WTB: Graflex 5x4 Speed Graphic

[Matt Davenport]

Hi I have bought myself a kodak aero ektar 2.5 barrel lens from a car boot of all places.

i'm now looking for a cheap graflex 5x4 speed graphic with a working focal plain shutter.

please get back to me if anyone has one to sell

thanks

[Matt Davenport]

Still looking...

I need one with a universal back

[dave_whatever]

I spotted a few on here if that's any good to you.

http://www.peterloy.co.uk/Stocklist.htm

[Matt Davenport]

that's great i will get in touch tomorrow

thanks for your help Dave, very much appreciated.

[IanG]

Go look on Ebay, not .co.uk rather the US .com login details are common for all Ebay's regardless of country or language, but items don't always map across to the various interfaces. So I visit the US .com & the German .de for some items, far more LF cameras show up..

I paid less than $100 for 2 Speed Graphics from the US bought together for restoration, both now fully finished for an additional £20. (OK one had the shutter removed).

If I wanted another I'd place a wanted advert on APUG or the US LF site first, or watch the classifieds on the 2 sites. My Crown Graphic with a lens was about $100, a $150 is more typical, but expect to pay $200+ for a Graflok back.

Recently I decided to get my Busch Pressman functional (when I'm next in the UK) the back was missing, I was offered 3 by different people within a few hours of posting a Wanted advert, and have now been given 2 free just paying the postage. One back is better than the other but has a poor hood, the other has a good hood.

There's a awful lot of Speed Graphics in the US and prices are substantially lower than the UK, allow 21% in case Customs add Import Duty & VAT (on the item & postage), so far I've rarely been charged Duty etc, but it does happen occasionally - first time in 2 years this week !!!

Peter Loy's prices are quite fair, as are MW Classic, and lower than many other UK sellers. The Speed Graphic shutters are quite easy to service as they are so large

Ian

[Fourtoes]

Bonhams Knowles today Lot 344.

Actually lots of goodies in todays sale. I have resisted.

[numnutz]

Start saving now for an adapter to fit the lens to a panel. I hope that the rear glass has not yellowed too much.



nn

[Matt Davenport]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I had a bit of a punt on that lot but it ended up going up to £620! my max bid was £615, bugger!

So I am getting a pacemaker from Peter Loy (thanks for that advice dave & IanG)

I have decided to sell the aero ektar and go for something almost as fast but slightly less radioactive!

i cant wait to get that leather stripped of it now to expose the mahogany beauty underneath!

any advice on increasing the movements of this camera?

cheers

[dave_whatever]

There's a webpage somewhere detailing how you can grind off some of the frontstandard base to give you swings, and thus tilt when shooting with the camera on its side, it should come up on google.

[Liam]

Here are some links about referb / mods..

http://www.xs4all.nl/~lommen9/repairing/Katrina.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31166167@N07/4615843566/

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/ ... p?p=484489

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charcoal_f ... 574878576/

I plan on doing the same to mine but I am to busy having fun using it at the moment

[Fourtoes]

Hi Matt,

Were you at the Bonham sauction today?

[Matt Davenport]

no i bid over the phone.it was my first real auction though!

what other good auctions are there?

is it worth getting on their mailing list at all?

[Fourtoes]

I changed my mind and went along, things were going for crazy prices. I managed to get a couple fo 5x7 plate cameras. But that lot you were looking at went for more than 3 times its estimate. Madness.
There was one dealer/collector there that bid on nrealy every item hence there was always bidding competition.

Check out you local auction houses as well as the larger ones. Most are online nowadays and you can sign up to be told when certain types of auctions are coming up.

[Matt Davenport]

Yeah it seemed to get a bit crazy. i think the problem was the estimates were way out! but i guess thats how they get people bidding. I have a feeling the speed graphic lot, once split up would make the £620 back easily however i will have more fun modifying my and doing it my way i guess!

[Peter B]

I'm afraid I don't know the similarities or differences to be aware if this is of any interest, but I see there is a Crown Graphic on the auction site and it has apparently been refurbished by the seller. There are decent sized photos of it looking good and it has a BIN price of £325 with lens.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Graflex-5x4-Crown ... 45f51e4009