New Elstree Studio documentary with discarded Graflex.

Roy’s grip guide is on the way. I have grips, d-ring, and rivets ready to go. TGS should be offering the stamped sidebars, soon.


But I don’t know if I can pull the trigger and assemble this thing until I figure out that bloody endcap stamping, dagnabbit!
The bottom stamping I know we will not know for a long, long time unless the real prop comes to light. I honestly don't think there were any really good close up photos taken of the hero bottom.
 
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I took a quick peek at ANH in 4K on Disney + and saw this. It's just after Luke turns off the lightsaber.

d+rivets.jpg
 
No surprise, there.


...now, what about that stamping...?

I think we are more likely to finally know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie pop than we are to know with certainty that they used a Folmer bottom...

639D1B5E-5B42-43B0-BE53-1E213E6B3841.jpeg


Based on the consensus of the top being more than likely a Folmer top, I’m comfortable assuming the bottom half is a Folmer as well.
 
I think we are more likely to finally know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie pop than we are to know with certainty that they used a Folmer bottom...

View attachment 1083518

Based on the consensus of the top being more than likely a Folmer top, I’m comfortable assuming the bottom half is a Folmer as well.
Me too. But...

Folmer "New York" or Folmer w/patent???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

The world may never know.
 
I'm guessing it's a New York because of the two, w/patent seems to be the rarer variant. Plus I have a New York so :).

My eyes are unable to discern it but I've read those who say the bottom of the toe pic saber looks like a thin lip around the stamping which is a feature usually only seen on early New York Folmers I believe.
 
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I'm guessing it's a New York because of the two, w/patent seems to be the rarer variant. Plus I have a New York so :).

My eyes are unable to discern it but I've read those who say the bottom of the toe pic saber looks like a thin lip around the stamping which is a feature usually only seen on early New York Folmers I believe.

Well, I have a patent Folmer, so therefore that's what they used. :p
 
In this photo, the larger size of the rivet in the lever pin seems to be consistent with an Inc pin on a shiney Folmer clamp (note no square clamp lever washer):

ANH Graflex - Mark Hamill Promo Photo Shoot (10b).jpg


But the thinner lip on the rear of the Graflex in the toe pic seems to be consistent with either a Folmer patent or non-patent bottom:

Screen Shot 2019-11-14 at 6.31.57 AM.png


In this photo of a Dec. 2018 Roger assembled hilt, it looks like it features the larger Inc rivet in the lever but a shiney clamp (what I'm thinking they used on the screen-used hero above):

ANH Graflex - Roger Christian built prop auctioned Dec 2018 (4).jpg
 
In the process of building the ROTJ Vader Graflex and the ESB Stunt sabers, I've been swapping out socket pieces and playing with graflexes, and I recognize what they did here a bit more. The blade needs metal to butt up against - I just put in the upper socket aluminum piece I recently found to be in these sabers and it works a bit better than a plate brazed to the Graflex :lol:
 
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