Infinity settings I

Welcome to the wonderful world of Graflex confusion. From the begining of time thru the ANNIVERSARY speed the rails (yoke in formal graflex speak) was set fully rearward then lens infinity was based on that rail setting. Next came the "I want to be a Photographer too" crowd and when they picked up one of these cameras they could not believe what they were seeing was correct so they ask why can't I focus past infinity so that I can verify that I am actually at infinity. Graflex, being accomidating people and willing to do anything to make a buck, accomidated these photographers when they introduced the PACEMAKER line by setting the rails .040 (1/8 ) foward from fully retracted as the infinity position. All factory infinity settings were done when the rails were set to this position Unless the photographer requested that they be set up differently.

If your current infinity stops , RF, and focusing scales are set up with the yoke .040 inch foward from full rear then I would continue to use that position to set up any other lens that you use on the camera to keep every thing in sync and not confuse yourself with "did I ste this one up this way or that way?". You can set the rails anywhere you want to and set up infinity there but you will loose some functionality, such as not getting full benifit of the bellows length.

Infinity settings II

So, set the camera up on a tripod, set the rails to the infinity position that you desire, slide the front standard with mounted lens attached until the image on the ground glass is tack sharp with the front standard locked and square to the rails/body/ground glass. Marking the rails in this position is ok but the next time you use the lens you may lock it down with a little swing induced without knowing it. You can, on initial set up, measure from the front standard to the existing infinity stops and make a spacer to fit between the infinity stops and the front standard between the inside of the rails for this lens in lew of a second set of infinity stops.

Infinity stops should come with the screws in them. They have 1 screw that is flat on the bottom and 1 screw that has a sharp point on the bottom. If the stops do not have the screws pass on them as you will need to make new ones. Once you have another set of stops then put them on the rails in front of the lens (in most cases) then set the front standard up for infinity and then tighten the stops against the front standard. Because the stops slide in the outer edge of the rails it is possible to start them from the rear of the rails and slide them foward so it is not necessary to reposition the currently installed ones if the new ones go behind them.

Now, has the mud settled to the bottom of the pond or have I upset or confused you more? - By "45PSS" from the Graflex helpboard




From time to time we get requests about the year of production of a certain camera.
Below you will find a list that might help.

Highslide JS
What is it? A bird?....

Try to get the approx date from this camera without knowing a number.
Is it a Crown, Anniversary or Pacemaker?
The Aero lenses have their own code :
C A M E R O S I T Y = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Just give it a try!


