Dug out my dad's speed graphic 2.5x3.5 the other day. All of the film backs have been lost, but both the shutters focal plane and apeture worn fine and the exctar lenses are great. I would love to get it back into operation again, but do't want to spend much on it. Any of you old timers (like me) have anything laying around you want to dump off on a pack rar? We made some great BW pictures years ago and I want to see if I can do it again.
Judge Sharpe

I had a lot of fun with the stuff a few years back.

Ebay is loaded with the Graflex Equipment and at reasonable prices. Be prepared to buy several camera's to get enough parts to make one good one. Mirrors, connectors, lens seem to be iffy.

Basic problem with the stuff is that people put them in a closet 50 years ago and never maintained them. Flash bulbs are another ebay item that will surprise you.

My recommendation is that you can save yourself a ton a grief if you buy modern camera's with comparable technology. While the Speed Graphic was available in 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 inch- 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch and the famous 4 x 5 inch, availability of supplies for the smaller formats may be limited or non-existent. Kodak and others made special backs for Polaroid style film sheets that had negative films in them. Very interesting and a lot less trouble than using film cartridges.

Key is to buy the same technology. Don't get enamored with trying to make a large format camera into a point and shoot.

Remember: FAST- Focus Aperture Shutter Trip.