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135mm f/4.7 Optar Production History

 
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aoresteen



Joined: 26 May 2004
Posts: 67
Location: Newnan, GA, USA

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 5:49 am    Post subject: 135mm f/4.7 Optar Production History Reply with quote

Does any one know the year the 135mm f/4.7 Optar was introduced and the year it was discontinued? I know it's a common lens and must have been in production for a long long time.

Thanks!
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45PSS



Joined: 28 Sep 2001
Posts: 4081
Location: Mid Peninsula, Ca.

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 6:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A Graphic Optar is a Wollensak Raptar rebadged. A Graphex shutter is a Rapax rebadged.
The catalogs at http://www.cameraeccentric.com/info.html suggest the Raptar was introduced in the 1940's.
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Dan Fromm



Joined: 14 May 2001
Posts: 2119
Location: New Jersey

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

45PSS wrote:
A Graphic Optar is a Wollensak Raptar rebadged. A Graphex shutter is a Rapax rebadged.
The catalogs at http://www.cameraeccentric.com/info.html suggest the Raptar was introduced in the 1940's.


Didn't Rodenstock make some of the 135/4.7 Optars?
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45PSS



Joined: 28 Sep 2001
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Location: Mid Peninsula, Ca.

PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Didn't Rodenstock make some of the 135/4.7 Optars?

Yes, once Wollensak quit manufacturing lens for cameras.
The Super Graphics use Rodenstock Optars, some Pacemakers may use them also.
The Super Graphic was introduced in 1958.
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aoresteen



Joined: 26 May 2004
Posts: 67
Location: Newnan, GA, USA

PostPosted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 10:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks!

I knew that the Raptars were introduced in the 40's but was wondering when the Optar branded 135mm lenses came out.

Also, is there anyway to identify a Rodenstock Optar from a Wollensak Optar?

When were the last 135mm Optars made?
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45PSS



Joined: 28 Sep 2001
Posts: 4081
Location: Mid Peninsula, Ca.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 11:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Rodenstock made lens say Rodenstock Optar on the lens rim.
From what I seen repairing Anniversary's I would say the Optar name started in 1947 with the introduction of the Pacemaker series of cameras.
All Anniversarys I've serviced have Zeiss or Schnider in Compur shutters.
http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/graflex_9.html lists many of the common lens used on Graflex Corp. cameras.
The Optar name is not present prior to the Pacemaker and the Optar name is applied to many focal lengths made for Graflex starting with the Pacemaker.
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aoresteen



Joined: 26 May 2004
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Location: Newnan, GA, USA

PostPosted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 3:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

45PSS,

Thanks so much for the info! It's what I was looking for.
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78ltd



Joined: 04 Sep 2005
Posts: 62
Location: Texas

PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 4:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't know about the 135mm Optar, but I have a uncoated Optar 6 3/8" F/4.5 with a serial number of 289450 that pre-dates the Pacemaker camera's. So the Optar name starts at least in the early 40's. It is in a No. 3 non sync Graphex shutter.
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aoresteen



Joined: 26 May 2004
Posts: 67
Location: Newnan, GA, USA

PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

78ltd wrote:
I don't know about the 135mm Optar, but I have a uncoated Optar 6 3/8" F/4.5 with a serial number of 289450 that pre-dates the Pacemaker camera's. So the Optar name starts at least in the early 40's. It is in a No. 3 non sync Graphex shutter.


That's the 162mm Optar. I added "6 3/8" in my table on my web Optar page thanks.

http://oresteen.com/optar_lens.htm

I wish Wollensack have had better records of serial numbers so we could piece the history together better.

My135 Optar is a 929,xxx serial number. My 90mm Optar is a 293,xxx and my 65mm is a 883,xxx. The 90mm is close to yours but how close in years I have no clue.
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Tony Oresteen
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78ltd



Joined: 04 Sep 2005
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Location: Texas

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 6:55 am    Post subject: Optar trademark Reply with quote

According to the filing Folmer Graflex made on Monday June 22nd, 1942, the name "Optar" was first used on May 8th, 1942. They had the trademark granted on October 27th, 1942. So at least we know it's no earlier than that.
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aoresteen



Joined: 26 May 2004
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Location: Newnan, GA, USA

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 4:41 pm    Post subject: Re: Optar trademark Reply with quote

78ltd wrote:
According to the filing Folmer Graflex made on Monday June 22nd, 1942, the name "Optar" was first used on May 8th, 1942. They had the trademark granted on October 27th, 1942. So at least we know it's no earlier than that.


Thanks! That is great info and I'll add it to my page.
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Tony Oresteen
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