Film cameras
Graflex Folmer Factorgraph User manual
User manual for Graflex Folmer Factorgraph. 15 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
15 pagesEnglish4.5 MB PDF
Loading your manual…Open PDF directly
Document details
- Brand
- Graflex
- Model / document
- Graflex Folmer Factorgraph
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 15
- File size
- 4.5 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
Contents
Search available document text
Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.
Page 3 · Read text
www.butkus.us
8/leFolmer
JFACTOG .APH
The Meter R eading Camera
Manufactured by
THE FOLMER GRAFLEX CORP.
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
Makers of
GRAFLEX, GRAPHIC CIRKUT and
AERIAL CAMERAS and
STUDIO APPARATUSView original page 3Page 4 · Read text
"Click" and the meter is read, pro-
ducing a legible, permanent, indis-
putable record.
The F actograph brings photo,graphic fidelity,
speed and economy to the meter reading field.View original page 4Page 5 · Read text
www.butkus.us
THE FACTOGRAPH
~ OR many years Gas and Electric Companies have felt
~~~ a growing need f~r some form ~f meter ~eader whose
~ accuracy the public could not dIspute. S1I1ce a photo-
graph is the only evidence about which there can be no argument,
Public Service Officials turned to the camera as the next logical
development in meter reading.
After a lengthy series of experiments, Mr. W. F. Folmer, now
President of the Folmer GraHex Corporation, developed the
Factograph, the meter reading camera. This was expressly de-
signed to o,:ercome the many adverse conditions peculiar to meter
reading and was placed on the market only after it had proved
superIor 111 every way to the older, less accurate and slower
methods.
The Factograph reads meters with photographic fidelity,
and brings its indisputable record to the office files, ready for bill-
ing. It not only reads meters accurately, but it reads them speed-
ily and economically. Its exclusive features are specially designed
to overcome the errors of the pad and pencil method. Its read-
ings are always correct and never subject to suspicion. With
the F actograph, there is no re-reading, no retracing of steps, no
argument. It records reliably the reading of the "peak" on
demand meters before they are reset for another month. It works
efficiently with all types of gas and electric meters, and many other
recording instruments, as well. It is the modern, reliable, and
indisputable meter reader.
The Factograph differs from the ordinary camera in that the
meter-reading is reproduced directly on the positive. No prints
Page 3View original page 5Page 6 · Read text
The FOLMER FACTOGRAPH
are ~eeded. This elimination of the customary photographer's
negative is accomplished through the aid of a mirror within the
camera. This mirror reverses the reading, so that the developed
paper shows an exact reproduction of the dial.
The film used in the Factograph comes in the familiar roll
form. Each roll makes 75 · exposures, i. e., 75 readings. Each
exposure is 1Yz" x 2Ys" in size, which makes it easy to read after
developing.
The number of the meter or the name of the consumer, both
of which are easily affixed to the meter dial, are recorded with the
reading. You bill from this. There is no chance of error, no
opportunity for argument. If a bill should be disputed, the exact
record of the reading is at hand, ready to be shown as conclusive
proof of accuracy. With the Factograph, there can be' no skipping
of meters on the part of employees, no guessing at readings. Each
meter must be read and once read, its reading is accurate. It is
impossible for it to be otherwise. In this exact check on both
meters and operators, Public Utility Companies have found the
long sought solution to a difficult problem.
Operated as it is by men of such varying degrees of education
and intelligence and under all sorts of conditions the Factograph
is necessarily made fool-proof. Its construction is extremely
simple, and unusually sturdy, making it capable of withstanding
rough usage and insuring accurate, legible, and indisputable re-
cords at all times.
The Factograph, with its above mentioned features, forms a
bond between the consumer and the Service Company, built upon
the assured acceptance by the public of the absolute accuracy of
meter readings.
Page 4View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
www.butkus.us
F or METER READING
Simple in operation and sturdy
in construction, the F actograph
is light in weight, easy to rarry
and easy to operate.
Digitally signed by mike
butkus
DN: cn=mike butkus,mike o=orphancameras, ou=29,
email=mike@butkus.org,
c=US
Date: 2017.08.31 21:25:38butkus -04'00'
The specially designed batteries and extra bulbs
for iLLuminating the meter dial are compactly
storea within the F actograph. They are excep-
tionally long lived.
P age jView original page 7Page 8 · Read text
::Meter ..Yleadinfl 'With
Reading a meter with the Facto-
graph is only a matter of seconds.
The front of the camera is placed
against the face of the meter. The
operator clicks a lever, and the job
is done. No special training is neces-
sary. A five minute explanation suf-
fices. It makes no difference whether
the meter be in a well lighted basement
or the darkest coal bin, the F acto-
graph is so designed that it is .absolute-
ly independent of lighting conditions.
An ingenious illuminating device, con-
sisting of four miniature mazda bulbs,
located in the front of the camera, CU6IC
FEET spotlights the dial, throwing an evenly ~~
t~®@
The F acto graph is not limited
to any special type of meter.
I t records all standard types
with equal fidelity.
Page 6View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
www.butkus.us
7he FACTOGRAPH
diffused light over the entire surface
of the register. This lighting appar-
atus is so shielded th at no glare will
hit the lens and the illumination of the
dial is kept uniform. Power for the
bulbs is supplied by specially construct-
ed b atte ri e~, making the Factograph
a portable and independent unit.
