Picked up a Graphex shutter on eBay for my Anniversary Speed Graphic, so I wouldn’t have to switch my existing lens between cameras. It came with a lens board and solenoid. The listing said it was non functional. I figured I’d see if I could fix it. Judging from the images it appeared that it had been opened up at some point. I just needed something with a working aperture because the Speed Graphic has a rear focal plane shutter.
When I opened it up, I realised that the main lever was broken. I couldn’t move the shutter blades at all. They were pretty badly seized up. I think it was under water at some point, and someone had forced it.
Figuring I can just use the rear focal plane shutter I just ripped the guts out, and reassembled it.
The glass is very good. No haze or fungus, and it’s perfectly usable.
The solenoid was also pretty badly corroded.
It was an easy fix though, and I can use it on my Pacemaker. Just need to make the cables.
So now I have a working lens, solenoid, and spare lens board. At some point I may reassemble the guts, but I doubt it…
Update:
First image using the focal plane shutter
Fomapan 100, 1/40″, f/5.6 (A 6) – Blazinal 50:1 at 8 minutes