For Sale Rare Factory Made 4x5 R.B. Graflex Super D "Big Bertha" with 20in B&L Lens

[Fragomeni]

For sale is one of the jewels of my collection. This is a Big Bertha 4x5 R.B Graflex Super D modified by Graflex to take a B&L 20in f5.6 Telephoto Anastigmat lens. Camera and lens are in excellent condition. Received overhaul before I purchased it last year. When I purchased it, I was told that sometimes it vignettes. I think they just had the lens set into the wrong groove or were using an improper modern holder rather then a Bag-Mag. I've used the camera with a modified Fuji PA-145 back and I've never seen any sign of vignetting however because I've never used the camera with the Bag-Mag I'm selling it as is. Comes with a Graflex Bag-Mag in usable condition. All focal plane shutter speeds are spot on! This is a fantastic piece of collectible Graflex history and is a very usable camera! Asking $1800 OBO. Shipping within the Continental US with insurance via UPS will probably run between $80-$100 (this is a very heavy camera).

 

[Guillaume Zuili]

Real Beauty !

 

[Jay Abbas]

Imagine the guy up in the stands at a ball game with this camera yellin at his assistant, " get my Super Panchro Press now and dont forget my Lucky Strikes -- Hurry !" What a cannon you have there -- nice !!!

 

[mhcfires]

I just love seeing the heavy artillery brought out! It makes my Pacemaker Speed Graphic/ Aero-Ektar combo look like a child's plaything.

 

[j-dogg]

And here I thought my EOS 650 and 70-200 f4L was heavy artillery. Makes my setup look like a pocket knife

 

[2F/2F]

That is very cool.

It's a lot of camera to handle just to have the diagonal AOV equivalent of 135mm on small format!

 

[Fragomeni]

Yea, I love seeing the old images of photographer shooting sports with these things. The funny part is that this one is small compared to some of the others I've seen! I once saw a 5x7 R.B. Graflex Big Bertha that had to be more then 6 feet long. Required two men to carry it!

 

[Zathras]

That is so cool. I wish I could afford to take it off yer hands.

 

[Fragomeni]

I hope someone can! I really need the funds. I'd rather sell it to someone here then on eBay.

 

[BobCrowley]

Any chance you could get a very close up shot of the dot? I'd like to see how it was engraved. I realize this is superfluous. I love my Super D, but this one!!!!!

 

[Fragomeni]

What dot do you mean Bob?

 

[randy6]

I have a 5x7 home portrait graflex with a 70cm zeiss lens the camera is over 38 inches long

 

[Fragomeni]

Post a picture!!!

 

[randy6]

I'm thinking about listing the one I have on that auction site but it would be hard to ship. I'll post a photo this weekend. It must have been quite an effort to take an action photo with this due the weight and size. 1. the camera would need to placed on a solid service 2. the film back attached 3. the shutter cocked 4. the mirror locked in place 5. focus the camera rear knob controls the full lenth while the "gear shift style lever can be set to control a short lenth of focus. 6. release the mirror 7. release the shutter.

 

[Sirius Glass]

What is the serial number?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Can you post a photograph of the tension-slot width-shutter speed plate?

 

[Fragomeni]

When I get home tonight I'll try to take more pictures of it including the tension-slot and shutter speed plate.

 

[randy6]

I cant find one on the body. The carl zeiss lens is six digits 29xxxx I'm at work I can look later

 

[Sirius Glass]

It is usually behind the viewing hood, on the right side when one is facing the camera.

Steve

 

[randy6]

Sorry not sure why it is not letting me load pictures, but here is a link.

http://s1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb431/rgraphex/

 

[Fragomeni]

That thing is crazy!!

 

[randy6]

56872 is the serial of mine.

 

[Sirius Glass]

56872 is the serial of mine.

48245 – 3.25 x 5.5 compact Graflex – early 1920’s
56232 – 5x7 Home Portrait – 1916-1917
66669 – Top Handle Speed – late teens

As you can see the numbers were taken out in large blocks at a time for a model and not all used at once. I would estimate between 1917 and 1919.

Steve

 

[Fragomeni]

Looks like the serial on my Super D is 464888

 

[Sirius Glass]

Looks like the serial on my Super D is 464888

p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } 453426 – 4x5 Pacemaker Speed – 1947
455004 – 4x5 Pacemaker Speed --
456333 – 4x5 Pacemaker Speed --
469904 – Crown View II --
476861 – 70mm combat graphic --1946

circa 1947