Graflex Variations: Facts and vs. Replica
- Thread starter scottjua
- Start date
CHalcyon82
New Member
First off, I'd like to thank everyone so far for trying their best to help me out with this. I really appreciate it guys!
Ridire Firean , thanks for the questions and I'll try my best to answer them. First off, regarding the age wearing where the clamp would've been: you can blame that up to me. I inserted it in a few spare Graflex clamps while I was playing around with the idea of using it in one of my projects. I can see some junk rubbed off on it. The upper end of the tubing doesn't look modified at all. You got some minor wear that you'd expect from something that's probably decades old. You can see more wear near the bottom of the... bottom and the battery spring. Honestly I was trying to look for a better way to phrase that! The sort of wear that I've seen before in legit Graflex bottoms.
I'm going to put forth a theory or two here because I too have come to the belief that this is very likely a vintage Graflex bottom. I say this because I was just delivered a legit 2-Cell that, upon inspect and comparison to not only other 3-Cells but also other 2-Cells, there's a noticeable difference in the 2-Cell top being thinner to the ones I've compared it to. It's not as thin as this bottom but it is definitely thinner. I have no idea why either of these are different compared to the other ones. I'm just going to spit-ball one or two possibilities: maybe these were made around the end of their life-span and the Graflex company started to cut back on the amount of metal used. Maybe these were produced around the time of the metal shortages in World War II.
Also I'd take more photos but ATM my phone is in a dire need of a recharge.
Ridire Firean , thanks for the questions and I'll try my best to answer them. First off, regarding the age wearing where the clamp would've been: you can blame that up to me. I inserted it in a few spare Graflex clamps while I was playing around with the idea of using it in one of my projects. I can see some junk rubbed off on it. The upper end of the tubing doesn't look modified at all. You got some minor wear that you'd expect from something that's probably decades old. You can see more wear near the bottom of the... bottom and the battery spring. Honestly I was trying to look for a better way to phrase that! The sort of wear that I've seen before in legit Graflex bottoms.
I'm going to put forth a theory or two here because I too have come to the belief that this is very likely a vintage Graflex bottom. I say this because I was just delivered a legit 2-Cell that, upon inspect and comparison to not only other 3-Cells but also other 2-Cells, there's a noticeable difference in the 2-Cell top being thinner to the ones I've compared it to. It's not as thin as this bottom but it is definitely thinner. I have no idea why either of these are different compared to the other ones. I'm just going to spit-ball one or two possibilities: maybe these were made around the end of their life-span and the Graflex company started to cut back on the amount of metal used. Maybe these were produced around the time of the metal shortages in World War II.
Also I'd take more photos but ATM my phone is in a dire need of a recharge.
For what it's worth I also have a 3-cell bottom like that with the same Graflex Inc./patent number stamping that is thinner than usual. I have no reason to doubt its authenticity - got it two years ago in a lot of random flash tubes from a vintage camera seller (box had a couple weird ones, misc reflectors, a Heiland, and Graflite slaves IIRC). In the auction photos the 3-cell bottom was obscured, sticking out of a Graflite reflector elbow and I don't think the seller realized what it was. Looks very much like yours.
Gen0
Active Member
Great thread.
I'm not very well versed in proper ID's of Graflex so I thought I'd post my supposedly vintage Graflex I scored for a decent price a few years ago. I didn't break the bank on it, but I'd be very happy to find out it was legitimate and not a replica from the members on here.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
I'm not very well versed in proper ID's of Graflex so I thought I'd post my supposedly vintage Graflex I scored for a decent price a few years ago. I didn't break the bank on it, but I'd be very happy to find out it was legitimate and not a replica from the members on here.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
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Definitely looks like honest wear and honest accumulated dirt/grime. Also, I've said it before and I'll say it again - I don't believe any replica has ever accomplished a rivet through the bunny ears.
Correct, I don’t know any replica beside the old larbel’s but those had a different playing finish you can spot right away
Gen0
Active Member
I’ve had good luck with simple green. I use that for everything. Then I polish it with mothers polish if I’m going for a ANH, TLJ look
Gen0
Active Member
Ill try that, thank you.
Was it ever confirmed which versions of the replica Graflex Roman sent in for Episode 9?
His pristine Gen2 flashes were sent to production
vader45
Sr Member
All signs point to REAL!
amadeusw
Active Member
Awesome, happy for you!Well, they accepted my offer so it looks like it's joining my collection.I've been thinking about it and I like the way it looks with the reflector on, so I think I might just display it as is rather than making it into a saber.
Or just parts from different flashes. No big deal either way.
