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Thread: Graflex Super Graphic problem

  1. #1
    New Orleans, LA
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    640

    Graflex Super Graphic problem

    Somehow, the young man I am mentoring detached the sliding release arms of the Super Graphic graflok back and, for the life of me, I can't figure out how to get them back on. I'm talking about mechanism that releases the back from the camera not the sliding locks that hold a roll film back on. If someone could send me a photo of the backside of the Super Graphic graflok back that might give me some clues about putting the release arms back on. I thought the Super Graphic was indestructible but, leave it to an impatient 18 year old to disabuse that notion.

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Tucson AZ
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    Re: Graflex Super Graphic problem

    I'm looking at mine right now, but I don't know what you mean by the "sliding release arms"- do you have a photo??? Do you mean the back that has the ground glass in it and the flip open viewing shade that you would remove to expose the graflock sliders that are under it? It has two lock arms that you depress and slide off - it just slides back on but it has to be turned the right way around ie so the film holder would be inserted from the right side of the camera.

  3. #3
    New Orleans, LA
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
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    640

    Re: Graflex Super Graphic problem

    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	204805 I see where the release arms go but cannot get them under the long tension arms. Cannot figure out how they came out.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    Nara, Japan
    Posts
    1,296

    Re: Graflex Super Graphic problem

    I expect this is what you mean. It happened to me also, though it was the Toyo version.



    The latches on the back were separated from the back - they have to be re-inserted behind the leaf springs so that the back can be attached to the camera. The springs are very strong, and must be lifted using a nylon string under them.

    Kumar

  5. #5
    New Orleans, LA
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    640

    Re: Graflex Super Graphic problem

    Ah! Nylon string. Brilliant. I'll give that a try.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
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    El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula
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    Re: Graflex Super Graphic problem

    Ahhh, been there; done that... but a long time ago. The arms pull out of the spring if pulled back too far. I remember disassembling the back to repair. I seem to recall that springs are held in by pins.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    St. Louis, Mo.
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    3,064

    Re: Graflex Super Graphic problem

    A buddy of mine and his wife had a booth at an antique mall. He put a Super Speed Graphic up for sale there and an impatient customer did the same thing to his camera. The fellow said that he knew cameras and it was broken. My buddy said it wasn't easy but he got it back together and ended up keeping the camera.

    Impatience and photography don't go together very well.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
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    Re: Graflex Super Graphic problem

    ... or brute force.

  9. #9
    New Orleans, LA
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    640

    Re: Graflex Super Graphic problem

    I got the sliding arms back in. Took the ground glass out and used a flat head screwdriver to lift the end of the springs high enough to slide the arms back in place and gently let the springs back down. LOTS of tension on those springs. Good old American build quality.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    Tucson AZ
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    Re: Graflex Super Graphic problem

    Glad you got it figured out. I've never had that happen - yet! On the other hand I don't usually let other folks mess with my cameras. I can break enough stuff by myself. Anyhow, glad to know the secret. I've been talking to a local high school about doing a class on LF/Film photography and now I'll be watching for this kind of problem. I always thought the Super was practically indestructible. Now I know better.

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