Restoring Crown Graphic - Advice and Wisdom Welcomed

[dodphotography]

Restoring this old spring back crown graphic for a student of mine, stripping it to keep it a simple camera. No plans for handheld use so I removed the rangefinder and wire cable release.

Camera was full of corrosion so I soaked the parts above in vinegar / baking soda and sanded with some 220 / scrubbed them with a wire brush. Hit them with some Rustoleum Midnight Blue Satin.

I want to strip the leatherette and refinish it all.

The bellows are a little perplexing to me.

Any advise / wisdom welcomed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dan Fromm]

Look at the manuals here: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AggQfcczvHGN7QPLzcnfQqi0-7pf

If that doesn't work, check the list for links. Also look around on graflex.org. That board seems dead but several people who know Graphics/Graflexes fairly well seem to check it daily and have been very helpful.

About the bellows. The bellows is held to the front standard by four screws, four conical nuts, and eight small washers. The washers are in two sizes, I don't recall the order in which they go on. The screws etc. also hold the lensboard sliders to the standard. The rear of the bellows should have four tabs that bend over the edge of the back, IIRC. Check the manuals. I've bought several so-called good bellows, all had those tabs broken off.

[Dugan]

One of the weak spots is the pair of rear guides for the "yoke"..(Graflex-speak for the rail). If somebody has tried to close the camera with the yoke not completely retracted, the guides inside the body can break. The good news is that they can be reversed, side to side...but make note of how they are shimmed, it may take a couple of tries. I am converting a couple of junkers into pinhole cameras for some family members with kids...Have fun, and please show us the results!