The Graflex 1 A
Reflex Roll Film Camera
1915
The beautiful designed forms in
geometric and symmetry
reflects the focus on modernism and technological advancement
from the beginning of the 20th century.
Especially the externally hinged supporting construction to keep
the long viewing hood upright, is an eye caching detail.
camera #47368
Graflex 1 A Reflex Roll-film Camera made by
Folmer & Swing Division.
The camera was made by the Folmer
& Swing 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.
To prevent unwanted double images on the ground glass, the
mirror of a reflex camera has the reflecting silver coating on
top of the glass
as opposed to a conventional mirror where the reflective layer
is applied behind the glass. *
Mirror 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 large focusing hood is held in position
by a 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.
It must be said that the original film is no longer available
but new 3D printed adapters* make it possible using 120 film
for this amazing camera.
The film winding key when drawn out and given a slight turn
will locks the loading device open ready to receive the film.
Another turn allows it to snap back into position and lock the
film safely to wind it to the first exposure.
The film pockets are provided with tension springs which
prevent the roll film from unwinding.
In the begin of the 20th century the
1A Graflex construction
details made it to an ideal travel camera for the motorist,
tourist, or anyone desiring a thoroughly efficient reflex
camera.
The camera measures 5½ x 9½x 3 inch. Focal capacity 6½ inch.
Weight 4 pounds. Lensboard 2¼x2 3/8.
*) The Graflex 1 A normally takes, at that time regular
2 ½ x 4 ¼. inch 1 A Kodak film.
However with the help of 4 pieces of 116 to 120 film spool 3D
printed adapters -available on the internet- you'll be able to
take photos using a currently 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
Repairing / Overhauling
Removed scissor focusing hood and taken
out ground glass, release mechanism, mirror setting lever and
winding mechanism.
Hinged mirror mechanism, back cover and bellows.
First of all I had to remove the scissor construction as well as
the ground glass, which allowed me a good view inside the mirror
house. Pulling the lens board out of the camera housing in this
situation seemed to be delicate and not without risk. I decided to
tackle the problem from the back side and leave the bellows with
the lens board on the yoke outside the camera house. The back
cover can be taken off very easy by squeezing both slots. The film
exposure frame is now visible and can be taken off by unscrewing 8
screws. Both ends are to be lifted out of the roll film covers. As
expected the curtain was in closed position and should be taken
out to be able to work on the release mechanism and the mirror
problem. The left and right control covers of the camera top can
be unscrewed and taken off without a problem. You may hear and
feel how the spool spring releases when you take off the cover by
tilting the tension winding key. On the opposite site you will
practically not feel any resistance. All the shutter mechanisms
are connected to the top cover plates so you wont have to bother
about it. However both rollers can't be removed yet because of the
focal plane shutter roller position plates and the roll film
covers. The plates are fitted by three bigger metal screws on the
top inside and three on the bottom inside. Further more three
little black screws on the top and bottom holding the black roll
film cover. Also two roll film conductors on each side will come
off while dismounting the plates. Once this is done, you can
remove the focal plane rollers by sliding them out through the top
holes. Check the fabric for holes or other anomalies. Check if the
fabric ends are still firmly connected to the rollers and if
necessary re-glue them. Clean the shutter rollers shaft ends and
check the working of the spring inside the roller. Before
remounting check if washers are needed to get the roller pinion at
the right height for an optimal connection with the winding tooth
wheel. After remounting the winding control, check the position of
the curtain wide-open -slit if it corresponds with the setting
figure O in the winding window. If not make sure it does. Before
mounting the left plate turn the tension key a few turns to bring
some more tension on the spool and remount the control panel with
figure 1 in the window while keeping the roller under tension.
This is not easy, but with a lot of patience you'll find a way.
Taking-up spool compartment, view on the focal plane shutter
compartment, open camera with removed back cover and mirror
house.
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 spring loaded mirror
is hold down by the release button assembly against the tensile
force of two mirror springs placed left and right above the
mirror,
makes it possible to wind the film without the need of a dark
slide. Incoming light through the open lens is entirely kept out
the exposure chamber by the light baffle in combination with the
(in reflex modus) mirror frame.
The next photo shows the open back where the mirror frame meets
the upstanding light baffle.
In this situation the film can be wind to the next position
without the need of a third curtain like the Graflex Compact
Camera.
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.
Tessar Ic 113 mm E.F.
f=4,5 Nr. BS2265 Bausch & Lomb
A very interesting business deal!
The Autographic feature.
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
sliding the window latch to the left, opens the way to write
down the event on the film back paper to remember the event for
ever.
The Graflex 1 A from the back
Backside Graflex 1 A with removed roll film cover
photos Jo Lommen
LINKS TO MORE
INTERESTING PAGES
The Graflex 1 A Operating directions
There are still more interesting Graflex Cameras to explore