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New To Me Century Graphic Special. Help.

I hear you all.

I don't have a drill press nor a dremel. I do have a nice green Ryobi electric drill from home depot. I could get a sanding bit thingy or clamp a file into my heavy anvil vicegrip thing and do it that way. I got the $15 Roberts deal.
 
Cholentpot said:
Excellent!

Any tips for measuring dead center?
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Trace the opening on a piece of paper, cardboard, balsa wood, etc. then draw lines across the drawn circle horizontally and vertically. Where they intersect is dead center. Turn your board upside down and center the opening on the board. Clamp them together and you have the center.
 

And then use a compass to measure out the space I need shaved off.

I'm terrible at these things but I always give it a shot.
 
Trace the outline of the board onto a solid piece of material. Find the center. Sit the board over the traced outline then put a compas point at the center point and scribe the board for the new size hole. It won't matter if you are over a half millimeter but a millimeter over or a tenth of a millimeter under will.
 
Cholentpot said:
along with one from roberts that would give me a bag of 8 exposures.
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What is this one? Bag magazines had 12 spetums so 8 indicates some are missing.
The holders on ebay you linked to are wood. Wood holders are old and may be in need of repair. Look for plastic Lisco, Riteway, Fedility.

Pull back on the focus panel at the holder opening then insert the holder or pull back on the holder to release the light trap then slide out. Pulling back on the film holder with the full pressure of the focus panel on it will cause more wear or damage the film holder.
Graflex also made a Grafmatic for 2x3 that holds 6 sheets of film. They show up on occasion.
 

Thanks,

I'll keep an eye out for those three.
 
Graflok sliders and focus panel spring arms. Graflex backs and holders have a different light trap system and are generally wider while being thr same length.
In the linked Bag Mag example notice the slot on the darkslide end that extends to the sides of the mount side. The frame edge of the Graflex Back fits into this slot.
 

I've got a graflok system then. I finished my first roll today and it's in the rinse, this is a test to see if 1, anything even exposed and 2, lightleaks.
 
The Century has an integral Graflok back. Go over to graflex.org and read the FAQs.
 
Dan Fromm said:
The Century has an integral Graflok back. Go over to graflex.org and read the FAQs.
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Thanks.

And if anyone is curious, the negatives came out just fine, if a mite thick. Got 7/8, messed up the last frame because a kid threw a nerf football at the camera and messed up my process. I'm now rolling some 35mm through the holder for kicks and giggles.
 
OP please be aware that there are negative holders and Graflok backs for Graflexes which do not fit on Graphics. Read up about them on graflex.org.
 
Sirius Glass said:
OP please be aware that there are negative holders and Graflok backs for Graflexes which do not fit on Graphics. Read up about them on graflex.org.
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I have a 120 6x9 back that fits and a GG with spring that fits. The 6X9 fits via the sliding track holders and the GG film clicks in via metal clips. I just need cut sheet holders now.
 
Hmm. I looked at the listing. Those are standard 2x3 film holders that slip under 2x3 Graphic (also called spring) and 2x3 Graflok backs' focusing panels. Mr. Pot, I can't say anything about prices 'cos I don't follow that part of the market but the holders will do for you.
 

Judging by ebay prices it seems a good deal. Wooden ones are going for a little more. These seem clean and metal. I assume I have a Graphic (Spring) focusing panel as I can lift one side to slide something under it. Issue is finding 2x3 film. I think there is one place left that sells it.
 

They're plastic.

What part of "the Century Graphic has an integral graflok back" don't you understand? The key difference between spring, also called Graphic, backs and Graflok backs is that Graflok backs have a removable focusing panel so can be used with clip-on and insertion type film holders. Your roll holder is a clip on type. Spring backs accept only insertion type film holders. Sheet film holders are insertion type.

For the I don't know how manyth time, go educate yourself. Learn the language.
 

We all start somewhere. The jargon from 70 years ago is very confusing. Graphic, Graflok, Graflex.

The Century Graphic has both a Graflok and Graphic back. The roll holder clips on while the focusing panel clicks in.

https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/graphicbacks.htm

As for reading, even this excellent source explains why everything is muddled and confusing. The Roll Film back is labeled as a GRAPHIC back even though its a GRAFLOK back and is backwards compatible to accept older GRAPHIC film holders.

But thanks for pointing out that the film holders are plastic. I've been told to look for the plastic ones over the wooden ones.
 
Cholentpot said:
The Century Graphic has both a Graflok and Graphic back. The roll holder clips on while the focusing panel clicks in.
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Sir, you are badly mistaken. Graflok back only. Permanently attached.

You don't understand that backs have parts. In addition, you share the common misapprehension that film holders are backs.

I'll say it again. Go educate yourself.
 
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