Graflex.org

[disemjg]

I have a Century (gray with red bellows) that came with a 105 f3.5 Xenar. The mounting looks like it not original. Did the Centuries come with this lens from the factory?

[tsgrimm]

I have one and have seen others on "ePrey."

The original delivery(carbon)memo from:
Graflex, Inc., Rochester 3, NY
To:
Composite Recreation Fund
Naval Air Station
Corpus Christi, Texas

June 25,1962

1) (CY-56)- Century Graphic 23 W/105mm lens
1) (3101)- Kalart Rangefinder installed
6) (1212)- 23- Graphic Film Holders
1) (1242)- Graphic 23 Roll Holder

Bottom right hand written in ballpoint and checked off with pencil the same as the above are the body and lens serial numbers that match my camera and Schneider Xenar(7290427) f:3.5 105mm lens in a Snchro-Compur-P shutter.

[ This Message was edited by: tsgrimm on 2004-05-18 13:38 ]

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[Nick]

[Les]

If you don't know where to look, you'll have a hard time finding it.

http://www.schneideroptics.com/info/age_of_lenses/

[Henry]

As to the question, whether the fitment of the Xenar was original to this camera, Richard Paine's "A Review of Graflex" has this to say (p. 72) under "Pacemaker Graphic: Speed - Crown - Century":

Lenses. Equipped with any of the following: Ektar, Xenar, Optar, Century only: Graflar, Tessar, Heligon, Xenotar

From this I conclude that only the Century came with the last four (not that the Century came with only the last four), but any of the first three lenses could be found on the entire camera series.



[ This Message was edited by: Henry on 2004-05-18 06:08 ]

[t.r.sanford]

The list hardly seems comprehensive. I've seen more than one "Century" equipped with an f:4.5 "Trioptar" -- a lens I've not encountered anywhere else.

My '50s-vintage 105mm. "Xenar" in shutter is an f:4.5 design. I'd expect that kind to be supplied with a "Century," if "Xenars" were in fact supplied at all.

[Henry]

As to the list, I agree---especially as my Century came with the 103mm f/4.5 Graftar ("-Tar," not "-Lar") in Century (i.e., Wollensak-made, it says) shutter, which I presume to be original fitment not only from the shutter but also because it is mounted on a silver-finish lensboard with a Graflex(?) part no. (D 30854 P19) stamped on the back. The board also has the (stamped-in?) dimple to receive the indexing screw in the back of the shutter.

I believe that the Graftar is a three-element design, and I presume that the "Trioptar" is a three-element Optar (if that's not an oxymoron). The Graftar hasn't much coverage beyond 6x7 (I haven't tried it on 6x9), judging from the very limited amount of front rise it will handle before vignetting. However, as a straight-on "point-and-shoot" it works well, since the shutter is self-cocking.





[ This Message was edited by: Henry on 2004-05-18 11:34 ]

[Les]

I'm not sure why they changed lenses but the Trioptar, Graftar and Graflar were all base lenses for the Century at one time on another.

They are all 3 element designs, but should cover the format of the camera with limited movements.

Except for price price and price and can't think of any other good reason to switch lenses.

[tsgrimm]

More fuel to the fire:

I have some Graflex, Inc / General Precision, Rochester, NY 14603 Copyright 1966
literature.

Century Graphic 23

CY-13 Century Graphic less lens
CY-5530 Century Graphic W/101mm Graflex Graflar lens
CY-5341 Century Graphic W/100mm Zeiss Tessar lens
CY-5410 Century Graphic W/80mm Xenotar lens

[ This Message was edited by: tsgrimm on 2004-05-18 14:41 ]

[tsgrimm]

Must be a raging inferno by now:

From Singer Education and Training Products,
Rochester, NY 14603 Form No. 11105/969 (No date)

Century Graphic 23 Cameras

Cat. No.

Cy-13 CG 23 camera less lens (supplied on special order).

CY-5330 W/101mm Graflex Graftar f/4.5 in #0 Prontor SVS shutter, M-X sync and EV coupling W/long optical viewfinder.

CY-5341 W/100mm Zeiss Tessar f/3.5 in MXV-0 Synchro-Compur shutter W/long optical viewfinder.

CY-58 W/80mm Rodenstock Heligon f/2.8 in MXV-0 Synchro-Compur shutter W/long optical viewfinder.

Century Graphic Camera Outfits:
Century Graphic Camera with lens and accessories listed.

