#47368

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Graflex 1 A Reflex Roll-film Camera made by
Folmer & Swing Division.

The Folmer & Swing was founded in 1888 and purchased by Kodak in 1905
and consolidated as The Folmer & Swing Division established in Rochester.

This Graflex 1 A, introduced in 1909 took the regular 1 A Kodak film and made 2 ½ x 4 ¼ negatives. The 5 slit horizontal running (vertical slit! ) focal plane shutter exposed from 1/2 second to 1/1000 of a second. The image on the ground glass corresponds in principle with the film size albeit a slight bit narrower than the negative format, probably to keep the camera as compact as possible. The image on the ground glass is projected right side up. The mirror of this reflex camera, has the reflecting coating upon the glass as opposed to the conventional mirror with the reflective surface behind the glass. Cleaning has to be done very carefully to avoid rubbing off the fragile coating.

Winding of the curtain when the mirror is up would cause a fogged film, reason why the 1 A Graflex is fitted with a safety device which prevents that. First set the mirror and then wind the curtain in the wanted position. The amazing huge focusing hood is held in position by the spring actuated scissor construction, which folds compactly back in the top of the camera. On top of the hood, the eye shield prevents incoming light and thus allowing a good sight on the ground glass. On the front side of the eye shield we see the companies tag while the exposing tag is situated on the inner side.

The drop bed is milled from heavy brass, a stop on the focusing rail indicates the 'universal focus" of the lens. This permits the use of the camera for general fixed focus work, as well as photography in which focusing must be done with the utmost accuracy. When the camera is closed the lens, mirror and bellows all recede into the body of the camera, making it possible to reduce the size to an extent never before attempted in a reflecting camera.

For that time it was a real improvement of easy loading the film spools. A self-centring device makes it possible to simply drop the film spool into position, where it finds its own centre. The film winding key when drawn out and given a slight turn locks open; another turn allows it to snap back into position, The film pockets are provided with tension springs which prevent the rolls from unwinding.

In the begin of the 20th century the 1A Graflex construction details made it to an ideal travel camera for the automobilist, tourist, or anyone desiring a thoroughly efficient reflex.
The camera measures 5½ x 9½x 3 inch. Focal capacity 6½ inch. Weight 4 pounds. Lensboard 2¼x2 3/8.  It takes, or should I say took, the regular 1 A Kodak film making negatives of 2 ½ x 4 ¼. inch.
With the help of 4 pieces of 116 to 120 film spool adapters available on the internet you'll be able to take photos with a common 120 film spool. For more details see my own version of The Graflex 1 A Operating directions

© photo Jo Lommen

 
Early Model Graflex 1 A-
Very Clean-Working shutter.

This was the literally text on eBay which made me buy that camera. I was looking some time to get this impressing camera with its characteristic and unique
scissor construction which holds the long tall viewing -chimney- hood strait up.
The camera is fitted with a 3 ¼ x 5 ½ lens  However there was something wrong with it. Probably the rear cell was not original. The lens' infinity focus needs about 18 cm which is far too long for this type of camera which bellows stretches maximum 13 cm. This particular camera was far from clean. Inside the camera it was a totally mess. The mirror didn't snap into its position and the shutter didn't  fire. The shutter curtain was only moving a couple of inches when trying to turn the winding key. The view on the ground glass was impossible not only because of the not working collapsible viewing hood but mainly because of a not correct in line set mirror. The bellows and its back frame were out of order mainly caused by its incorrect position in the camera house. The mirror did not pop up. In fact things did not move at all inside the mirror house. As a result of this, the focal plane shutter winding mechanism was blocked. As said before, the focal plane shutter moved a few inches and was drawn back again in its home position. As expected the release lever was stuck.
I concluded that I had been tricked and soon realised that this was not just an incorrect fault description. However I decided to resign and concentrate on repairing this unique camera

The above photographs show the making and replacing of the mirror catch. The original one (visible on top of the picture on the left) was broken and not suitable any more.
I cut a new replacement out of an identical thin brass plate and by bending and tapping the metal took its correct shape. Not surprised that it worked out so well...
Final touch was the black lining of the brass.

This construction where the mirror is kept down by the light baffle makes it possible to wind film without the need of a dark slide. To catch, set and keep the mirror in its 45 degree position waiting for the release, the brass light baffle stands under strong pressure of the bottom spring.
The bottom spring is a long half elliptical  shaped spring which is hidden inside the bottom and is hold by the brass plate.
This construction is essential for the working of the reflex modus of this camera.

Hinged Bottom Spring Compartment

The very rough or better to say non-running focusing knob which is situated in the front door, forced me to remove the front leatherette to see what was wrong. After removing I found a 10x 8 cm piece of newspaper glued to the back of the leatherette. The top line reads "...RAT AND CHRONICLE Tuesday August...". Some research learned me that it original reads, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle news paper which makes it almost sure that this camera was made in Rochester. As the Autographic feature was launched in 1915 and the viewing hood scissor construction was replaced in 1918 by a simpler folding hood, this particular camera product must be dated in one of these 3 years. Below you see the removing of the front leatherette and dismounting of the focussing knob.
The focusing shaft is held by a steel clamping sleeve which can be forced with a screwdriver to get the opening a bit wider. This ended up with a nice freely adjustable focusing knob. A piece of almost the same leather as the previous one, clued to the hinged cover of the drop bed finished the job.

       
Arrival condition drop bed, tearing off old front leatherette to get access to hidden focus knob mechanism.

   
Focus knob cleaning, replacing mechanism and finally gluing the new front drop bed leatherette.

The total repair cost me two weeks and resulted in a good working camera. As mentioned before, I found out that the ƒ 6,3 lens was definitely not the right one for this camera. Infinity focussing could only be obtained by completely drawn out lens board. Focussing on a nearer object closer than 15 yards was impossible. However in the mean time I was lucky to find the original B&L Zeiss Tessar 113 mm. Series 1c  E.F. ƒ4,5, # 14.
 

Graflex 1 A back side equiped with Autographic feature.
Note: the aperture back is closed with a removable cover that has an autographic feature which when opened by a sliding mechanism, enables to write
 location or names onto the film-back paper. Using a metal stylus the text was written on a kind of typewriter carbon paper.
After developing the film, the written text became visible on the negative after developing.
George Eastman purchased this invention from Henry J. Gaisman and paid 300.000 US$ for it. Kodak used this new invention in all its so called Autographic cameras.
Being part of the Eastman company, Folmer & Swing's 1 A Graflex camera was equipped with the Autographic feature as well.

The autographic feature

The Graflex 1 A from the back

The Graflex 1 A Operating directions

There are still more Graflex Cameras

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