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.
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
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.
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.