My idea was to bring an old camera back to life which couldn't be used any more because of the nonavailability of the film format. Not only that the camera should work, it should be unique, beautiful and most important, fully functional.
Everything started with an old wooden 3x4 sheet film Graflex SLR which was in a very bad shape when I received it
The dirty work
First step was to remove all external parts of the camera for removal of the leatherette. First it looks even more ugly after the leatherette has been removed. But after some sanding works and wax finish, the result is so amazing that it's almost not to understand why the camera has been covered in this black artificial leather. I guess that during the days the camera was produced, the black leatherette was something modern while wooden cameras might have been considered as old school.
After the leatherette was removed, it was time to sand, polish and wax the whole outside of the camera. It requires certain patience to get all glue removed and to reach to the final result. But it's worth the effort.
Back to Gold
Now it was time to get rid of the black paint and to polish the metal parts. Unbelievable which beautiful camera was hidden in the dark black dress.
Since the bellows where not the best anymore and my plan was to have red one, I send the original bellows to Rudy in Hong Kong who makes incredible custom bellows for a reasonable price. You can contact him via Email in case you need some new bellows for your camera:
ecbuyonline@foxmail.comThe final result of the refurbished camera looked already promising
Parallel to restoration works I was planning the transfer of the old Graflex to a somehow modern instant camera for Fujifilm INSTAX film. I removed all unnecessary parts of the Lomo INSTAX wide back and developed the adapter for the back in Fusion360. I printed several versions on my 3D Printer until it was perfect. The version was almost perfect. Only difference to the final adapter was the brown instead of the black leather. All printed parts for the cameras can be downloaded for free on
Thingiverse.
Beside the adapter for the Lomo INSTAX wide back, I had to change the crank and the distance of the focusing screen.
It required some effort to get the focus correctly, but thanks to the INSTAX back, I was able to compare directly the focus of the screen with the focus on the Photo.
Finally the camera had to get a name and a nice table on the back, showing the important shutter settings.
And what about the results?
Well, the photos have a vintage look due to the old lens but very sharp for an instant camera.
And now the best parts! As already mentioned before, all parts for the 3D print are free available on Thingiverse.
Project Accomplished: THE GrafINSTAX - A wooden vintage sheet film SLR camera modified for INSTAX wide film.
Duration: Feb 2017 - Sep 2017
Works:
- Removal of Leatherette
- Sanding and waxing of the wood
- Removal of black paint
- Polishing brass parts
- Exchanging focusing hood (new)
- Exchanging bellow (new)
- CLA of focusing mechanics
- CLA of shutter
- Cleaning shutter curtain
- Adjust shutter speeds
- Modify (new) Lomo Belair INSTAX wide holder
- Design and 3D print INSTAX wide holder
- Design and 3D print INSTAX crank adapter
- Cut and glue leather pieces (INSTAX holder)
- Clean and adjust focusing screen for the new film holder
- Design and print focusing screen adapter
- Design and print focusing screen cover
- CLA of vintage Kodak Anastigmat f4.5/160 mm lens
Technical Data:
Camera: Graflex Rb Series B manufactured between 1923 - 1942
Film format: Fuji INSTAX wide
Film Holder: INSTAX Lomography Belair back with manual crank
Lens: Kodak Anastigmat f4.5/160 (6 3/8") - (exchangeable)
Shutter Speeds: 1/40 sec - 1/1000 sec
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