Camera #39627 2 1/4 x 3 1/4
Bausch &Lomb Tessar Serie 1c

The History

In the year 1914 the Folmer Graflex Company proudly presented " Young Mr. Graflex".

Officially named "The Auto Graflex Junior" 

It was the answer to a fast growing demand at that time for a small compact camera but not missing any of the new features such as mirror reflex, focal plane shutter and above all, the reliability of Graflex quality and workmanship combined in a light weight small sized camera. 

The camera body was US $ 35,00. Equipped with Bauch & Lomb Tessar Series.Ic- US $ 66,00.  To understand the value of such a camera in nowadays money you must know what was the average wage in those days. For example: Henry Ford increased the daily wage of his workers in 1914 from $2.34 to $5. That $2.34 wage was already high in those days. The old saying, "Another day, another dollar," reflects the circumstances when a dollar a day was a good wage. So the cost of such an Auto Graflex Junior was the equivalent of at least one month hard labour.

Short overview of the type of camera.

2 ¼ x 3 ½ inch Reflex camera for Plates, Roll Film and Sheet film.
Takes no. 50 Roll Holder

Nicely designed light box camera made out of mahogany wood covered with black leather. Brass controls and leather viewing hood.

The overhanging projection at the rear and the one-piece guide rail holding the bellows and lens standard are specific details in this beautiful styled design of a lightweight but very reliable 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 reflex camera. The focal plane shutter controlled by the winding key has four slits and one open as used in all the other Graflex cameras at that time. The choice out of 6 different spring tensions provide 24 instant exposure times, from 1/10 up to 1/1000 of a second and at last the Time exposure. 

By winding the focal plane shutter all the way, the last figure appearing in the window next to the winding key reads 1 ½ which is the smallest and thus fastest exposure speed. This slit is just 0,5 cm wide. Coupled with the setting of the spring tension it can provide 6 different exposure speeds. Each time when setting the mirror and pressing the release level the next exposure speed can be set. However in this case the darks slide of the film holder should be closed. In locked position the focussing mirror is light obstructing. The curtain can be wound without fogging the film even when the dark slide of the film holder is pulled out.

Check the operation instructions to learn more about Instant setting as well as Moment exposures of this focal plane shutter.

A safety device is provided which prevents the winding of the shutter curtain until the reflecting mirror is depressed, thus preventing the possibility of fogging the plate or film.
The front is of exceptional rigidity, as the focus racks and front standards are stamped from one piece of heavy brass.
This insures absolute parallelism of the front and focal plane and also gives the front a permanent rigidity.
The focusing hood is readily detachable, allowing easy access to the ground glass focusing screen. The focusing hood is automatic in its action, and is finished with a square top, making it exceptionally easy to secure vertical pictures with the camera held on its side.

Camera #37221 Cooke Anastigmat ƒ 4,5 - 4 inch Serie II # 54730 
  camera # 39627 Bausch & Lomb Tessar Series 1c   #2515612  2 1/2 x 3 1/4

photos © Jo Lommen

The focusing pinion is adjusted though a split washer, which affords sufficient tension to hold the front at any point when focusing, irrespective of the position of the camera.
The Auto Graflex Junior is supplied with a depressed cupped shaped metal front for carrying the lens. This metal front is threaded to accept the B&L Zeiss Tessar No. Series Ic lens, Zeiss Kodak Anastigmat No. 1 lens and Cook no. 20 series II (Lens). The Auto Graflex Junior is fitted with a tripod screw plate in the bottom of the camera.

The camera can be used with the antique Graflex roll film holder which takes the 3 ¼ x 2 ¼ No. 50 Eastman Graflex Film
It might be clear that this 1901 patented film is no more available at your photo shop around the corner and unlikely to find one on the WWW internet.

Quit easy would be finding a  3 ¼ x 2¼ sheet or roll film holder.
The sheet film can be cut by yourself in the desired format out of  the still plenty available 4x5 sheet film.

If you find such a camera that needs some care after 100 year, you may take a look at my page about refurbishing.

To know more about how to operate this delicate camera follow this link.

On this page you'll find the key control functions.