Speed Graphic Frankenstein? ID Help

[zooshooter]

https://imgur.com/a/rqx5ZUC

Here is my camera. I purchased it on Ebay and received it in the mail last night. I have some basic ideas on how to operate it and, in checking the focal plane shutter, noticed that it seems very slow. Primarily, the shutter mechanism always has a sort of rattle-y sound to it. I'm toying with the idea of removing the leather coverings and refinishing the camera as a "naked" Speed Graphic. I'm just a little lost because my camera, from my extremely limited knowledge of Speed Graphics, seems like it might be a mix of other models. Can anyone provide me with better information as to whether this is actually a stock/original camera or if it seems to have been put together from parts of other cameras? If I've missed something that you think is obvious, either in my description or in the photos please let me know and I'll get as much info as I can.

 

[markjwyatt]

The cool thing about most Speed Graphics, is the you can just open the focal plane shutter and use the leaf shutter in the lens instead. Looks like yours is a pre-Anniversary (1939-?): http://graflex.coffsbiz.com/serials.html

The Kalart rangefinders are common on Spreed Graphics, and they tend to get fitted with a variety of lenses. Nothing looks too unusual. Do you have any film holders or roll film adapters? I will leave to others as my knowledge on Speed Graphics is limited. I have a 1949 era Pacemaker Speed Graphic (and a 1949 era Graflex RB [Super?] D). The focal plane shutter on the Graphic is jammed (I was able to open it and thus bypass it), but the leaf shutter seems fine.

 

[grat]

I'm not an expert, but it looks very much like a "Pre-anniversary Speed Graphic" (1928-1939) with an upgraded lens on it.

https://graflex.org/speed-graphic/pre-anniversary.html

 

[Dan Fromm]

The s/n (242608) is in a block of 750 4x5 Pre-Anniversary Speed Graphic serial numbers issued 5/22/1939.

According to P-H Pont's Goerz chronology, the lens was made between 1915 and 1920, probably (not certain) 1918-9.

The shutter is a post-WW II Wollensak Rapax shutter. So the lens has been reshutterer.

Interchangeable lenses are a fact of LF life.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

"Slow and creaky" pretty much describes a Speed Graphic's focal plane shutter. The shutter should move faster with each wind of the tension knob.

 

[shutterfinger]

The leather on the Pre Anny is XXX Moroccan.
This manual for the C3, military version of the Anniversary, service instructions for the FPS will work for the Pre Anniversary.
https://www.cameramanuals.org/prof_pdf/c-3_graflex_camera.pdf

 

[rknewcomb]

"shutter mechanism always has a sort of rattle-y sound to it. "
That rattle or perhaps better called a squeal is to my understanding no lube where the shutter curtain roller shafts meet the bearing supports on their ends in the body. . Clean out dust from the curtain area and one drop of light machine oil in each of the holes shown and their respective positions on the opposite end will probably help that noise in my opinion. Its not a full service but it may help.
Robert