Rare! WWII 1941 Graflex Speed Graphic, 4x5 Complete with original US Army, Signal Corps ID plate (PH-47-E). Freshly Serviced! CLA'd!

This desirable wartime Graflex camera comes from my personal collection.  I purchased it many years ago in Germany and I believe that it arrived with US forces and remained behind after the hostilities in the European Theater ended. The folding struts, fittings and trim are all black in accordance with military specs. Remarkably it still retains the original military ID plate, which is unusual since they were often removed by photographers who weren't particularly interested in history. Sadly the same is true of countless wartime cameras, such as Leicas, which had their military markings crudely defaced. 

The lens serial code (EC4626) indicates that it was produced in the USA in 1941. Additionally there are also US Army postwar inspection markings in orange, indicating that it was still in active inventory in 1957. Most likely it remained in use or storage on a US military base in Germany (of which there were many in the post-was era) until it was finally sold off as surplus. Eventually I came across it in a collection of WWII militaria and was able to acquire it. That was many years ago and since then it's had pride of place in my personal camera collection, located here in the Netherlands. I've now decided to let it go, which opens up the opportunity for this camera to finally go home after more than 80 years in Europe. 

This Speed Graflex was an expensive model which featured a secondary focal plane shutter which permitted it to use lenses that didn't have a leaf shutter built into them. This gave the camera extra lens flexibility and currently makes it an excellent candidate for photographers who want to use big, fast Aero-Ektar lenses. The focal plane shutter on this camera still winds and releases smoothly. The shutter cloth is creased, as is the case with 90% of these cameras, but it's still light tight and appears to be usable. However because I’ve never used it I can’t vouch for its accuracy.       

This camera is fitted with a top-of-the-line f4.7/127mm Kodak Ektar lens and a Kodak Supermatic shutter. The Supermatic shutter has been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted. The shutter fires smoothly and all speeds are appropriate. The slow speeds buzz along smoothly and the fast ones are clean and snappy. The lens is exceptionally clean and clear. There are no scratches, just some light cleaning wisps and it’s capable of producing superb results with both color and black & white film.

All in all a wonderful wartime camera. If you’ve been looking for one, you've just found it. Load it with your favorite 4x5 film and keep it handy for that perfect shot you’ve been looking for. You know the one... the one with the perfect Ansel Adams light breaking through the dark storm clouds that leaves you wishing you had large format camera with you.