Outfit(P) Professional
Century Graphic camera, Kalhart Rangefinder fitted(3101), Mounting Plate fitted (2754), Multi Grip(9127), RH/10 Rapid-vance roll film holder(1253.

Outfit (T)
Century Graphic camera, Kalhart Rangefinder, Mounting Plate, Cable Release Kit fitted(9457), Graflite, Jr. W/clamps(2852),20" Sync shutter cord(2721).

Outfit (V)
Century Graphic camera, Kalhart Rangefinder, Mounting Plate, Cable Release Kit.

Century Graphic Camera and Lens:

101mm Graflex Graflar f/4.5: Cat# Outfit V CY530V, Outfit T CY530T, Prof. Outfit P CY530P

80mm Rodenstock Heilogen f/2.8: Cat# Outfit V CY58V, Outfit T CY58T, Prof. Outfit P CY58P

100mm Zeiss Tessar f/3.5: Cat# Outfit V CY341V, Outfit T CY341T, Prof. Outfit P CY341P








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[tsgrimm]

From the Singer/Graflex folks:
Form No. 11107/969 (no date).

Normal Lenses:

100mm Zeiss Tessar f/3.5 Lens for 2.25 X 3.25
cameras in MXV-0 Synchro-Compur Shutter. Extraordinary performance at moderate cost, etc.

101mm Graflex Graflar f/4.5 for 2.25 X 3.25 cameras in No. 0 Prontor SVS Shutter. Budget-priced, genral purpose, three element formulation, etc.

105mm Rodenstock Ysarex f/4.5 for 2.25 X 3.25 cameras in No. 1 Compur MX Shutter. All purpose medium-speed design for medium and large formats, etc.




[ This Message was edited by: tsgrimm on 2004-05-18 16:05 ]

[ This Message was edited by: tsgrimm on 2004-05-18 16:06 ]

[tsgrimm]

From Graflex, Inc. 1966, Form No. 1933/1066.

Build-up your Century Professional Outfit by adding Quality Graflex components and accessories.

Cat no. 407 47mm Schneider Super Angulon f/8
Cat no. 403 65mm Schneider Super Anculon f8
Cat no. 410 80mm Schneider Xenotar f/2.8
Cat no. 303 80mm Rodenstock Heligon f/2.8
Cat no. 341 100mm Zeiss Tessar f/3.5
Cat no. 530 101mm Graflex Graflar f/4.5
Cat no. 271 202mm Graflex Tele-Optar f/5.6

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[Henry]

I strongly suspect that the "969" part of "Form 11105/969" and "11107/969" stands for 9/69, i.e., Sept. 1969, just as the "1066" part of "1933/1066" means Oct. 1966. This kind of shorthand date reference seems to be a fairly consistent convention on the Graflex literature that I have.

[t.r.sanford]

...but no "Xenars" anywhere to be found!

Actually, these lists are from late in the camera's life cycle. I got my "Century" in 1960 from a dealer who had taken it in trade. It was the early all-black model, and came with a rollfilm back, a "short" finder, and the "Graflok" focusing panel, but no rangefinder. It was in very good condition, suggesting one previous owner who had treated it right and not tinkered with it. It came with a 101mm. f:4.5 "Ektar" in "Synchro-Rapid 800" shutter, on a black lensboard that matched the black front standard; the whole ensemble seemed to have been purchased that way.

It would not surprise me to learn that a "Xenar" had been among the lens options, early in the "Century's" career; it was a popular lens, and very good value for the money. But I am inclined to doubt that it would have been an f:3.5 design.

[disemjg]

My other two Centuries have the Graftar (on a bare bones, rangefinder-less economy model, in the simple Century shutter) and the 101 Graflar in Prontor on another gray and red camera. I had not realized that the Graflar was a triplet, but thought it was a more sophisticated design.

I suspect that anything that was cheap and available was considered for Century cameras, with the better lenses offered if needed.

Now that it was pointed out, my f3.5 Xenar would have been very odd as original issue because of its speed and cost. If Xenars were offered they would have doubtless been slower versions. It does seem to dominate the front of the camera and is rather impressive looking.

And, lastly, while triplets are simple designs they can deliver outstanding performance. While I was disappointed in the performance of the Graftar mentioned above, I also have a modern triplet, a Rodenstock Geronar 210, which is really good. I have a friend with a 150 Geronar (a Caltar badged Calumet version) which also gives him fine results on 4X5. It has surprising covering power.