Vintage Graflex Flash Gun found for $50

[Gregatron]

I say this with the utmost love and respect...but the side rivets are flopped. The big ones should be where the small ones are, and vice-versa.

 

[thd9791]

Dammit, you're right! Looks like I'll be reaching for a replica 3 cell bottom to replace this one....

 

[PrinceZip]

Dammit, you're right! Looks like I'll be reaching for a replica 3 cell bottom to replace this one....

I think the bottom tube can still be salvaged... You can shave down the rivets and glue them in correct places. Hopefully, new rivets will cover up the leftover holes.

 

[newmagrathea]

You should be able to save this, just drill the rivets out.

 

[thd9791]

Thanks! The holes on the left are VERY large, and the ones on the right, I guess the size larger too. I had a problem initially because one hole of the 4 was a hair too large and the rivet never pinched the tube. There's probably no way to plug the hole right for smaller rivets? Washers or something?

 

[newmagrathea]

Thanks! The holes on the left are VERY large, and the ones on the right, I guess the size larger too. I had a problem initially because one hole of the 4 was a hair too large and the rivet never pinched the tube. There's probably no way to plug the hole right for smaller rivets? Washers or something?

As long as the rivet is large enough to cover the hole you should be able to make a new rivet stay. You might have to use glue to make it stay.

 

[eethan]

Thanks! The holes on the left are VERY large, and the ones on the right, I guess the size larger too. I had a problem initially because one hole of the 4 was a hair too large and the rivet never pinched the tube. There's probably no way to plug the hole right for smaller rivets? Washers or something?

yes yes washers are completely fine to plug a too large hole, no worries. the only difficulty is to position them on the rivet inside the bottom of the tube.
here is an example on an esb saber that I did with a flash that I received with a large hole on the bottom:

good luck. cheers

 

[thd9791]

Thank you everyone!

I did much better this time - the only thing I screwed up was the distance between rivets, I was off by about 1 mm on one set.

Actually once drilling everything out, I changed my mind and tried to shift all the grips over a little, covering the original holes. It sort-of worked, without going and drilling into a second graflex.

Here it is before the glue is cleaned off. I'm getting my bar stamped by roy too!

Good enough for me, considering how I had to fix this twice, I'll clean the glue off tomorrow and look at it again haha

 

[thd9791]

I did a few things today!

Got Roy's stamped bar and that inspired me to make a few changes. I took off the lever washer, and re-fitted the bubble strip I was using. As always, screwing it together and unscrewing it 4 times to get it right...

I popped off a grip and moved it over a bit, to cover an old hole AND make it look like the two big rivets were more lined up than they really are.

Also I used Reflection metal polish/cleaner and Lundmark Caranuba Paste Wax to shine this thing up to match the finish I see on the ANH photos. Seems to be an earlier, shiny version of a Graflex as opposed to the brushed Graflex Inc ones. I included my SRS saber in the photos (which has the brushed finish). The polish bottle was a leftover from a research lab that also had piano tuning aides for me (long, private story) and the wax was obsolete stock from a dusty hardware store near me. It's all white caranuba wax, unlike johnsons which is yellow and has solvents in it.

I'm also sorry for the hair in the photos, I grew my hair out and it gets everywhere. I take care of it, so it looks really good but I keep finding it places..