The Anniversary Speed Graphic was manufactured 1940-47 usually black
leather. (Previous reports about military versions in olive drab are
unsubstantiated.) The lens standards are generally all-black.
The back is stationary (horizontal) and either of the "Graphic''
type (a spring back which accepts standard modern 4x5 film holders, but
not the later roll-film backs) or a "Graflex'' back, which takes the
same film holders as the Graflex SLR cameras. These film holders are no
longer manufactured.
The Anniversary has a body-mounted shutter release for the rear focal
plane shutter, but no such aid for the front shutter. The lens standard
offers front rise and shift, and a drop bed, but no tilts or swings.
Lensboards for Anniversary (and pre-Anniversary) are Graphic "C"
boards, which are 4x4 inches. There are adaptors to fit the Pacemaker metal
boards on the older cameras and they show up occasionally at camera sales.
The wooden boards are fairly easy to get or make. The Graphic will also
take 4x4 metal lens boards made for the Graphic View but will
not
take the Calumet boards, although the Calumet camera will take everything.
Other features include the following:
INTERCHANGEABLE LENSES
-- A large removable lensboard and long bellows permit interchangeable
use of a wide selection of speed, wide angle, and telephoto lenses.
BROAD EXPOSURE RANGE
-- The focal plane shutter in combination with a between-the-lens shutter
afford controlled exposures ranging from one full second to 1/1000.
VIEW FINDERS -- The folding
wire frame finder is concvenient for following fast action. The tubular
optical finder supplied on the three smaller sizes is idea for all-around
photography, giving a clear, unobstructed view of hte picture; its parallax
adjustment makes for accuracy in shooting at various distances.
GROUND GLASS FOCUSING
-- Those accustomed to bgground glasss focusing will enjo using the Speed
Graphic's ground glass focusing panel. This panel is built on those cameras
supplied with the "Graphic Back" which accepts
Graphic
holders and the Kodak film pack adapter [obsolete]. Cameras supplied
with "Graflex Back" use the accessory Graflex Focusing Panel
interchangeably with all Graflex film and plate accessories.
COUPLED RANGE FINDERS
-- The coupled range finder, a popiular accessory, rounds out the Speed
Graphic as the only all-purpose candid camera.
PHOTOFLASH SYNCHRONIZATION --
With a synchronizer-equipped Speed Graphic, you can
start your picture-shooting
when the sun goes down.
Features
The Anniversary model had three main features not present in the previous model:
- drop bed and linked front/rear tracks
- track lock and dual focusing controls
- shifting front standard (all metal)
Technical details:
Company | Graflex. |
---|---|
Model | Anniversary Speed Graphic |
Type |
Press camera |
Year |
1940 - 1947 |
Film format |
4" x 5" |
Negative | sheet filmor Polaroid (with polaroid back) |
Shutter |
Focal plane |
shutter speed | 24 speeds up to 1/1000 and "time." |
Lens | Compur on 4" board |
Focus | Bellows capacity: 13-1/2" |
Focus | No |
Diaphragm |
Depending of type |
Light Meter | No |
Rangefinder | Yes |
Source: https://www.graflex.org