New (ebay) Speed Graf focal Shutter stuck

[bibowj]

hello All- I just received a decent condition Speed Graphic from ebay with a kodak 127 4.7 in it... as Im learning my way around it, I see that my focal shutter is closed and at its highest tension (1000)a and the knob below it that says TRIP BACK FRONT is stuck in FRONT and will not move, and the unit will not fire. the lens shutter works perfect, but i cant get the focal to release... am I doing something wrong? Im really sad that a "working great" camera from ebay is DOA..

Is there a way to manually release the focal plane so i can just use the lens shutter?
Please help!

[Wade D]

Try holding a little tension on the winding key for the focal plane shutter. At the same time try to move the switch to 'back'. Then see if the shutter fires. Hopefully the tension will free it up then you can go to the 'O' position (wide open) and use the lens shutter.

[djacobox372]

Why not just return it? Or did u buy it "as-is"

You can always take the camera apart and remove the fp shutter, a simple procedure.

[djacobox372]

I saw that you did buy a camera with a return policy, that was advertised as working. Even if its past the three days you would probably win a dispute on ebay as the almost always side with buyers.

[jnanian]

with the camera unfolded / open look at the camera (facing the lens )
you should see the focal plane shutter release on the left side.
(its chrome on the black body )
push it in and it should begin to un-tension / fire the shutter.
if you do this 4 times you will go down ( 1000 - 250 - 50 - T )
the next number will be "0" and it will allow you to use your shuttered lens.
it the shutter doesn't release contact paypal, don't bother with your seller,
paypal will get your money back if you ...
having the focal plane shutter wound up all the way to 1000 isn't a good way to have the camera stored
you want to leave it un-tensioned "0" when you aren't using the focal plane shutter, otherwise you'll
stretch out the "spring" ...

if you haven't found it yet, check out http://www.graflex.org it is a website dedicated to graflex/graphic cameras like yours
and if you haven't found the morgan+morgan / morgan+lester book graphic/graflex photography, see if you can buy a copy
it will answer a lot of questions you might have.

good luck with your camera !
john