Graflex
Encyclopedia
Graflex was a manufacturer, a brand name and several models of camera
s. William F. Folmer, an inventor, built the first Graflex camera in 1898, when his company was called The Folmer and Schwing Manufacturing Company, founded originally in New York
as a gas lamp company. As the gas lamp market dimmed, it expanded into making bicycles selling cameras of other makers as accessories, then making cameras themselves, dropping the bicycle line. That firm in 1905 was purchased by George Eastman
. In 1907, the company became the Folmer and Schwing Division of Eastman Kodak
. After a few more interim changes of status and name, it finally became simply "Graflex, Inc." in 1945.
From 1912 to 1973 Graflex produced large format and medium format press cameras
in film formats from × ″ (6 × 7 cm) to 4 × 5″. They also produced rangefinder
, SLR
and TLR
cameras in a variety of formats ranging from 35mm to 5 × 7″.
Most sports photography
in the early 20th century was done with Graflex and similar cameras with a cloth focal plane shutter. To get shutter speed
s high enough to stop fast motion they had to use a narrow slit, which exposed different parts of the film at different times. To set the shutter speed, you wound up the shutter to one of a series of tensions with a key. Then you selected the slit width with another control. A table on the side of the box gave the shutter speed for each combination.
Graflex Speed Graphic
folding cameras, produced from 1912 to 1973, also have a focal plane shutter, although they are often used with a between-the-lens shutter mounted to the lensboard. Crown Graphic cameras are similar to their corresponding Speed Graphic cousins; however they are an inch thinner and about one pound lighter because they lack the focal plane shutter. However, because of the shorter possible lens-to-film plane distance, the Crown Graphic can use shorter lens focal lengths, allowing a wider field of view.
The top-to-bottom shutter motion exposed the top of the film first (i.e. the "bottom" of the inverted image), so many photographs of automobile racing taken with
Graflex cameras depicted the wheels of the car in an oval shape leaning forward. This feature became a conventional indication of speed, and many Cartoonist
s drew wheels the same way to indicate fast motion.
The company name changed several times over the years as it was absorbed and then released by the Kodak empire, finally becoming a division of the Singer Corporation
and then dissolved in 1973. The Graflex plant in suburban Pittsford, New York is still standing at 3750 Monroe Avenue and was the corporate headquarters of Veramark Technologies
from 1997 to 2010.
's lightsaber
in the first two Star Wars
movies, A New Hope
and The Empire Strikes Back
. A black grip was added and the circular bulb housing was obviously removed, but little else was changed to create the lightsaber prop.
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
s. William F. Folmer, an inventor, built the first Graflex camera in 1898, when his company was called The Folmer and Schwing Manufacturing Company, founded originally in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as a gas lamp company. As the gas lamp market dimmed, it expanded into making bicycles selling cameras of other makers as accessories, then making cameras themselves, dropping the bicycle line. That firm in 1905 was purchased by George Eastman
George Eastman
George Eastman was an American innovator and entrepreneur who founded the Eastman Kodak Company and invented roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream...
. In 1907, the company became the Folmer and Schwing Division of Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
. After a few more interim changes of status and name, it finally became simply "Graflex, Inc." in 1945.
From 1912 to 1973 Graflex produced large format and medium format press cameras
Press camera
A press camera is a medium or large format camera suitable for use by press photographers.Press cameras were widely used from the 1900s through the early 1960s and commonly had the following features:* collapsibility into strong, compact boxes...
in film formats from × ″ (6 × 7 cm) to 4 × 5″. They also produced rangefinder
Rangefinder camera
A rangefinder camera is a camera fitted with a rangefinder: a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus...
