Where do all the Graflex backs go?

[toolbox]

Hey guys,
This may be a dumb question, and everybody knows the answer but I'm curious--ebay is always full of Graflex Speed and Crown Graphics missing the backs (and often the lenses). It looks like people just buy the cameras to sell the back and lens at a profit, and then sell the rest... Price for the backs are really high (usually over a hundred bucks). What are people using them for? I'm just curious, because it seems like you see so many of them like that it couldn't just be for custom cameras built from scratch or something... I could see a few going to retrofit spring back cameras with a Graflok, but again...seems like an awful lot of them?
Just curious...
Scott

[Dan Fromm]

When you say back, do you mean back or focusing panel? There's a difference.

The focusing panel has to be removed to attach a roll holder. Over time, especially with 2x3 Graphics to which roll holders have been attached, the focusing panel is mislaid. Hence all of those Century Graphics with roll holder and no focusing panel.

[mdarnton]

I'm going to guess a lot go into making step-down backs for larger cameras. I wonder how many end up on 4x5 Series D (not Super D) Graflexes, too--there seems to be a lively market in Series D cameras, but I just about never see any Graflex film holders for sale to feed all those Series D cameras. I have a real piece of junk Speed Graphic that I'm stealing bits from one at a time, and its Graflok back is going to be on my 5x7 sooner or later.

[toolbox]

When you say back, do you mean back or focusing panel? There's a difference.

The focusing panel has to be removed to attach a roll holder. Over time, especially with 2x3 Graphics to which roll holders have been attached, the focusing panel is mislaid. Hence all of those Century Graphics with roll holder and no focusing panel.

I'm thinking of the entire back, screws and all...although you do see quite a few missing the focusing panel. Seems like a lot are also missing the fresnel for some reason...I know some left the factory that way, but I suspect the majority should have had them. It would be impossible to focus without it, so I'm not sure why you would remove it...weird.

[toolbox]

I'm going to guess a lot go into making step-down backs for larger cameras. I wonder how many end up on 4x5 Series D (not Super D) Graflexes, too--there seems to be a lively market in Series D cameras, but I just about never see any Graflex film holders for sale to feed all those Series D cameras. I have a real piece of junk Speed Graphic that I'm stealing bits from one at a time, and its Graflok back is going to be on my 5x7 sooner or later.

Step down backs would make sense. I have a Graflex in 4x5 that apparently had a Graphic back installed many years ago...I always kind of wondered how big of a job that was. Slotted film holders are pretty hard to find, so the conversion definitely makes sense. Although you do see bag mags for them, which would be fun if they're in good condition.

[Alan Gales]

I have a Sinar back made into a 4x5 reduction back for my Wehman 8x10. Like all ready mentioned, step down backs makes sense.

[Bob Salomon]

Besides reducing backs for larger format cameras they could also be used for photomicroscophy or to shoot 45 on other instrument like telescopes.

[Tim Meisburger]

I took the back off one of my old Crowns to make a 4x5 back fro my big studio camera, so that is my guess as to where they go.

[Patrick13]

Now here's a twist, I've got a Graphic 45 that had its original spring back removed and replaced with a Graflok back. So that's -1 accounted for :p

[gth]

Maybe so, but I did a quick search on eBay and there were some 100 complete Speed Graphics, so I don't know if it is all that prevalent with Back-less Speeds…

Seems you can get almost anything with regards to Graflex Speed Graphics parts, lenses, lens boards and bodies in various state.

[EdSawyer]

I've used one for a 3x4 Super-D to 4x5 conversion, aka Aero Liberator. But I didn't harvest it from a Speed/Crown, I got it ala carte. Also scored another spare back from an old oscilloscope camera that was fitted with it (From the factory, it appears - it's a fairchild scope cam). So, there's -1 accounted for also. ;-)

[smithdoor]

The best way is most of the Speed and Crown where use as press cameras. First they did use cut film hold but later they use the roll or Pack Film holders. Both you had to remove the back.
The good news both using a Back Graflok

Dave

[Peter Gomena]

My whole plate camera came with a home-made 4x5 Graflock reducing back. Works like a charm. It obviously was easy to unscrew it from the original camera and transplant it to its new location. So, yes, somewhere out there a Speed or Crown Graphic is missing its back.

[Michael Cienfuegos]

Maybe so, but I did a quick search on eBay and there were some 100 complete Speed Graphics, so I don't know if it is all that prevalent with Back-less Speeds…

Seems you can get almost anything with regards to Graflex Speed Graphics parts, lenses, lens boards and bodies in various state.

Problem with those ebay Speeds is that they are mostly overpriced "very rare" pieces of junk. :(

[mdarnton]

Also, I've noticed that a certain percentage of them fail to mention the missing back in the description, and sometimes also fail to give a photo of the back side of the camera.

[Jim Galli]

It's me! I buy 'em and take the backs off. It's a fetish I guess. I've got file cabinet drawers full of them! Backs backs backs. And they make such nice little picture frames. It's an illness. Is there a clinical name for 4X5 Speed Graphic back hoarding??

[Dan Fromm]

Galli's Syndrome III, not to be confused with Galli's Syndromes I, II, IV or V.

[Jim Galli]

Galli's Syndrome III, not to be confused with Galli's Syndromes I, II, IV or V.

Dan, I thought you swore off answering stupid questions! Ha! Caught ya.

[Dan Fromm]

Galli's Syndrome V, even though I'm not qualified to diagnose. Confusing a statement of fact, true or not, with a question.

[europanorama]

Galli's Syndrome V, even though I'm not qualified to diagnose. Confusing a statement of fact, true or not, with a question.
... with all the non-experts. No wonder with his 30 or over 40 years of experience.
Its not appreciated to be "hochnäsig"snooty because if this.....

[mdarnton]

Maybe, but I notice that trends on Ebay change quite a bit, consistently. About the time that this thread started, you could buy a Cambo back for $60 or a Graflok for $125 and up. I realized that it would be smarter to use a Cambo back rather than the one from my Speeder, so I bought one of those. Now Cambo backs are rare, they cost more, and it's possible once in a while to pick up a Graflok back for well under $100. I attribute part of it to ideas floating around in the vapor that attract certain items at certain times. :-) There's a curious thing that happens in the violin business where if you get one instrument from a rare maker in your shop, in the next month you might suddenly see three more---then none for another 20 years. It's like they have a network, and reunions.

The other common ebay thing is that certain objects will consistently list at a price that they never sell at--dreamers with big ideas about what their junk is worth. Heliars, and Veritos and other SF lenses come immediately to mind.. When one comes up at a reasonable price that actually reflects the object's value and real market, not some idiot's dreams, it's buyable. I've developed this bad habit of tracking a lot of stuff on ebay, and when I see a bunch of something I might want someday, at a good price, I stock up.

[Jim Jones]

Like others, I've robbed Pacemaker Graphics to update an Anniversary model and add a versatile back to a 5x7 B&J. Beside me at the moment is a cute older 2x3 Busch Press-Man with a Graflok back. I could replace the 101mm Ektar with a 135mm so the front standard clears the braces, and have a mini field camera with full front swings and tilts, some front slides, and plenty of rise. By dropping the bed and fiddling around with rise and tilt, it even has back tilt. A previous owner did a neat conversion to keep this little beauty competitive. Pristine Graflok backs can well gather dust on a shelf: Well-used ones should still help make fine photos on whatever camera one owns.