Speed Graphic ground glass replacement (shimming?)

[axs810]

I just bought a Speed Graphic (Pacemaker?) on ebay and was wondering about a replacement ground glass because when the camera arrived it didn't have a ground glass but had a really scratchy fresnel installed. Right now the fresnel doesn't function as anything because the ground glass is missing so it has some wiggle room. I was wondering if this is the kind of Speed Graphic where I can just drop in a new ground glass or if I'm going to need to shim before placing a new ground glass in.


My cameras serial number is 902386.


I just placed an order with Steve Hopf for a new ground glass. I'm really hoping I can just drop the new ground glass in without shimming, but if that problem does arise what would be the best way to shim the ground glass for best accuracy when focusing?

[Jon Shiu]

Put the Fresnel in first. Then put the ground glass on top.

Jon

[axs810]

Only problem is that the fresnel takes up a lot of space. Right now it's on my camera and there's only like a few mm of wiggle room. Feels like almost 2-3sheets of printer paper can fill the gap so I don't know how well the ground glass and fresnel will fit together under the clips.

[Jon Shiu]

Normally, the Fresnel sits in kind of a "well", with deeper edges. If you haven't already, take the door off, it unclips. Then take the clips off and see what the situation is.

Jon

[RichSBV]

The GG clips are spring clips that hold pressure on the GG, There will seem to be less room without the GG in place, but make sure your new GG isn't too thick! And make sure the fresnel's grooves are facing you, not the lens. Of course the frosted side of the GG then faces the fresnel...

Oh, and your serial number is from a batch of 3000 dated 12/1/1954...

[Old-N-Feeble]

Sorry to intervene but...

Rich, are you sure about the Fresnel orientation?

[Dan Fromm]

Rich is right.

About whether to put the fresnel in front of the GG, it depends on the focusing panel. Pacemaker Graphics have two types of focusing panels, for use with and for use without a fresnel. Graflex Inc. being Graflex Inc., both types have the same casting number.

The GG (or GG + fresnel sandwich) sits on bosses (four, I think, it's been a while since I took one of my focusing panels apart). Focusing panels for use without a fresnel have high bosses, focusing panels for use with a fresnel have the bosses milled down. High bosses ==> put the fresnel behind the GG with the grooves facing the GG. Low bosses ==> put the fresnel in front of the GG with the bosses facing the GG.

Note that all this assumes the fresnel is Graflex' original issue. Not all fresnels are the same thickness.

[BrianShaw]

Dan is right.

[RichSBV]

Dan and Rich are both right

[Old-N-Feeble]

I should have been more specific. I should have asked, "Should the Fresnel grooves face the back of the camera?"