The lights are automatically
turned on when the operator presses
the lever, the shutter opens at . the
same instant· and closes at a fixed
speed and the film is released so that
it may be wound for the next reading.
T he shutter automatically locks and
no second reading may be taken on
Both electric and gas meters
are usually read by the same
operator and appear on the
same film.
Page 7View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
The FOLMER FACTOGRAPH
the exposed film. When this piece of exposed film is wound off
exactly, when a new and unexposed section is squarely in place,
then, and then only, is the lever automatically released for the next
exposure. The film winding apparatus and the shutter mechan-
ism are mutually interlocking. Double exposures are impossible.
There can be no blank readings, no trouble along the meter route.
When the last exposure has been made, the shutter automatic-
ally locks, warning the operator to reload and preventing further
use until this has been done. Factograph film as has been said
comes in the familiar roll film. It is easy to handle and can be
loaded and unloaded in daylight.
As a further aid to the operator, the "Factograph" can be
converted into a flashlight for locating meters or finding one's
way through dark cellars by merely pressing a small button just
below the exposure lever.
After the operator has finished his route, he returns the ex-
posed films to the office for developing. This, too, is a simple
process, only three minutes being required, on the average, to
develop each roll. The film upon which the readings are recorded
is specially coated with a sensitive emulsion which gives a sharp
and permanent record. The base, itself, is of the toughest bond
paper and withstands the most strenuous usage. It is made
expressly for the "Factograph" at the laboratories of the East-
man Kod ak Company.
Two vuws of the
F acto graph showing
its compact, sturdy
construction.
Page 8View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
www.butkus.us
F o r M ETER READING
Operating Costs of
The FACTOGRAPH
Tests show that the Factograph system of meter reading has
proven more economical and speedier than the older, less accurate
methods. Once installed, records show that a "Factograph"
reading is from fifteen seconds to a half a minute faster than the
book and lead pencil way. The total time thus saved is an im-
portant factor on large routes. The Factograph also eliminates
a number of incidental expenses such as: the cost of heading
up readers' lists, the annual cost of flashlights and supplies, and
the time spent in re-reading disputed meters, together with the
subsequent adjustment of complaints. These expenses, while
small for single items, mount up into sizable sums in the course of
a year's time.
The goodwill and advertising value of the Factograph is
not to be overlooked. Its installation is evidence of progress, an
indication to the consuming public that the Service Company is
continually endeavoring to make its meter reading one hundred
percent perfect.
While the "Factograph" was designed originally for Gas and
Electric Meters, it is equally efficient in recording other types of
meters such as water meters, cash registers, taxicab meters, stitch-
ing machines, and other comptomet~rs.
Page 9View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
The FOLMER FACTOGRAPH
Developing and Fixing Tank
The No.1 Factograph Developing and Fixing Tanks can be
purchased with the Cameras and Factograph Film. They hold
three gallons of liquid developer solution. They are made of an
acid proof metal which insures long use.
The Factograph Developing Racks are made especially to fit
the Factograph Tanks. They are so constructed as to give the
largest area around which the Factograph film may be wound
safely, minimizing waste space and developing solution. The film
is secured on these racks at each end of its length, does not over-
lap, cannot touch the sides of the tank, is held stationary beneath
the surface of the developing solution and remains fiat.
Once the film is wound on this rack it may be dropped into
the developer,-then rinsed; dropped into the fixing "bath, washed
and allowed to dry,- without being removed from the rack. When
dry ~ the film may be wound off onto convenient spools for billing.
A pair of Factograph Developing Rack Brackets are supplied,
upon which the racks may revolve while winding or unwinding the
film before and after developing.
The Tanks, the Racks and the Brackets are all so finished as
to protect them from acid attacks.
The convenient F artograph tank for
developing F actograph films. Three
minutes is sufficient time for the
average roll.
Page 10View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
www.butkus.us
For METER READING
Spectfications and Prices
"The Factograph" measures 12 x 4>-4 x 5% inches. It is
made from selected mahogany, brass, and aluminum in order to
withstand rough usage and still be light in weight.
No. 1 Factograph Camera complete with lens, shutter,
batteries and lamps .. ..... . . .. .. . . .. . ........ $56 .50
No.1 Factograph Film, carton of ten spools, 75 readings per
spool, per carton. : ........... . 5.60
No.1 Factograph Developing Powder, each package suf-
ficient for 3 gallons developer, per package ....... . 1. 70
No. 1 F actograph Fixing Powder, each package sufficient
for 3 gallons fixing solution, per package. . . . . . . 1 .55
No.1 Factograph Dry Batteries, each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
No.1 Factograph Mazda Miniature Lamps in cartons of
ten, per carton .... ..... .. . 2.10
No. 1 Factograph Developing and Fixing Tanks, each. .. 14 .50
No.1 Factograph Developing Racks, each . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3.80
No.1 Factograph Developing Rack Brackets, per pair. 4 00
Page 11View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
The FOLMER FACTOGRAPH
Making out bills direct f rom Factograph Film
THE FOLMER GRAFLEX CORP.
ROCHESTER, N. Y.
MakeH of
GRAFLEX, GRAPHIC CIRKUT and
AERIAL CAMERAS and
STUDIO APPARATUS
Page 12
HEN RY CO N OLLY co., nQC H ESTEH, N . Y.View original page 14From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.