Need opinion on vintage graflex

[Darthmax]

Hi ! New here. Always loved star wars but didn't have the money to go down this rabbit hole that is lightsabers.

I have this vintage graflex for sale local to me and would like your opinion on if you would buy it or not.

It is not a folmer so I know it won't be 100% accurate but price is reflecting this.

I would probably do a Skywalker Anh saber with it, since I already have an ESB one from romanprop.

Asked price is 320$us

If I were to buy it, would the clamp be useful for another saber build ?

If you were in my shoes, what would you do with this, and what is the real value of a vintage graflex like this ?

 

[thd9791]

I’ll give you my two cents:

It’s a local graflex flash to you, I would buy it in a heartbeat. The experience of building your own saber from it is amazing and if you aren’t totally sure what you’re doing yet, the bottom stamping is really not going to matter. The different factory versions are nearly identical, this is the correct vintage item, celebrate!

That’s a little steep of a price for me, I have issues with the price gouging in this hobby lately, but if you can afford it, go for it.

 

[Darthmax]

Thank you for your response, I was mainly unsure about the price. I know a correct early folmer can fetch over 1000$, but really have no idea on this model. People seems to price them high since they don't know that not all graflex are the same.

What would be a good deal on this one you think ?

 

[Media Man]

In my opinion I wouldn't pay any more than 300 for an Inc flash and 500 for a Folmer. Having this find local and in person is huge though because you can truly see the condition. Plus graflex clamps are nice to have for projects.

 

[scarf man]

I agree with thd9791 on all his points.
The price isn’t a steal of a deal, nor is it a heavy gouge, it’s right in the ballpark.

 

[Darthmax]

I know the top isn't right either since it has the stepped pins, I'll try to lower the price more to justify having a non accurate graflex. Condition seems ok, looks like there's rust under the clamp, but might be fixable.

 

[thd9791]

That’s an important thing to notice too. It wasn’t a clean cut change over to producing a different flash, and in all the decades between then and now photographers very commonly swapped out any parts that fit so the chances of getting the exact same line of parts is very low.

We don’t even know what all the parts of all the graflexes used in the old movies are, we know the bottom can of the ranch saber, the type of pins of that one, the type of glass eye and red buttons but that’s really it. Anyone telling you that you have a full screen matched flashgun is lying as of 2024.

 

[Anakin Starkiller]

We don’t even know what all the parts of all the graflexes used in the old movies are, we know the bottom can of the ranch saber, the type of pins of that one, the type of glass eye and red buttons but that’s really it. Anyone telling you that you have a full screen matched flashgun is lying as of 2024.

Here here! Couldn't have said it better myself!

 

[Halliwax]

That’s an important thing to notice too. It wasn’t a clean cut change over to producing a different flash, and in all the decades between then and now photographers very commonly swapped out any parts that fit so the chances of getting the exact same line of parts is very low.

We don’t even know what all the parts of all the graflexes used in the old movies are, we know the bottom can of the ranch saber, the type of pins of that one, the type of glass eye and red buttons but that’s really it. Anyone telling you that you have a full screen matched flashgun is lying as of 2024.

Best post of 2024

 

[Halliwax]

Darthmax have you thought of doing a TFA tribute? Production used vintage inc’s for ep7

This would be a great candidate for it

 

[Darthmax]

Darthmax have you thought of doing a TFA tribute? Production used vintage inc’s for ep7

This would be a great candidate for it

That could be an option, must admit I want to have most of the OT sabers first. Guess I'll try to work him on the price, if I get it down to a "cannot pass on this" type of price, I'll just hoard it until I'm decided on what to do with it.

 

[thd9791]

You could always:
-Cut it and stick it on top of a kobold
-Drill a crap ton of holes in it and mount a blade core
-stick it on the front of an uzi
-make a hero hilt
-use the clamp for an Obi wan saber
-Use the buttons for a stunt
-the list goes on!