4839 - cycle graphic -- 1897
12780 – RB Auto – 1906-1908 guesstimate
14230 (15103 overstrike) 3x4 RB Tele – 1907
15359 - 5x7 Press Graflex -- 1907-1908?
patent Feb. 5, 1907
20310 – 4x5 RB Auto – 1910-1911
last patent date Aug. 31, 1909
28207 - pre introduction speed – 1911
28613 – 3x4 Auto – 1911-1912
3?173 – 2x3 Auto – 1912-1914
33214 – 3A Graflex – 1912-1914
47402 - Graflex 1A -- 1915 approx.
44859 – 2x3 Auto – 1915-1916
48245 - 3.25 x 5.5 compact graflex – early 1920’s
56232 – 5x7 Home Portrait – 1916-1917
66669 – top handle speed – late teens
78238 – 5x7 press graflex – approximately 1915
780(8)45 – 4x5 Top Handle Speed –1915
77482 – 3A Graflex – 1915-1916
84407 – 5x7 Press Graflex --
85996 - top handle speed –1917-1918
86300 – 4x5 top handle speed – 1917-1918
87794 - 5x7 speed – 1918-1919
88330 – 5x7 compact Graflex - 1917-1918
88374 – 5x7 compact graflex – 1916-1918
91208 – 4x5 Auto Graflex -- 1916-1919
92230 – 2x3 Auto – 1917?
95361 - 3x4 RB Auto – 1918-1919
100573 – RB Graflex Junior --
101084 – 3x4 top handle speed – 1916-1917
109798 – 5x7 compact graphic – late 1919 - 1920
111170 – 3.5 x 5.5 Top Handle Speed – 1918 to 192
114168 – 3x4 RB Tele – march 1921
119544 – RB Series B – spring 1922, listed as a Tele
122098 – 3x4 RB Auto – 1922-1923
126379 – 2x3 RB Auto – 1923
141580 – 4x5 Auto Graflex – 1924
142772 - 3x4 Series B -
143124 – Series B – 1925
144339 – 3x4 Series B – 1925
146133 – Series B – 1925-1926
154561 – RB Series B – 1926
157258 – 5x7 2D --
160990 – 3x4 RB Auto – 1928
161429 – Series D -- 1927
162053 – Series B – 1928
167748 – RB Series D – late 1929 – early 1930
173470 – RB Series B – 1930
173655 – RB Tele Graflex – 1930 logged as Series D
173747 – RB Series D -- 1930
175549 – 5x7 Speed graphic – 1931
178123 – 3x4 RB Series B -- 1931
182582 – 3x4 series B – July 1933
186880 – 4x5 pre ANNIVERSARY -- 1935
187383 – 3x4 Series D -- 1935
187838 - -- 1935
188090 – 5x7 Speed – 1935
188112 – 5x7 Speed – 1935
188672 – 4x5 RB Series D – late 1935
198477 – 4x5 Series D -- 1937
199363 – speed – 1937
199732 – speed -- 1957
224448 - pre ANNIVERSARY – 1937 to 1939
225775 – ANNIVERSARY -- 1939
226272 - 2x3 Revolving Back Speed Graphic - last half 1937
226451 – 3x4 pre ANNIVERSARY – late 1937
226919 – 2x3 RB Series B – 1937
226704 – 3x4 RB Series D – 1937
226919 – 2x3 RB Series B - 1937
229303 – 3x4 pre ANNIVERSARY –1938
229533 – pre ANNIVERSARY -- 1938
231769 – RB Series D -- 1938
232404 – 5x7 pre ANNIVERSARY – 1938
232843 – CROWN View, 3x4 back -- 1938
232898 – 5x7 Speed – 1938
232992 – 2x3 Graflex -- 1938
233071 – miniature speed --
238702 – pre ANNIVERSARY speed – 1939
238817- 4x5 pre ANNIVERSARY - 1939
238929 – pre ANNIVERSARY – late 1939
239759 – miniature speed – late 1939
242164 – pre ANNIVERSARY -- 1939
242453 – pre ANNIVERSARY – 1939
244626 – miniature speed –
247286 – 4x5 CROWN View – late 1939 - early 1940
248852 – ANNIVERSARY – late 1939
248869 – ANNIVERSARY – early 1940
249977 – miniature speed – 1940
250609 – miniature speed –
251890 – ANNIVERSARY --
254186 – ANNIVERSARY --
255040 –
255436 – 3x4 ANNIVERSARY – 1940
2577xx – 3x4 ANNIVERSARY – 1940
260301 – 4x5 CROWN View – 1941
260838 – miniature speed --
262183 – 3x4 speed – 1940
263824 – ANNIVERSARY -- 1940
264164 – 4x5 ANNIVERSARY – fall 1940
266978 – ANNIVERSARY – 1940
269081 – ANNIVERSARY – late 1940 - early 1941
272543 – miniature speed – 1940-1941
274891 – ANNIVERSARY --
278433 - -- 1941
287212 – miniature speed – 1941
289222 - -- 1941
