WWII US Army Air Force USAAF Camera Ground Type C-3 Graflex 4x5 Speed Graphic

  

Camera : Air Force, US Army (USAAF) Gov't issued Camera, Ground, Type. Folmer Graflex Anniversary Speed Graphic "45" (4X5 format). (about 160mm) f 4.5 in a tested Graphex shutter. Lens is clear, produces well-defined images; may have typical signs of aging and microscopic cleaning scratches, etc.

Camera Back: Graflex Graphic "Spring back". Bellows: fair; has worn areas and brittleness in corners of pleats; pinholes are not immediately apparent.

Clear split image; focus matches the ground glass and focus scale with some variance at infinity. Other items: Please note the particularly scarce "3-dot window" as seen on the tube finder; see in pictures.

This is a WWII United States Army Air Force C-3 Speed Graphic. It was officially issued with one of several known between-lens shutters; in this case, the somewhat scarce Graphex shutter, with Optar lens. It is not known whether this was the original lens.

This camera worked, as of today's testing. No warranties of usability or results for this gear, a bit older than most of us! It has been partially restored to factory specs, according to the official 1944 USAAF C-3 service guide. The most critical items were completed, but not all adjustments were made. Here is a partial list of adjustments made. Front standard, front door, and rails are square, perpendicular and parallel with respect to the film plane, within specs. The Graphex shutter was cleaned, inspected, lubricated and speeds tested to within 20% of normal, which is damn good for a 70-odd year old. Bed rails were adjusted such that they were made to intersect a flat plane according to specs. The rear focal plane curtain shutter was cleaned and lubricated such that it operates throughout all speeds without bouncing or stalling. The bellows and focal plane curtain were inspected and while no holes or light leaks were found, they could appear at any time in the old silk; I would not leave a dark slide open except when ready to shoot. Minimal cosmetic cleaning and restoration was made to the camera's exterior; some of this may have been done previously. The camera worked well enough at this point, and met or exceeded "civilian" needs for making pictures. The USAAF name plate shows corrosion, wear, and small dents; it is still clearly readable.

Star Wars hipsters have plundered most of this period's original flash synchronizers and have inflated prices completely beyond reason, to the ruin of many of these historical artifacts. Please consider keeping these rare parts with the original cameras. The veterans who had some of these cameras I offer included a US Navy gunner in the 1942/44 Pacific Theater, in a B-24 Liberator.

Another, a US Army Corporal, was in the 1944-45 European Theater of the war. Both of them shared my interest in wartime cameras.

These men are gone now, and I like to think that we care for these cameras as tools of the story-telling trade. My approach is to clean these and get them working and looking squared away, with an attempt to make them as useful as possible. I have studied the Graflex Speed Graphic since 1983. Keep gear exercised--work the shutters through all of its speeds a few times a month. No warranties of usability or results for this gear, a bit older than most of us!

You will find most folks very accommodating and willing to help with any problems or suggestions. Please do not expect or negotiate extra discounts over stated costs, as there are real costs for packaging and driving.

We do usually interpret things in favor of buyers. We leave feedback AFTER buyers have indicated their satisfaction through their feedback. If you are not satisfied, it will be because you did not allow us to help solve a problem. Otherwise, the item may become unavailable for sale. It is just to discourage spoofs and robots; no offense.

The item "WWII US Army Air Force USAAF Camera Ground Type C-3 Graflex 4x5 Speed Graphic" is in sale since Friday, August 3, 2018. This item is in the category "Cameras & Photo\Film Photography\Film Cameras".

The seller is "felsingheuser" and is located in West Burke, Vermont. This item can be shipped worldwide.

1. Speed Graphic Type: Anniversary Type C-3
2. Bundle Listing: with lens
3. Model: Graflex Speed Graphic
4. Modified Item: No
5. Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
6. Custom Bundle: No
7. Type: Large Format
8. MPN: C-3
9. Film Format: 4x5in.
10. Focus Type: Manual
11. Brand: Graflex
12. Non-Domestic Product: No