convert standard film holder to Graflex lipped holder

[ibabcock]

I got a Marion Soho 3.25 x 4.25 SLR and while I was waiting for it I also bought 3.25 x 4.25 film holders. The camera takes graflex film holders with the 1/4 inch lip along each side however but I see I can easily epoxy some wood strips to the sides of the standard film holders and use them as one-sided holders. My question: is the depth from the front face of the film holder to where the film rests the same on each style so that I will not have a focus problem?

[mdarnton]

Graflex holders have a groove lightlock along the slide side, instead of the ridge found on normal holders. How will you deal with that?

[ibabcock]

Michael thank you for pointing out the groove. I will have to grind off the lightlock ridge and then dremel-in a groove above it. Just eyeballing it I'd say the trick will be 1) getting the groove deep enough without cutting all the way through the metal, and 2) not generating alot of heat in the process which could affect the light shield under the sheet metal. Hopefully the shield (felt?) is not attached to the metal but only the wood base underneath (it makes no sense to have a seal on the outside face of the darkslide). One thing for sure about camera repair, there is always more to it once you get into it. The big repair involves the missing shutter - hopefully it's just torn and wrapped all the way around the rollers. I'm learning about shutter repair by replacing Reflex Korelle curtains at the moment.

[mdarnton]

Is there some reasonable resistance to just buying the right thing and using that? They aren't unobtainable, and because the size you want isn't desirable they aren't even particularly expensive.

[ibabcock]

I've only been looking for about a month but have only seen 2 of the correct film holders, and at 29.00 each if I want at least 6 or 8 of them I'll pay 7.00 each and modify them.

[Tin Can]

I have a good set of slotted Graflex holders and Mag Bags in 3 sizes

Yet not enough to sell

I highly suggest you post in WTB

I am fairly sure 'T' is the same

[Chauncey Walden]

It took me a long time to find just one holder but I only use it to have an alternate film choice to the bagmag.

[mdarnton]

Yes, I have holders, a couple of roll holders, and some bag mags, but the bag mags give me the greatest pleasure of the mess.

A hint for buying holders is that you have to check everything because the sellers often don't know the real details and identity of what they are selling and don't know the difference. I got 6 holders, brand new in boxes, for about five bucks each, being sold as regular graphic holders, and I got my roll holders the same way but not new-- as generic roll holders. I think one was even listed as 4x5!