Crown Graphlex, cracked ground glass

[illumin8em]

Howdy folks,

I am hoping to purchase a Crown Graphlex 4x5 soon, but was now informed that the ground glass has a crack. For $150, I am wondering if this would stil be worth the investment? Thanks for any help.
Here is the description

"The bellows is in perfect
condition, not sure about light leaks but it seems very tight all around,
The ground glass is cracked about 1 inch up from the bottom right hand edge
and it extends in a semi- circular downward shape to about 1 1/4 inches to
the bottom left side. No tears, no rips, no stains, a few surface scratches
where the film holders were pulled out of and replaced."

[Steven Tribe]

Visit graflex.org!
Cameras are generally not a very sensible "investment".
General condition is far more important than a damaged Ground Glass, which can be virtually free to replace if you have just a few manual skills.

[Otto Seaman]

I'd pass, $150 for a clean Crown Graphic without lens is reasonable price so be patient and several more will come along over the next few weeks.

Changing the Ground Glass is only four screws holding two clips. But if the camera was set up for a fresnel, the position of the ground glass will be different depending on whether or not the fresnel is used. Many home-DIY repair jobs didn't know any better or wouldn't bother to do a film focus test, so I'd shy away from anything that wasn't in great to perfect cosmetic condition. They are plentiful and inexpensive cameras so be choosey.

[illumin8em]

Thanks for the advice so far folks

Visit graflex.org!
Cameras are generally not a very sensible "investment".
General condition is far more important than a damaged Ground Glass, which can be virtually free to replace if you have just a few manual skills.

None of the things I seem to be interested in are sensible investments, I was looking more for dependable, or some other adjective.

I'd pass, $150 for a clean Crown Graphic without lens is reasonable price so be patient and several more will come along over the next few weeks.

It does have a lens, 135mm I believe, if that would sway your opinion. Unfortunately, in my area (WV) not much of anything shows up of what I am looking for. I had waited a long time for a Crown Grafex to be available within a couple of hours, and this one is still 2 hrs away. I am not familiar with the issues using fresnal lens. I will try to find more info.

[Jim Jones]

Driving two hours and returning home would cost me a fair fraction of the cost of some useable Crown Graphics on ebay in driving expenses. Better bargains should appear.

[Liquid Artist]

After you've been a member on here for a month, you'll have access to the buy and sell forum on this board.
It has more cameras than you can imagine, and most of the sellers are knowledgeable, and fair priced. They often even include shipping within their country.
If I was in your shoes I would just wait and look there.

[IanG]

$150 is an excellent price with a lens, a new screen isn't musch at all. $15 maximum plus postage.

Ian

[Steven Tribe]

Looks quite a clean, untampered with, model with original solenoid fitted. Some later Crowns were fitted with a combination GG/fresnel screen (not your model, though!) to improve the GG image. The side mounted viewfinder (not used by a lot of people these days) will almost certainly need renovation - adjustment and beam splitter renewal. The Speed model with focal plane shutter is often to be preferred as an enormous range of barrel lenses can be used.

[IanG]

I'd add that the original Graflex ground glass screens aren't that bright, a replacement can make a significant difference and it's possible to add a fresnel screen as well although it needs to be on the rear (towards the photographer) of the screen, you need to shim the clips that hold the screen or the focus hood won't lock in place securely.

Ian

[BrianShaw]

$150 is an excellent price with a lens, a new screen isn't musch at all. $15 maximum plus postage.

That's what I was thinking!

You might need to buy a pair of infinity stops (I don't see any in the pics), but that's just another $15.