Speed Graphic Bellows

urnem57 · Feb 21, 2021

It’s looking like new bellows for The Speed Graphic are in my future. I saw some on EBay, I contacted the chap in The UK, and am wondering if there are any other options. Are there any suppliers/installers in The US? How difficult are they to replace? It looks to me like the front one is pretty simple with removing screws and folding it over the bushings. But the rear one with the frame is my concern. How does it attach to the frame? Is the frame delicate and hard to remove?
Thanks in advance.

shutterfinger · Feb 21, 2021

Speed Graphics were made from 1912 to 1970.
Top handle 1912-1927
Pre Anniversary 1928-1939
Anniversary 1940-1946
Pacemaker side rangefinder 1947-1954
Pacemaker Top Rangefinder 1955-1970.
Which do you have?

urnem57 · Feb 21, 2021

Pacemaker top mounted rangefinder.

shutterfinger · Feb 21, 2021

PDF page 18 of https://learncamerarepair.com/downloads/pdf/Graflex-Pacemaker-Service.pdf covers the bellows replacement. For the rear slip the clips off, slightly bow the frame and slide the hooks out of the sides, installation is reverse of removal. The dimpled side of the clips face the camera back.

urnem57 · Feb 21, 2021

Awesome. I didn’t know this book existed. Thanks!
I am not sure about the “bellows hanger” that the cable release runs through. Are they not necessary? They look like they are glued into the bellows themselves.

Dan Fromm · Feb 21, 2021

The "bellows hanger" mentioned in the cable release replacement section of the book (18th page) is shown in fig. 3 on the 5th page. It attaches to the right side of the standard, is not part of the bellows. The cable runs over the front bed, comes up from it to attach to the release assembly parts 27a- d on the 5th page. I regard the cable release for the front shutter as an invention of the devil and have removed the cable from my three little (2x3) Pacemaker Graphics. It isn't necessary for most applications, but I can see why a press photographer would have found it useful.

shutterfinger · Feb 21, 2021

The wire hangars on the bottom of the bellows are part of the bellows. The cable has to be disconnected at the body side release or the front standard and slipped out of the hangars when replacing the bellows. The cable position at the body release is critical for the cable to operate properly.

urnem57 · Feb 21, 2021

Does the hanger need to be inserted into the new bellows? If so, how? Or, is it only to fire the front shutter with a cable release? I normally go right into the lens with the cable release. I DO use the rear shutter a lot with an Aero Ektar. Will removing this cable affect that shutter? Thanks for the help & education.

Dan Fromm · Feb 21, 2021

Charles, OP, I checked the first of my 3 2x3 Pacemaker Graphics I could grab easily. Their are no wire hangers attached to the bellows, the bottom of the bellows is smooth, shiny and seems undamaged. The pages etc. in the manual that I referenced are pretty clear. Charles, please verify that 4x5ers bellow have loops or hangers attached underneath.

OP, I use my 2x3ers with cable releases attached directly to the front shutter. I see no way to fire a Pacemaker Speed Graphic's rear (focal plane) shutter except with the body release. Removing the cable that ran from my 2x3 Pacemaker Speed Graphic's body release to the front standard had no effect on the body release's ability to fire the rear shutter. In fact, the body release worked more smoothly without the cable.

shutterfinger · Feb 21, 2021

The 4x5 Pacemaker has guide hangars that the cable goes through. They are the width of the bellows and form a 1/4 inch gap for the cable to run through below the bellows. I do not know if a replacement bellows will have the hangars or not. The cable is not necessary to use the camera unless you want to use the body release to trip the leaf shutter in the lens.

urnem57 · Feb 21, 2021

The 4x5 Speeds do. It’s attached to the bottom of the bellows some way. I will probably jettison the cable. Why is there a cable release connection there? Don’t most lenses have a port on the, directly?

shutterfinger · Feb 21, 2021

Graphics made from 1947 until ens of production are Pacemaker Speed Graphics and Pacemaker Crown Graphics.
Yes most leaf shutters have a cable release socket.
The body release has a cable release socket for user convenience making it more versatile.

Dan Fromm · Feb 22, 2021

shutterfinger said:
The 4x5 Pacemaker has guide hangars that the cable goes through. They are the width of the bellows and form a 1/4 inch gap for the cable to run through below the bellows. I do not know if a replacement bellows will have the hangars or not. The cable is not necessary to use the camera unless you want to use the body release to trip the leaf shutter in the lens.

Charles, thanks for the reply.

Speed Graphic Bellows

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