

Before putting the septum back into the compartment, be sure the counter slide, by the felt strip, has been pulled back out of the way, into the end of the film compartment.

Caution: Note that slight pressure on the button on the underside of the film compartment will release the automatic exposure counter slide. If the holder is laid on a flat bench, no difficulty will be encountered; otherwise it will be necessary to make sure this slide does not extend into the septum chamber before attempting to insert the septums-- failure to do so may result in jammed or bent septums.

 

[hsandler]

Ah. That tab is part of the counting mechanism. According to the docs:

Brilliant. Mystery solved. OK, the tab moves in towards the septums when the red dot is showing next to the film counter; that is, the "ready to shoot, dark slide behind septum" position. Since I always finish by "advancing" the film to the X position after my last shot, this tab is already retracted when I change film, so I never knew it could move. But pushing that little button on the underside of the magazine (which is only shown when the magazine is pulled out) releases the tab and exposes the red dot, it is indeed something to look out for when loading. Thanks!