, SLR
Single-lens reflex camera
A single-lens reflex camera is a camera that typically uses a semi-automatic moving mirror system that permits the photographer to see exactly what will be captured by the film or digital imaging system, as opposed to pre-SLR cameras where the view through the viewfinder could be significantly...
and TLR
Twin-lens reflex camera
A twin-lens reflex camera is a type of camera with two objective lenses of the same focal length. One of the lenses is the photographic objective or "taking lens" , while the other is used for the viewfinder system, which is usually viewed from above at waist level...
cameras in a variety of formats ranging from 35mm to 5 × 7″.
Most sports photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
in the early 20th century was done with Graflex and similar cameras with a cloth focal plane shutter. To get shutter speed
Shutter speed
In photography, shutter speed is a common term used to discuss exposure time, the effective length of time a camera's shutter is open....
s high enough to stop fast motion they had to use a narrow slit, which exposed different parts of the film at different times. To set the shutter speed, you wound up the shutter to one of a series of tensions with a key. Then you selected the slit width with another control. A table on the side of the box gave the shutter speed for each combination.
Graflex Speed Graphic
Speed Graphic
Produced by Graflex in Rochester, New York, the Speed Graphic is commonly called the most famous press camera. Although the first Speed Graphic cameras were produced in 1912, production of later versions continued until 1973; with the most significant improvements occurring in 1947 with the...
folding cameras, produced from 1912 to 1973, also have a focal plane shutter, although they are often used with a between-the-lens shutter mounted to the lensboard. Crown Graphic cameras are similar to their corresponding Speed Graphic cousins; however they are an inch thinner and about one pound lighter because they lack the focal plane shutter. However, because of the shorter possible lens-to-film plane distance, the Crown Graphic can use shorter lens focal lengths, allowing a wider field of view.
The top-to-bottom shutter motion exposed the top of the film first (i.e. the "bottom" of the inverted image), so many photographs of automobile racing taken with
Graflex cameras depicted the wheels of the car in an oval shape leaning forward. This feature became a conventional indication of speed, and many Cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
s drew wheels the same way to indicate fast motion.
Press cameras
- 1912–1973 Speed GraphicSpeed GraphicProduced by Graflex in Rochester, New York, the Speed Graphic is commonly called the most famous press camera. Although the first Speed Graphic cameras were produced in 1912, production of later versions continued until 1973; with the most significant improvements occurring in 1947 with the...
Models- 1912–1927 Top Handle Speed Graphic
- 1928–1939 Pre-Anniversary Speed Graphic
- 1939–1946 Miniature Speed Graphic
- 1940–1946 Anniversary Speed Graphic
- 1947–1970 Pacemaker Speed Graphic
- 1947–1973 Pacemaker Crown Graphic
- 1949–1970 Century Graphic
- 1958–1973 Super Graphic
- 1961–1970 Super Speed Graphic
Other large format cameras
- 1907–1923 Press Graflex (5 × 7")
- 1909–1941 Auto Graflex
- 1938–1942 Crown View
- 1941–1949 Graphic View
- 1949–1967 Graphic View II
Other 120/220 and 70mm film cameras
- 1952–1956 Graflex 22
- 1965–1973 Graflex XL
- 1953–1957 Combat Graphic
- 1971–1976 Graflex Norita (a.k.a. Norita 66)
35mm rangefinder and stereo
- 1949–1953 Graflex Ciro 35
- 1955–1962 Graflex Stereo Graphic
- 1955–1957 Graflex Graphic 35
- 1957–1961 Graflex Century 35
- 1959–1963 Graphic 35 Electric (a.k.a. Iloca Electric)
Aerial cameras
- 1941–1945 Folmer Graflex K-20 Aircraft CameraFairchild K-20The K-20 is an aerial camera used during World War II. Fairchild design, made under licence for military contract. Approximately 15,000 were manufactured by Folmer Graflex Corp. in Rochester, NY between 1941-1945. They use a 5.25"x20 to 5.25"x200 foot Roll Film, with an image size of 4x5 inches...
