How many Galvin 4x5 cameras were made?

**Leonard Robertson** · 6-Jan-2013, 11:34

I bought a new 4X5 Galvin from Ed at his shop on Aurora in Seattle (nostalgia for older Puget Sound area folks) I suppose in the 1980s. I never got along with it very well. Always seemed a bit shaky, but it certainly was light weight. I had a Linhof 4X5 Color at the time so it was tough for the Galvin to be compared to that as to sturdiness. I'm pretty sure I sold the Galvin to someone in Spokane, and he resold it. So if anyone has a 4X5 that came from Spokane, that is likely the same camera. I have no idea what the serial number may have been, although I got it soon after seeing mention in Shutterbug or somewhere of the 4X5 version so it may have been an early one. It was one of the few cameras I ever bought new. The other 3 or 4 were all 35mm.

Len

**Audii-Dudii** · 22-Jan-2019, 18:18

Originally Posted by John Schneider

As an update, I went through my gear prior to selling off some of my spares, and my "parts" 4x5 Galvin is s/n 101x (in addition to 104x and 106x). While this is only educated conjecture, it seems that production likely began at s/n 1000 or 1001 and ended with less than 100 of the 4x5 model being made.

I know this is a long-dormant thread, but I just had occasion to look at my Galvin 45 and it's stamped with Serial No. 1077.

Strangely, my 2x3 Galvin doesn't have any serial number stamped on it.

**Drew Wiley** · 22-Jan-2019, 18:58

Jim Galvin lived in Sacramento, CA. In his older years he had a small machine shop at his residence and made custom lensboards etc for photographers. Very nice fellow. There's an early View Camera article on his earlier camera venture - basically an attempt to
make a simplifed camera he personally wanted, then produced in multiples afterwards.

**Cor** · 23-Jan-2019, 01:38

Originally Posted by Audii-Dudii

I know this is a long-dormant thread, but I just had occasion to look at my Galvin 45 and it's stamped with Serial No. 1077.

My 4*5 is stamped with 1064, but John knew that since I bought mine from him, while not as sturdy as my Linhof Color it's way up compaired to the Gowland I had before. The Galvin makes my lightweight set when hiking or biking.

Best,

Cor