Storing Speed Graphic -- shutter

**Rider** · 2-Oct-2010, 17:43

When storing a Speed Graphic with a focal plane shutter, what is the best position to leave the shutter in?

Thanks.

**Sirius Glass** · 2-Oct-2010, 18:58

Tension on "1", aperture on "O", the leaf shutter open on "T".

Steve

**Rider** · 3-Oct-2010, 02:49

Thanks Sirius. I understand Tension on "1". Tht means the shutter is fully extended in front of the ground glass. What is "aperture on "O""?

**Sevo** · 3-Oct-2010, 03:32

Contrary to common belief you will not stress damage the spring by storing it tensioned. It is smart to store focal plane cloth shutters fully released though, as it is usually still possible to wind a stiff or sticky shutter cloth (and that agitation will often get it going again), while the spring tension may not be enough to get a sticky tensioned shutter moving.

**jan labij** · 4-Oct-2010, 15:12

O is for open, just keep working the slit button until you get O. O is also usefull for flash, if camera does not have sync on rear shutter.

**jnantz** · 4-Oct-2010, 18:02

un-tense all your springs ..

**Rider** · 7-Aug-2011, 08:45

Originally Posted by jan labij

O is for open, just keep working the slit button until you get O. O is also usefull for flash, if camera does not have sync on rear shutter.

Are you referring to the focal plane shutter? I did not know it had a slit button.

**Fred Haeseker** · 12-Aug-2011, 10:58

Mike Butkus's website has scans of the original manuals for both the older Speed Graphics, on which the focal-plane shutter has 24 available shutter speeds, and the newer (Pacemaker) models, which have a simplified FP shutter with 6 speeds from 1/30to 1/1000. The manuals explain the tension settings and the slit (curtain aperture)widths. Just look under "Graflex":
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/
Mike asks for a $3 contribution for each downloaded manual, which is well deserved.