Which other than original lensboards are compatible with Speed graphic

[heinrich voelkel]

Hello, I have a ancient 4x5 Speed Graphic, the one with the black front, and I'm lusting for two new lenses, so I need two new lensboards. Because I live in Europe it is not easy to find an original one.

In the past I helped myself by buying a Zone VI wooden lensboard and chopping of a little wood to make it fit. Zone VI lensboards are ven more complicated to find by today, as my supplier from the past, Calumetphoto, doesn't sell them anymore in Europe.

So, my question is, are any other than the original Graflex lensboards are compatible with a Anniversary Speed Graphic? And if yes, where do I find some?

Second question: Are Crown Graphic lensboards are compatible with a Graflex Speedgraphic?

Thank you advance for your help...


Heinrich

 

[jolefler]

Hello Heinrich!

For what it's worth..

I've been making my own for my Anny Speed from the particle board the manufacturers use when making clipboards for office/warehouse use. Each clipboard costs less than $1 and yields four lensboards. The clipboards I've found at discount stores seem to be a perfect thickness. A coat of flat black and some light seal foam (optional) on the back around the edges and I'm rockin'! Not hard to cut with a utility knife and a coping saw for the lens opening.

Jo

 

[BrianShaw]

I know this isn't exactly an answer to your question, but I've recently obtained an Anniversary Graphic and found lens boards a challenge to find, too. There is a guy on eBay who sells repro boards for $8 each. He's in the US so maybe this isn't a great solution for you. His boards don't seem quite solid as the originals but the one I bough is working okay for me. I am pondering the possibility of making a couple more boards myself using model airplane birch plywood. They don't look too difficult to make.

I don't think Crown Graphic boards will work as a substitute.

 

[removed account4]

i have used both single ply matboard and foam core to make
lensboards for a speed graphic. i also received one that someone
made for me made from model making wood. you can make them
out of just about anything, they just need to be rigid enough to
hold whatever lens you have.

good luck!

john

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Graphic View I and Graphic View II lens boards will work on the Speed Graphic Anniversary.

Crown Graphic Boards will not work.

Wayne

 

[Jim Jones]

Several other cameras, such as many Burke and James, used the same lens boards as Graphic. If you can alter other lens boards to fit the Graphic, you can probably make boards from Baltic Birch or other plywood, MDF, hardboard, and many other materials.

 

[Buster6X6]

I made mine out of two pieces of model aircraft birch ply (I think important to have a rigid board) For couple Euros you can have four lens boards.

Greg

 

[k_jupiter]

So.. I will concurre. the Anniversary Speed board is one of the easiest to make. Cut to length and width, sand a bevel on the bottom edge, drill your hole for a shutter mount.

Crowns had metal formed lens boards. They fit the Pacemaker type speeds.

tim in san jose

 

[vanspaendonck]

I know this isn't exactly an answer to your question, but I've recently obtained an Anniversary Graphic and found lens boards a challenge to find, too. There is a guy on eBay who sells repro boards for $8 each. He's in the US so maybe this isn't a great solution for you. His boards don't seem quite solid as the originals but the one I bough is working okay for me. I am pondering the possibility of making a couple more boards myself using model airplane birch plywood. They don't look too difficult to make.

I don't think Crown Graphic boards will work as a substitute.

I bought two of his lensboards for my Crown 4x5 on March 5. They are still in the mail, but I will post my findings as to fit and finish of these (wooden) boards if anyone is interested.

 

[BrianShaw]

I bought two of his lensboards for my Crown 4x5 on March 5. They are still in the mail, but I will post my findings as to fit and finish of these (wooden) boards if anyone is interested.

I'd be interested, and this might be a good thread to put the comments in since it about Graflex Type C lensboards. Here are some comments onmy experience with that product:

The seller is quite responsive to questions. I asked about the dimensions of the recess on the back of the board since I thought I might have a tight squeeze with the retaining ring on the antique shutter I was mounting. He replied within a day and indicated that the recess was 1/2 inch. So I ordered a board. It arrived about a week later. I was quite pleased with the all aspects of the delivery. The board itself looked quite professionally made and was properly drilled to my specification. The board required extremely minor adjustment to fit my camera. I rubbed the top edge of the board on 80-grit sandpaper (about 4 light strokes) and then the board dropped right into place. Interestingly, the board had no recess around the rear part of the opening but there was no problem mounting my shutter. The board itself appears to be a lighter material than the original board that I have. It is a more open-grain material but appears sturdy enough for its purpose. It is nicely finished with a very even matte black finish.

All-in-all I recommend this as a solution to anyone who chooses to purchase a reproduction Graflex Type C lens board. The seller can be found on eBay by searching "Graflex" and "lens board".