292785 – miniature speed – 1941
296507 – USAAC C3 --
301444 – ANNIVERSARY -- 1941
309109 – ANNIVERSARY -- 1942
310465 – ANNIVERSARY – 1942
311261 – ANNIVERSARY -- 1942
318023 – ANNIVERSARY -- 1943
320317 – government ANNIVERSARY – 1943
323070 – ANNIVERSARY, black, PH-47-E -- 1943
323859 – government ANNIVERSARY – 1943
326717 – ANNIVERSARY – 1943
336467 – miniature speed --
341099 – ANNIVERSARY – 1944
341320 – ANNIVERSARY --
341667 – ANNIVERSARY -- 1944
342045 – ANNIVERSARY – 1944
342917 – ANNIVERSARY -- 1943
346031 – ANNIVERSARY – 1945
345141 – ANNIVERSARY – 1945
349200 – black ANNIVERSARY -- 1945
350679 – ANNIVERSARY – 1945
351201 – ANNIVERSARY -- 1945
354145 – miniature speed – 1945 1st batch after WWII
354765 – miniature speed - 1946
358103 - ANNIVERSARY -- 9-1945
358807 – ANNIVERSARY – 1945
359242 – ANNIVERSARY, black, PH-47-E -- 1945
360070 – ANNIVERSARY – 1946
366041 – 3x4 ANNIVERSARY – 1946
368409 – miniature speed – 1945 or 1946
370236 – Miniature Speed – 1945
371107 – miniature speed – 1945
371834 - ANNIVERSARY, black – 11/3/1945
377164 – miniature speed – 1946
377356 – miniature speed – 1946
380367 – 3x4 ANNIVERSARY -- 1946
389835 – ANNIVERSARY -- 1946
392216 - 4x5 ANNIVERSARY – 1946
392343 – ANNIVERSARY -- 1946
393196 – ANNIVERSARY – 1945 or 1946
394550 – 3x4 ANNIVERSARY -- 1946
395280 – 3x4 ANNIVERSARY -- 1946
397653 – ANNIVERSARY -- 1946
398792 – 3x4 ANNIVERSARY - 1946
401843 – ANNIVERSARY – 1946
410196 – 2x3 CROWN -- 1947
410224 – CROWN – 1947
411398 – 2x3 CROWN -- 1947
412061 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed -- 1946
411249 – CROWN -1946
414010 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed –1947
414353 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed --1947
414384 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed -- 1947
416532 – 4x5 Super D graflex – 1947
416644 – Super D graflex – 1947
417622 – 4x5 Super D -- 1947
420378 – CROWN – 1947
421985 – CROWN -- 1947
423001 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed -- 1947
425408 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed -- 1947
428594 – 2x3 CROWN – 1947
432504 – CROWN -- 1947
432244 – CROWN – 1947
435012 – CROWN –1947
440064 – 2x3 CROWN – 1947
440093 – 2x3 CROWN --
445232 – CROWN -- 1947
4474xx – PACEMAKER speed – 1947
452903 – 4x5 PACEMAKER -- 1947
453426 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed – 1947
455004 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed --
456333 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed --
469904 – CROWN View II --
476861 – 70mm combat graphic --1956
448826 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed -- 1948
448870 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed – late 1947
485150 – Graflex View II – 1961 or 1962
449420 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed -- 1947
449676 - 2x3 PACEMAKER speed — late 1947/early 1948
503636 - CENTURY – 1949 -1950
504832 – CENTURY – 1949-1950
505660 – CENTURY --
506802 – CENTURY – late 1949
507248 – CENTURY -- 1949
508311 – CENTURY – 1949 or 1950
508923 – CENTURY -- 1949 or 1950
509011 – CENTURY – 1950
510967 – CENTURY -- 1950
513162 – CENTURY – 1950-1951
517253 – CENTURY -- 1951
523213 – CENTURY -- 1954
527202 – CENTURY – early 1960
528296 – CENTURY -- 1961
528734 – CENTURY (F2A) -- 1962
529178 – CENTURY – 1962, august
532951 – CENTURY – 5/1965
531994 – CENTURY -- 1963
533833 – CENTURY – 1964
534550 – CENTURY (A7B) -- 1967
535474 – CENTURY – guessed at 1966 or 1967 beyond
