Grafmatic Film Holder Instruction Manual
- June 13, 2024
- Grafmatic
Table of Contents
GRAFMATIC FILM HOL’DER
INSTBIICTION MANUAL
Film Holder
The Grafmatic film holder is an automatic magazine holding six individual
sheets of film, yet it is but little larger than a standard film pack adapter.
Besides indicating the exposure number, it has an indicator to tell whether
the film is in the exposed position or
covered. The larger 4×5 size, for GRAFLEX and GRAFLOK Backs, has a device
numbering each nega tive as it is exposed. The 4×5 GRAPHIC Grafmatic holder is
not recommended for use with GRAPHIC Backs-but if used care must be taken to
avoid ac cidental removal of the holder during operation.
The Grafmatic is extremely simple to operate.
Just two movements are required-PUll and PUSH. First check to see that the
exposure counter dial at the back is turned (use the edge of your thumb) so
that figure “1” ap pears, and that the chrome slide lock hook is unlatched.
On the 4×5 size set the knurled wheel in the open position per mitting the
slide to be pulled up with the handle.
Now PULL the slide all of the way out and PUSH it all of the way back,
before shooting.
The first film will spring upward and be locked in the exposed position and
the red dot at the back of the holder will be un covered indicating that a
film is in position ready for exposure.
After exposure the first film must be moved out of the way.
To do this, press down with your thumb on the chrome latch, holding it against
the slide handle, and PUll the entire film compartment all of the way out.
Release the latch and PUSH the entire compartment in with the handle. When it
is all of the way in, the exposure counter dial will move to No.2 and the red
dot will be covered indicating that the film is covered and the holder can
then be removed from the camera.
The same sequence is followed for all six exposures.
After which an “X” will show on the exposure counter dial and the slide will
be locked into the compartment indicating that you have made six exposures.
NOTE: The films will be fogged if the film compartment is opened when the
holder is not in the camera. To prevent accidental opening be sure the counter
dial is set at a numbered position. Wtih the 4 x 5 Grafmatic this is not
necessary since the drawer and slide locks automatically when the “X” on the ‘
exposure counter dial is visible. (Drawer does not lock on early models.) To
release the slide for recycling or loading, turn the dial to No.1 .
To load or unload
the Grafmatic film holder
Set the indicator dial on a number, press the chrome latch toward the handle
and pull the tllm compartment out. Hold the compartment in this extended
position, and PUSH the slide handle in until it releases the chrome latch,
then PUll the slide out. The Film septums have springs under them and will pop
up. When loading the septums, keep the film notch over the notch at the open
edge of the septum.
Note : If films slip out of the septum, pinch in the ends ot the side
rails, at the closed end. Be sure the film will still slide up under the end
rail easily.
Before putting the septums back
into the compartment, be sure that the sliding plate, by the felt strip, has been pushed back out of the way, into the end of the film compartment. Hold the loaded septums by the edges and with the notched end opposite the slide handle, place them down into the compartment with the edges of the fingers on the septum rails. Still holding the two compart ments apart as for as possible, press the slide handle against your body, or pull it over the top septum with your fingers, and push it all of the way into the film compartment which may then be pushed into the rest of the holder until it locks. Set the counter dial on No. 1 and you are ready to start shooting.
The 4×5 Grafmatic has 5 additional features
made possible by its larger size. These features are the automatic negative numbering wheel located at the handle end of the picture opening; the 3 position slide lock wheel; the white memo tab on the back of the holder, and the holder identifier tab recesses.
- The automatic negative numbering wheel numbers each film to correspond with the number appearing on the exposure dial at the rea r of the holder.
- The knurled slide lock wheel on the end of the holder has three positions. When this is turned so the red dot shows, it indi cates that the holder is loaded and not exposed. The intermediate locked position of this wheel can be used to indicate that the holder is loaded, and the film has been exposed. The unlocked position allows the slide to be pulled out.
- After making the 6th exposure an ” X” will show on the exposure counter dial and both the slide and drower will auto matically lock preventing any possibility of accidentally opening the drawer fogging film. (Drawer does not lock on early models.)
- On the back is a white plastic area upon which identifying data can be written . For temporary data, use pencil or crayon; for permanent data, use ink .
- Recesses for locating identifying tabs are found at the ex treme right and left of the negative numbering wheel. Acetate ink or India ink can be used to write on these tabs. Cut the tab 3fs” x 3fs” from a sheet of clear acetate or cleared piece of film and fasten in place with a small drop of household cellulose acetate cement.
Suggestions and Tips
You may find it necessary to remove the Grafmatic from the camera without
exposing the film which has been shifted to the exposure position. Simply pull
the compartment out as though the film had been exposed and likewise shift the
other five septums which will bring that film again to the top, but not in the
exposure location. At the “X” or arrow setting flip the dial to No.1 with the
edge of the thumb and continue to recycle. This operation can also be done
after the other septums have all been exposed, but in any event the Grafmatic
holder must be in the camera when the septums are being shifted. .
When pulling the slide or film compartment, pull straight outward-not
backward-to avoid leverage pressure against the focusing panel or slide locks
with attendant danger of light leak. When the holder is open for loading, note
that slight pressure on the button on the underside of the film compartment
will release the automatic exposure counter control slide. If the holder is
laid on a flat bench, no difficulty will be encountered. Otherwise, it will be
necessary to check to make sure that this slide does not extend into the
septum chamber before attempting to insert the septums. See Fig. 5 .
When loading septums into the film compartment, use the thumb and finger
holding them to act as a channel guiding the septums down into place.
All six septums must be in the compartment in order to operate the counting
mechanism.
Because of the compact and light-tight design, as well as the movable dark
slide feature of the Grafmatic film holder, some care should be exercised in
storing or carrying it, to prevent foreign particles from becoming lodged in
the front or face of the holder around the edges of the dark slide.
It is suggested that the empty holder be blown out occasionally.
When the Grafmatic holder is used in a Graflok Back, slide it under the
focusing panel and be sure to lock it in place with the slide locks. If the
Grafmatic holder is used in a 2V4 x 3% GRAPHIC Back, an additional set of
spacer washers may be required beneath the focusing panel springs at the point
of attachment to the camera to allow easier insertion of the holder. Since
Graphic Bacb do not lock the Grafmatic in place, be careful not to pull the
holder out during the cycling operation.
Suggestions and Tips, Continued
In order to keep film from sliding out of the GraflJ;latic Septums, the end of the longer rail or film guide next to the closed end of the septum has been formed inward slightly. In the event that the film tends to slide out of the septums, pinch this section of the rail down slightly to provide more tension on the film. Do not close this in too much, since otherwise the film will not slide under the rail ‘ or guide at the end of the septum and it must be under this rail. Note that if you should use any films on the new, thin Chronar or similar base, all of the septums will have to be thus adjusted.
MAIN PLANT:
3750 Monroe Avenue
Rochester 3, New York
MIDWEST SERVICE
DEPARTMENT:
1345 Di versey Parkway
Chicago 14, Illi nois
GRAFLEX OF CANADA
LIMITED:
47 Simcoe St.
Toronto 1, Ontario, Canada
WESTERN DIVISION:
800 North Cole Avenue
Hollywood 38, California