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Thread: Crown Graphic Top Rangefinder Plunger Cap

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    Potomac, MD
    Posts
    76

    Crown Graphic Top Rangefinder Plunger Cap

    I have a nice old Crown Graphic that I'm really enjoying. I'd like to get the top rangefinder working. I think I should be able to get BBs that are very close in size to the original. I think I should be able to do without spacers, as it seems Graflex also did for some period. I should be able to turn a plunger on the lathe to whatever dimensions I need.

    My challenge now, is the plunger cap. I feel like I'm going to probably have to fabricate or improvise a solution to this, but after thinking about it for a while, I'm not sure I have any great ideas about how to approach it. Does someone have a suggestion?

    I was thinking I could drill a hole in a pen cap or something, and that might work. I'm not really sure. Does anyone know the O.D. of the tube?

  2. #2

    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Wondervu, Colorado
    Posts
    1,285

    Re: Crown Graphic Top Rangefinder Plunger Cap

    I used to have a trf model, but no more. You might want to try the help board at Graflex.org.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    832

    Re: Crown Graphic Top Rangefinder Plunger Cap

    A forum member has all the parts you need and more for $20.
    https://www.largeformatphotography.i...amp-misc-parts

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    Potomac, MD
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    76

    Re: Crown Graphic Top Rangefinder Plunger Cap

    Quote Originally Posted by Neal Chaves View Post
    A forum member has all the parts you need and more for $20.
    https://www.largeformatphotography.i...amp-misc-parts
    I looked through that, but I don't see the lower plunger or cap.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    832

    Re: Crown Graphic Top Rangefinder Plunger Cap

    Yes, you are right. Looks like the tube assembly has been stripped. I feel your best solution is to find parts from a donor camera rather than trying to machine them yourself. Good luck!

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    Potomac, MD
    Posts
    76

    Re: Crown Graphic Top Rangefinder Plunger Cap

    Quote Originally Posted by Neal Chaves View Post
    Yes, you are right. Looks like the tube assembly has been stripped. I feel your best solution is to find parts from a donor camera rather than trying to machine them yourself. Good luck!
    I think I should be able to make it. I just need to use the follower rest because steel is pretty flexible at those diameters. I'm not seeing any donor cameras with those parts that I would sacrifice for the sake of mine.

    For the cap, I have a couple of metal Presta bicycle caps that I think I might be able to modify to suit. Maybe a little rubber 'O' ring, or just a few layers of electrical tape will be in order. I have 500 of the 7/64" BB's, so I think I should be good to go when I get the chance.

    I'm probably going to put this project off until November, because I want to use that camera to capture fall colors in a few weeks.

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