535916 – CENTURY (A8A) – 1968
640660 – SUPER GRAPHIC – 1957 Supers start at s/n 640000
646687 – SUPER GRAPHIC – 1959 or 1960
646731 – SUPER GRAPHIC – 1958
647661 – SUPER GRAPHIC - 1958
648819 – SUPER GRAPHIC – 1960
648226 – SUPER GRAPHIC -- 1960
653715 – SUPER GRAPHIC – 1964
653928 – SUPER GRAPHIC -- 1964
700583 – Speed -- 1949
700782 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed – 1947
702513 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed --
702540 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed – 1948
702760 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed –
706289 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed – 1950
708316 – CROWN --
708752 – CROWN view --
709934 – 2x3 PACEMAKER -- fall 1950
710103 – 2x3 CROWN -- 1950
711643 – 2x3 CROWN – 1951-1952
714194 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed
714427 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed -- 1953
714820 – 2x3 CROWN – 1953
725928 - --
730569 – 2x3 CROWN -- 1950
731262 – 2x3 CROWN -- 1950
733153 – 2x3 CROWN – 1948?
733683 – 2x3 PACEMAKER speed – 1949?
733964 – 2x3 CROWN – 1952
751020 – 3x4 PACEMAKER speed – 1949
751049 – 3x4 ANNIVERSARY – 1946?
752395 – 3x4 PACEMAKER speed – 1949
752399 – 3x4 PACEMAKER speed --
756085 – 3x4 CROWN -- 1952
757144 - 3x4 CROWN — late 1952/early 1953
800830 – PACEMAKER speed – 1949-1950
801176 – 3x4 CROWN – earliest in book 802602 in 195
820534 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed -- 1948
820986 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed – 1949
821775 – speed --
823460 – PACEMAKER speed – 1949? Jdesq -DB
825224 – 4x5 speed – 1949 or 1950
825252 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed – 1949
829099 – PACEMAKER speed --1948-1949
829350 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed, military –1954
830307 - PACEMAKER speed – 1949 J.J - the Hague
832222 – PACEMAKER speed -- 1948?
832434 – speed – 1948-1949
832683 – PACEMAKER speed – 1949-1949
833035 – PACEMAKER speed --
836449 – PACEMAKER speed -- 1949
839610 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed – 1948
841679 - 4x5 PACEMAKER speed -- 1948
842182 – PACEMAKER speed – 1948
843145 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed – 1948
846237 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed -- 1950
846278 – PACEMAKER speed -- 1950
846346 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed – 1950
847630 - 1950
847678 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed -- 1950
852552 – CROWN – 1950
853070- 4x5 PACEMAKER speed – 1950
853078 - --
858257 – PACEMAKER speed – 1950
859543 – Speed, Black – late 1950
860467 – PACEMAKER speed – late 1950 –early 1951
864199 – PACEMAKER speed – 1951
864887 – CROWN – 1952
865295- 4x5 PACEMAKER speed -- 1951 FdV -Amf
865971- 4x5 PACEMAKER speed -- 1951
866825 – CROWN – 1949-1950
867408 – 4x5 CROWN – late 1952 to early 1953
868468 – PACEMAKER speed -- 1951
869804 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed – 1951
871786 – CROWN --
872795 – PACEMAKER speed -- 1951 JDesq - DB
872795 – PACEMAKER speed -- 1951
873013 – PACEMAKER speed – 1951
873077 – CROWN -- 1951
873699 – PACEMAKER speed -- 1951
873704 – CROWN -- 1951
875725 – CROWN – 1952
875719 – speed --
877060 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed -- 1952
877143 – CROWN – 1952
877652 – 4x5 CROWN – 1952
878302 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed --
879590 – CROWN --