(a.k.a Fairchild K-20Fairchild K-20The K-20 is an aerial camera used during World War II. Fairchild design, made under licence for military contract. Approximately 15,000 were manufactured by Folmer Graflex Corp. in Rochester, NY between 1941-1945. They use a 5.25"x20 to 5.25"x200 foot Roll Film, with an image size of 4x5 inches...
)- Folmer Graflex K-21 Aircraft Camera
- Folmer Graflex K-25 Aircraft Camera
Military Cameras
- 1942–1944 Graflex PH-47-F
- 1942–1944 Graflex PM-47-E
- 1947–1949 Graflex PH-47-H
- 1947–1950 Graflex C-6
- 1949–1952 Graflex PH-47-J
- 1953–1957 Graflex KE-4
- 1953–1955 Graflex KE-12
- 1965–1973 Graflex XLRF KS-98B
The company name changed several times over the years as it was absorbed and then released by the Kodak empire, finally becoming a division of the Singer Corporation
Singer Corporation
Singer Corporation is a manufacturer of sewing machines, first established as I.M. Singer & Co. in 1851 by Isaac Merritt Singer with New York lawyer Edward Clark. Best known for its sewing machines, it was renamed Singer Manufacturing Company in 1865, then The Singer Company in 1963. It is...
and then dissolved in 1973. The Graflex plant in suburban Pittsford, New York is still standing at 3750 Monroe Avenue and was the corporate headquarters of Veramark Technologies
Veramark Technologies
Veramark Technologies, Inc. provides services and software for Telecom Expense Management and call accounting. The company "specializes in controlling telecom expenses by managing a company's voice, data, and wireless services through a combination of auditing, consulting and software".Veramark,...
from 1997 to 2010.
| Years | Manufacturer |
|---|---|
| 1887–1904 | Folmer & Schwing Manufacturing Co. of New York, NY |
| 1905–1907 | Folmer & Schwing Co., Rochester, NY |
| 1907–1927 | Folmer & Schwing Div., Eastman Kodak Co. Rochester, NY |
| 1928–1946 | Folmer Graflex Corp., Rochester, NY |
| 1946–1955 | Graflex Inc., Rochester, NY |
| 1956–1968 | Graflex Inc., Div. General Precision Equipment, Rochester, NY |
| 1968–1973 | Graflex Inc., Div. SINGER CORPORATION |
| 1973 | Tooling bought by Toyo Co. |
Pop culture
The 3-cell Graflex flashgun was modified and used as the prop for Luke SkywalkerLuke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
's lightsaber
Lightsaber
A lightsaber is a fictional weapon in the Star Wars universe, a "laser sword." It consists of a polished metal hilt which projects a blade of light about 1.33 metres long. The lightsaber is the signature weapon of the Jedi order and their Sith counterparts, both of whom can use them for close...
in the first two Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
movies, A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
and The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...
. A black grip was added and the circular bulb housing was obviously removed, but little else was changed to create the lightsaber prop.
See also
- Fairchild K-20Fairchild K-20The K-20 is an aerial camera used during World War II. Fairchild design, made under licence for military contract. Approximately 15,000 were manufactured by Folmer Graflex Corp. in Rochester, NY between 1941-1945. They use a 5.25"x20 to 5.25"x200 foot Roll Film, with an image size of 4x5 inches...
(a World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
-era aerialAerial photographyAerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or...
camera made by Folmer Graflex Corp., which became Graflex Inc. in 1945) - Press cameraPress cameraA press camera is a medium or large format camera suitable for use by press photographers.Press cameras were widely used from the 1900s through the early 1960s and commonly had the following features:* collapsibility into strong, compact boxes...
External links
- Homepage of Graflex.Org: "Dedicated to promoting the use and preservation of Graflex Speed Graphics and other classic and large-format cameras."
- The Graflex Speed Graphic FAQ on Graflex.org
- Graflex.org: Kingslake historical essay
- Information on the Graflex Press Camera (at a website run by a collector named Jo Lommen)
- Hendersonville Camera Club page on history of photography.
- Graflex camera instruction manuals English - PDF