What's happening with the Speed Graphics?

[Ian Grant]

Amazing. Strip an Anniversary Speed, sand and finish the wood, put upholstery tacks in the bottom of it, and sell it for near 600 bucks?
tim in san jose

That one in the ebay link has had the focal plane shutter removed.

You've given me hope Tim, I must finish off my pre-Anniversary Speed Graphic next time I'm in the UK.

The bellows and spirit levels have since been restored the shutters fully functional, the body trench polished. It has a modified body to accept wide-angle lenses, it appears Graflex released half finished camera's to other workshops for adapting as specialist models, including Police cameras.

Ian

 

[darinwc]

notice how the guy closed the auction as soon as someone bid... before the buyer could back out!

 

[Removed Account]

Notice this line:

"We will assist you with the Customs Declaration Form to address your individual needs.Please inquire with your special requests.We will make this a pleasant shopping experience."

Now if only I could get an electron microscope marked "Gift".....

- Justin

 

[Bobby Ironsights]

I know, I've seen that guy "fine camera's and watches" sell a number of things at absolutely unbelievable prices.

Everything he sells is up-marked by about 800%. I was discussing it with the GF, and the only reasonable explanation we can come up with is money laundering!:confused:

 

[Ian Grant]

Well he can Money launder my Speed Graphic any day

More seriously bald, as in no leatherette Graphics do seem to fetch very higher prices, I've french polished mine (the one I've shown in the thread), did I make a mistake recovering my other I had to fill the bit where the missing shutter used to sit.

Actually the one sold on ebay for $578.00 (US) is a con because this is totally untrue "the special wooden edition is rare, a classic Beauty" - why ?
Because its a Speed Graphic & has no shutter, the button/catch to open it is missing and they were always covered in black leatherette. Looks much nicer though

Ian

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

I got mine for 300AUD, with a recently CLA'd 90mm Optar - I was the only bidder. I'd watched them for the last year though, and they'd gone for anywhere from 150 to 700-800. It's ebay, sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you get screwed, but the more informed you are the better.
Like the $70 I paid for a Yankee Agitank.
Let's never speak of it again.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

Have you tried acquiring a Graflex RB through *Bay? That's even more fun than trying to find a speed.
I agree though, there is a higher demand for them now it seems. $600 is steep, although I had seen a NIB late singer-graflex pacemaker speed for about that, if not a bit higher. I would have paid that for a truly NIB camera. How many times have you seen the original box that the camera came in?

 

[JBrunner]

Last week on the Bay- My much hyped 1946 Speed and a 545 polaroid back in working order. --$148 US + shipping. Yes, there are some prime examples that go for allot more, or at least they are listed for more, but they can be had for less as well. You just need to be patient. Over all prices have been rising a bit. That's actually good. Means people are using film. Right now in the APUG classifieds is a real real nice Crown, with a 545 holder, for like $350. Thats pretty cheap for turn key to get in to LF. Could you find it cheaper? Sure, maybe... with some of looking, or you can just pony up and be shooting with that one in a few days. Good, fast, or cheap-pick any two.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

That 'cameras and watches' guy.. He does have a lot of stuff that is just absolutely outrageous. Either it's banged up and he gives it a 9 or it's priced way higher than it should be. Although he did have a pretty NICE graflex XL kit w/ zeiss lens, several backs and whatnot for about $400. It was the original military issue, black in a matching vulcanoid case. If I had $400+ to burn I would have considered it..

 

[Paul Howell]

That 'cameras and watches' guy.. He does have a lot of stuff that is just absolutely outrageous. Either it's banged up and he gives it a 9 or it's priced way higher than it should be. Although he did have a pretty NICE graflex XL kit w/ zeiss lens, several backs and whatnot for about $400. It was the original military issue, black in a matching vulcanoid case. If I had $400+ to burn I would have considered it..

The Graflex XL military issue is rather rare as are most military issued cameras, in the 70s there were laws that required the federal government to purchase American Made Products even if the products cost more or did not meet the specs of Japanese or German products, or so the story goes. The rumor was that the Air Force wanted the Konica Rapid Omega system but was forced to issue the XL. As I recall the XL was not well liked, I used it once or twice, no strong opinions one way or another. Most military issue cameras most got the h#** beat of them, once they trashed or obsolete they were turned over to surplus but other federal, state, and other governmental agencies could grab them for free so some wound up with the Park Service and the like, only the very battered made it to auction. A few never made to surplus, listed as lost or whatever and taken home. I got my first Speed, it is a standard press not a military spec model, with a tag from the Pensacola Naval Air Station, from a Navy auction in Long Beach Ca in 1965.