Speed Graphic Bellows Removal

[Steve Smith]

I have an old Speed Graphic which I am cleaning up and re-finishing. In order to separate the body from the rest of the works, I think I have worked out that I need to remove the four screws on the base and release the bellows.

I found this website: Dead Link Removed which describes bending up two metal flaps to relaese the bellows. Is that it?

I want to ask before I try it and break something. It doesn't matter about damaging the covering as that is going. It's in a poor state and has been painted red!

I'm not 100% sure what model I have but I think it may be a pre - Anniversary model as it takes the lens boards with a bevel on the bottom and has only the top sliding clip to hold the board in place. The 'Speed Graphic' text on the front is straight, not slanting as in the later models. This compares well to all of the pre-Anniversary pictures I have found.

It looks the same as this one: http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/anniversary-speed-graphic-hm.jpg

Any advice would be appreciated.



Steve.

 

[Ian Grant]

It's not pre-Anniversary, it's the Anniversary model made between 1940 & 47.

So be careful when looking for parts, nothing is common between the pre-Anniversary & Pacemaker models, I have rebuilt both. However some parts from the Anniversary are similar to the pre-Anniversary and others the Pacemaker. The back is similar to the pre-Anniversary, the focussing track is newer and like the Pacemakers, but the lens standard is only slightly modified.

My bellows were held in place by two metalbars which unscrewed, on the Pacemaker. I didn't need to remove them on the pre-Anniversary model.

Ian

 

[Ian Grant]

BTW You need a rear sight for the wire finder off an Anniversary or pre-Anniversary Speed or Crown Grapcic, and the Viewfinder off an Anniversary or Pacemaker Graphic.

Ian

 

[Steve Smith]

Thanks for the information.

I'm not going for restoration on this, just repair and re-construction into something useful. I will be using it on a tripod mainly and will use the ground glass for focussing but I would like to have the viewfinder for occasional hand held use.

I'm not too bothered about the rangefinder as I can use the focussing scale and the shutter mechanism is now removed as it was past repair.

Looking at it now, the back in it's new varnished wood and black paint actually goes well with the red painted leather. If it wasn't for the holes left from the shutter mechanism, I would leave it as it is. I suppose I could always put the control plates back on!


Steve.