Question regarding roll film back on Crown Graphic

[removed account4]

John, the problem has been diagnosed correctly. The OP has a roll holder made to attach to a Graflex (as in SLR back) and a camera with a Graflok back.

I just replicated it with a "23" Graflex -- so marked -- back and a 2x3 Crown Graphic that has a Graflok back.

The solution is to buy a "23" Graphic -- so marked -- roll holder or an RH-8 roll holder to fit a 2x3 Graphic. With patience, one can be bought through eBay for a reasonable price.

thanks dan

i have a hard time threads like this sometimes,
because once in a while 3 or 4 diagnoses are made,
and they all sound good

i think what threw me for a loop was the mentioning
that there was a back ( similar to this one ) that worked
on both an slr and graflock system

- john ...

 

[Dan Fromm]

i think what threw me for a loop was the mentioning
that there was a back ( similar to this one ) that worked
on both an slr and graflock system

- john ...

There is such a back. I have one.

See http://www.graflex.org/helpboard/viewtopic.php?t=5748&highlight=hybrid

 

[mfratt]

why don't you go to MASSART or EP LEVINES or one of the other photo schools in boston ( AIB / SMFA / NESOP )
and ask someone there who may be familiar with roll backs+graflock backs to take a look at your camera &C ...
i am south of you about 1.5 hours, i'd be happy to meet with you
someplace random to take a look at your camera ( and bring my speed for comparison )
but i don't travel light these days ( i have 3 assistants i have to bring with me everywhere ) .. so it might be tricky ...

Haha, I GO to MassArt
Problem is, I'm the one people usually come to when they're scratching they heads over cameras
Oh and the entire photo lab is torn apart right now for renovations. More digital labs

But yea shoot me a message if you'll be in Boston.

 

[graywolf]

It is a Graflok back. The film back seems to fit securely and snug, minus its ability to shift out on the left side.

Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics. I was being lazy :/

As I thought, the roll film holder in your photo is for the Graflex camera back. The Graflex back was on the SLR's and some of the older Graphics (pre-anniversary models, I think). Note the vertical groove in both the camera and the roll film holder. The proper holder has a vertical ridge instead of the groove.

As I mentioned if you and slip in something that will engage both grooves, you should be able to use the roll film holder on your camera, but that is a bit of a kludge. Oops

Added: Sorry, I believe the grooves are on the opposite ends so you can not actually fit something between the grooves. I am not even sure the backs have the same film registar distance.

The problem comes because over the years Graflex (the company) made cameras with three different backs. The Graphic (spring) back which is held in place by screws. The Graflex back which was similar to the later Graflok back but different (this is what your film holder is for), and the Graflok (also called and International or Universal back).

Glaflex and Graphic film holders usually sell for 1/2 or less what Graflok film holders do. The reason for that is because most reasonably modern large format cameras can use the Graflok film holders.

From the photos, your camera very definitely has a Graflok back. That is good because some of the earliest Pacemaker 23 cameras did not. All the other Pacemaker Graphics came with the Graflok back. While the later lever wind roll holders are all Graflok as far as I know, knob wind backs may be any of the three so you have to be careful about what you buy.