Restoring the Speed Graphic (II) NOW FOR SALE!

Liam

Liam

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A few of you may remember this thread, where I restored a large format Crown Graphic. I managed to get a Speed Graphic for a very good price that I am now going to restore.

Its in an ok state but the FP shutter isn't working and a few parts are missing so should be fun. Here are a few images to show how it compares to my crown...

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The plan is to maybe sell it on, will keep things updated on this thread for those interested.
 
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Looking forward to following this one Liam, your last restoration was a top job..
 
:plusone: must be the best looking crown I've seen :)

-- sadly the bellows are starting to separate on my speed. :(
 
Looking forward to the updates on this one...

Stunning the difference stripping the Vinyl, and a bit of paint, varnish, and lots of elbow grease can make :thumbs:
 
I have now stripped it down and the leather has been removed. The good news is that the wood looks in good shape but the shutter curtain is missing. I will probs just restore it with out the FP shutter as the lens shutter works well and it will probably be very hard to find a replacement curtain...

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Looks like another quality restoration job Liam, nice work.
 
Cheers Nick.

I have been busy recently but so far I have:

-Made/ground a new ground glass
-Onto the third varnish of the wood
-Front drop bed: sanded and sprayed with wrinkle paint
-Rear standard has been sanded and awaiting spraying, not sure on whether to spray mat black or use the wrinkle paint...

There are just a few random bits to do but there are some pics...

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(The inside needs to be cleaned, I know!)

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holy moley! that's incredible! I just acquired a speed graphic a couple of weeks ago as it happens, not had a film through it yet though. Anything you recommend me checking/looking out for before I use it?
 
I managed loads today, rebuilt/polished the front standard, finished the final layer of varnish on the main body, rebuilt the drop bed and finished painting the rear standard...

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retrogamer1990 said:
holy moley! that's incredible! I just acquired a speed graphic a couple of weeks ago as it happens, not had a film through it yet though. Anything you recommend me checking/looking out for before I use it?
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Cheers! Just check the bellows and the shutter, they are really simple cameras but lots can go wrong when trying to get a decent negative!
 
That's a brilliant job..
 
Fantastic. So good, it's got me watching a couple of Speed Graphic auctions and I don't even know how to release the shutter on one of those!
 
Liam,

They look great together and I will resist the pair joke, well done.
 
Absolutely first class, you thought about doing restorations to order, your work is absolute perfection.
 
Jared said:
Absolutely first class, you thought about doing restorations to order, your work is absolute perfection.
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^^^WHS^^^ Awesome work.
 
Cheers guys!

Jared said:
Absolutely first class, you thought about doing restorations to order, your work is absolute perfection.
Click to expand...

I have an engineering degree to juggle at the moment so can only find the time in the holidays. But I am going to sell this one once a lens board I ordered arrives. I might go out and take a few test shots today.
 
Managed a quick test shot this afternoon, really happy as the lens looks sharp and no light leaks :D



Fomapan 100 / f11 20 secs
 
Liam said:
Managed a quick test shot this afternoon, really happy as the lens looks sharp and no light leaks :D



Fomapan 100 / f11 20 secs
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Nice work Liam, is this your chosen test shot? I'm sure we've seen a similar shot before. Also give us the heads up if you decide you want to sell :D
 
Yep I have taken a few images in this church, here is one from the mamiya that you have probs already seen..

 
Liam said:
Yep I have taken a few images in this church, here is one from the mamiya that you have probs already seen..
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I thought I had, it's a really good test for camera, lens and film.

It's a real pleasure to see your resurrected Speed Graphics, they are industrial design at its best.
 
Very smart. any chance you could give me the dimentions of the rear eyepiece for the viewfinder, mine is missing and I want to make one up.
 
yep, that is the one. I tried taking a pic thinking 'my eye should be about here' where the little ring is... and I was miles off :). I'll probably just cut one from 2-3mm aluminium sheet. if you have access to a scanner could you put it under the scanner next to a ruler to give me an idea of scale.

thanks.
 
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