879913 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed – 1953
879936 – PACEMAKER speed -- 1952
880105 – 4x5 CROWN -- 1953
880476 – 4x5 CROWN --
881105 – speed – 1953
881212 – CROWN -- 1953
881378 – PACEMAKER speed – 1953 or 1954
882550 – 4x5 CROWN – 1953
882738 – 4x5 CROWN --
883126 - speed -- 1953
883441 – 4x5 CROWN -- 1953
883464 – CROWN – 1953
884051 – PACEMAKER speed -- 1953
885067 – CROWN – 1953
885579 – 4x5 CROWN 1953 or 1954
886402 – CROWN – 1953
886161 – CROWN -- 1951
888157 – 4x5 CROWN – 1953
888821 - -- 1953
889795 – CROWN --
890184- PACEMAKER --
892030 –
895391 - --
902460 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed – 1955
903057 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed -- 1955
903511 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed –1954
903531 – 4x5 CROWN --
906490 – PACEMAKER speed --1955
907537 – CROWN
911463 – PACEMAKER speed –1956
911851 – PACEMAKER speed – 1956
912462 – PACEMAKER -- 1956
914599 – CROWN -- 1956
915057 - CROWN
915952 – CROWN – 1956
916842 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed – 1956
918487 – CROWN -- 1956
919489 – CROWN -- 1956
919713 – CROWN – 1956
920010 – CROWN –
921144 – CROWN -- 1956
921230 – CROWN – 1956 or 1957
921235 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed – 1956
921798 – CROWN --
922849 – CROWN –1957
922691 – 4x5 PACEMAKER speed – 1956
924133 – CROWN -- 1956
925156 – CROWN -- 1957
925472 – CROWN -- 1957
926810 – CROWN -- 1957
928713- side rf CROWN -- 1957
929599 – CROWN – 1958
932529 – CROWN -- 1959
938136 – CROWN -- 1959
935638 – CROWN – 1959
936431 - -- 1959
936509 – 4x5 CROWN – 1959
938131 – CROWN -- 1959
938538 – 4x5 CROWN – 1959
938745 – 4x5 CROWN --
939928 – 4x5 CROWN –1959
941113 - -- 1959-1960
942501 – FP Speed -- 1960
943146 – 4x5 CROWN – 1960
943246 – CROWN -- 1960
945610 – CROWN – 1960
946538 – CROWN – 1962
948034 – CROWN --
950508 – CROWN -- 1963
952269 – CROWN – 1962?
954527 – CROWN -- 1962
954772 – 4x5 CROWN, side rf –
956346 – 4x5 CROWN – 1962
957448 – CROWN --
960544 – 4x5 CROWN – 1961
961224 – 4x5 CROWN – fall 1962
961761 – CROWN – 1962
964631 – 4x5 CROWN -- 1962
964799 – PACEMAKER speed – 1962
966160 – CROWN --
966405 – 4x5 CROWN – 1962
967762 –“ Heinz 57” CROWN – Sept. 1964
969578 –
970883 – CROWN (J3A) -- 1963
973592 – CROWN -- 1963
976273 – CROWN – Feb. 1965
974135 - 4x5 CROWN (e4a) - April 1964
974728 – CROWN (f4a) – May 1964
976761 – speed – 1964?
978635 – 4x5 CROWN -- December 1964
980335 – CROWN -- guessed at 1965
981511 – CROWN – estimate 1967 or 1968
982046 – CROWN --
984538 – CROWN – estimated at 1968
985310 – CROWN -- 1968
985320 – CROWN (J8A) – 1968
987845 – CROWN --
989641 – CROWN – may 1972
990198 – CROWN – 1973 or 1974
990367 – CROWN (H2B) -- 1972[/i]






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PUBLISHED PHOTOGRAPHS NOR TEXT MAY USED WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSCENT OF THE AUTHOR.PHOTOGRAPHS MAY NOT BE CROPPED, RETOUCHED OR AIRBRUSHED IN ANY WAY WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF JOHN D. PHOTOGRAPHY.ALTERING THESE PHOTOS WITHOUT PERMISSION WILL RESULT IN CHARGES FOR DAMAGED PHOTOGRAPHS.THERE WILL BE WHATSOEVER NO CAPTURING, RESAMPLING, SCANNING, DIGITISING OR STORAGE OF IMAGES ON A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE AUTHOR. THE NATURE OF THE CAPTIONS MUST BE RESPECTED.ALL THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE COPYRIGHT OF JOHN D.PHOTOGRAPHY & JOHND.ESQ © 1999,2007