I just bought a Crown Graphic without a back...

[amanda_kleinman]

<p>Greetings,<br>

I just purchased a Crown Graphic on Ebay that did not have a back. It also appears that the camera was modified and the back sliders are now attaching for a vertically placed film back.<br>

How do I know which type of back will work? I purchased a Graflex Back that doesn't seem to fit at all. I found one statement online to suggest that the Crown Graphic requires a Graflox back. But I already lost $100 on the Graflex back that cant be returned so I thought it best to ask.</p>

<p>Many thanks,<br>

Amanda K</p>

[BrianS1664879711]

<p>First place to start - what size?</p>

<p>Second place - picture of the modifications.</p>

<p>It is very difficult to even start to help without some basic information. But if returnable, that's what I'd be doing. There are too many complete graphic cameras on the market to be tracking down parts.</p>

[WJT]

<p>Hi Amanda, I was in the same situation as you when I first purchased my Crown Graphic 4x5. You can change the locks on the Crown to accept the new back. It is not hard but you need to spend just a little bit more on this. The nice thing about the Crown is that you can do a lot of the mods yourself. I will try to take a photo of what I have and post it later.</p>

[thirteenthumbs]

<p>I am amazed at the people that do not use the correct terminology when asking about a camera.<br>

The "back" is the removable frame on the rear of a camera that accepts sheet film holders or roll film holders.<br>

The spring loaded piece that holds the ground glass is the focus panel.<br>

Look up the thingamajigs, doohickeys, whatchamacallits and the like at http://www.graflex.org/<br>

Under the Cameras heading is Graphic Model History which contains the description for the Crown Graphic http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/pacemaker-crown-graphic.html .<br>

Then there's http://www.graflex.org/manuals/ and if the manual you need is not there there's <br>

http://www.southbristolviews.com/pics/Graphic/graphicmanuals.html<br>

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/info.html<br>

and http://www.butkus.org/chinon/graflex.htm<br>

Even a portable Alexander's nuance device snapshot of the rear of your camera will assist in determining what you need to make it usable for you.</p>

[BrianS1664879711]

<p>"portable Alexander's nuance device"</p>

<p>A chariot? How's that going to help? Or are you not referring to Alexander the Great?</p>

[Aoresteen]

<p>Brian,</p>

<p>I believe Charles is referring to a cell phone as in Alexander Graham Bell....</p>

[thirteenthumbs]

<p>Alexander Graham Bell invented the <strong>telephone.</strong> 2+2=?</p>

[BrianS1664879711]

<p>Oh... the Scottish lad.</p>

[WJT]

<p>Hello again. Please take a peek at this website:<br>

https://lommen9.home.xs4all.nl/holders/<br>

<br />Mr. Lommen explains all you need to know regarding a <strong>Graflok</strong> back versus a<strong> Graflex</strong> back versus a <strong>Graphic</strong> back. When I got my Crown 4x5 it had a Graflex back and it would not work with any of the roll film holders that I had. I changed it to a Graflok back; very easy to do. You just need to remove six little screws and change backs. The Graflok back is the universal industry standard and permits use of roll film holders designed for this type of back as well as sheet film holders that slip under the ground glass. Hope this helps. Regards.</p>

[dave_s]

<p>A. G. Bell: born in Scotland, Canada claims him, and I think he may have died with U.S. citizenship. But I digress.</p>

<p>Amanda, the bad news follows. Your camera is readily found on an ebay search of completed listings, and <a href="http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Handy-4x5-Large-Format-Camera-Graflex-Crown-Graphic-Body-/141893371103?hash=item21098104df:g:H9QAAOSwpzdWsBS7">it has been substantially modified</a>.</p>

<p>Send it back. This is a parts camera at best, and not even a complete one. It's more like a junk camera. You might start by informing ebay of the misrepresentation, which would put the seller on the spot and increase your chances of a refund.</p>

<p>Besides chopping up the back, someone has removed the rangefinder. The seller does not have a leg to stand on, because he cluelessly sold this as a working camera.</p>

<p>It was probably modified for use in a laboratory, or perhaps as some sort of copy camera. A previous owner has actually removed the whole back assembly and reattached the sliding bars which would hold a rollfilm holder or other film holder. They are, like you said, reattached in a vertical position.</p>

<p>There are ways you could struggle with this camera and take pictures, but it would not be worth the hassle and expense. You could look for a replacement Graflok back assembly, but I'm not even sure you would be able to attach it properly to that camera. Don't waste your time.</p>

<p>Incidentally, you said you also bought a Graflex back. Can you post a picture? If you end up reselling it, we might be able to tell you what to say. Crowns came with three different backs, which is confusing and a big pain. The Graflex back was the rarest of the three, but yours might have come from a different camera.</p>

[thirteenthumbs]

<p>+1 on Return this one. email sent about a complete late model 4x5 Crown on ebay.</p>

[DWScott]

<p>I agree with the advice received. I also empathize.</p>

<p>My first forays into "large format" were frustrating because I had no knowledge of the huge variety of cameras, backs and permutations available. I ended up with a 2x3 camera with a Graphic back! This surprisingly got some use as a 6x9 rollfilm camera because it came with an ancient rollfilm back, and the rangefinder was still aligned to the included lens. Not really what I wanted though. On try two, I got a Meridian 45B. This was a highly regarded camera ... but I had to put a lot of effort into making lens boards and even making my own ground glass (the original was cracked.) Only to find that the Meridian back was not a standard Graflok.</p>

<p>Finally I decided to be patient, and wait for a good condition Speed Graphic with everything I wanted, at a good price. It took more than a year, but I found what I wanted. It was listed for sale at B&H with a very generic listing at a good price. I called, and got everything confirmed before I ordered -- 4x5, Graflok back, ground glass in good condition, with viewfinder, and rangefinder, and intact sports finder frames. Shutter functional. I bought it, and also ordered some brand new lens boards. Together with other bits I collected over the years (Riteway holders, 4x5 Singer rollfilm holder with lever wind, even a 3x4 Polaroid holder, and a set of lenses, I finally have the Graflex camera I wanted. But it required collecting a lot of knowledge about each bit to make sure I got what I wanted.</p>

<p>Starting with a franken-camera would be a very frustrating way to go.</p>

 

[dave_s]

<p><em>My first forays into "large format" were frustrating because I had no knowledge of the huge variety of cameras, backs and permutations available.</em><br>

<em><br /></em>LOL, I have the same story. I bought a used Century Graphic in the 1980s, but I immediately discovered everything was wrong about it. Wrong lens, wrong insert in the rollfilm holder. I was living in the U.K. at the time, so Graphic parts were scarce. Long story, but it was a tedious expensive lesson.</p>