Way back in the 90s I inherited a Graflex 4x5 press camera from my future wife’s late father. Her family was going to throw it away before I saw it and its suitcase in their family’s basement.

If you are a fan of the Godfather, you will recognize a Graflex from the wedding scene. If you are a Star Wars fan, the Graflex flash bulb battery pack was used as a lightsaber.
It is a great camera and it is fun to use, but time has made it difficult to use. I did find a Polaroid back that allowed me to use out dated Polaroid film that is no longer being made. For a while, I was even able to find flash bulbs on Ebay.

My wife and I used to visit country fairs and dirt race tracks pulling a small red wagon of film cartridges, flash bulbs and snapping cool photos.

In 2004 my wife and I made an impromptu visit to Ypsilanti Michigan’s Yankee Air-Museum. The air museum has a wonderful collection of vintage aircraft and war memorabilia. My plan was to take some photos of the wonderful planes using both my new digital camera and the vintage Graflex.

That was my plan. While I had usually kept my Graflex suitcase in the trunk of my car. I never kept flash bulbs in my car. I always kept my flash bulbs in a steel box on the concrete floor of my studio to prevent static electric discharge. Alas, we arrived at the Air-Museum prepared to take only outdoor shots with the Graflex and indoor digital shots.

Outdoors, I went plane to plane. Indoors I took some action digital shots with my wife. It was while I was taking my wife’s photo standing next to a B-17, a veteran walked up asking about the Graflex in my wagon. I told him that couldn’t use it indoors because I forgot my flash bulbs.

“We have cases of flash bulbs upstairs, I’ll get you some” He chirped

He disappeared and came back with 2 small ancient boxes of 12 flash bulbs. I shook his hand, thanking him. I used every bulb he gave me shooting indoor shots. It was a fun Saturday.

Exactly one week later, the Yankee Air Museum burnt to the ground. Late at night I tell myself the fire was not started by a case of 50 year old flash bulbs falling off a shelf. All the news articles state that the fire did start near the ceiling, but the guys were welding that day. Regardless, using the Graflex wasn’t as much fun after that Saturday. I still have the camera packed away, but I have safely disposed of all the flash bulbs.

https://www.wemu.org/wemu-news/2014-10-08/10-years-after-the-yankee-air-museum-hangar-fire

nothing like walking into a stranger's house and calling it a shit-hole that needs a new coat of paint and new furniture

Dual citizenship between upstate NY and the coast of Lake Michigan

New York was built in the 50s by an engineer for GE. Funky mid-century modern vibe.

Second just had a 3 year (alot of waiting) to the studs reno.
Before...

After..

gotta love that mid century modern vibe

Let's all simmer down, I'm new here too and Oppo can be a little hard to navigate and for the yungins who need to be looked at it can feel a little cold without the warm spot light. That being said, lets see if Jerry bird can make things all better.

@CarsOfFortLangley Only dating experience on a farm I have is when the sheep would touch the electric fence and push back.

Jerry and Ginger

2 years of a mid century modern down to the studds reno....

@Gabriella said in A little town with a big story…:

@ash78 @ForSweden @CarsOfFortLangley I don’t get any of these jokes.

You were Bourne too late

@RallyDarkstrike It has been pretty solid. Bought it used over 3 years ago. Almost a hundred of commutes between NY and MI without a whimper. Only tires and oil changes. I do have to get a new windshield to re-register it in NY. The windshield is a rock magnet. I do miss my 06 chevy express van that I traded in with 350k miles.

@Just-Jeepin 70 years from now, some guy will write an article about today's generation. "She Was a Pioneer of ONLYFANS!"

Lotta nice cars..
THUNDERBIRD!

60 Dodge?
Pontiac Lowrider
Gold Bandit
Blue Bandit
Fairlane
GTO Camaro
58 Chevy
VW Bus
Fairlane
A-holes made me park next door, because my van isnt all fancy and chromey

@RallyWrench

OH, Coffee and Cars
Watch that red Mustang pull out
COPART wins again

@e90m3 I greased my brakes to stop them from squealing.

@davesaddiction michigan is fun, they have kiosks at stores. Nice and easy. New York is hell, like making love to a bag of broken glass

@RallyWrench PAIN the cat is in PAIN

@flatisflat it was the service that sucked...I stood at the front desk waiting to be seated for 8 minutes (was not busy), finally the manager looked up from the carry out desk and asked, 'are you here to pick up?'.
He thought I looked like a grub hub driver.
Once I did sit and ordered, my waitress abandoned me for a group of 15 teens. I guess she thought they would tip more than me....she was right.

@Noodles nice job!

@ClassicDatsunDebate
Wifey is out of town and Muskegon, Mich rolls up its sidewalk around 8pm. Now I am not a big fan of eating early and today I lost track of time hanging new window blinds. It was 8pm before I even got out the door to find somewhere to eat. Almost everything in Muskegon closes at 8 or 9pm. So my only option was Buffalo Wild Wings, they are open till 11pm.

I had never eaten there. I had a burger and fries with a salad.

I will never eat there again.