Graflex.org

[argusmike]

I bought this lens at a flea market thinking it was the telephoto for the National Graflex Series II. After looking at several of those online, I see that it is skinnier, has a different case, comes with a tubular viewfinder, and somehow has a Leica Thread Mount.

It focuses down to about 3 meters and out to infninity on a Leica mount body. The rim identifies it as a 'Telephoto," and it looks factory-made in every respect except that a previous owner painted a distance scale near the focusing ring.

Does anyone know what Graflex camera this lens could have been made for?

I will attempt to attach an img link to a photo.

Mike

[img] src="https://www.pool2012.net/graflex/Graflex_140mm_f6.3.jpg" width="800" height="711"
[/img]
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Mike

[Dan Fromm]

The bible, first edition, has a picture of a 140/6.3 B&L telephoto for the National Graflex that looks just like yours. Also see https://cameramanuals.org/prof_pdf/graflex_national_series_ii-large.pdf p. 23.

Your tubular viewfinder makes no sense on a National Graflex. The person who adapted the tele lens to a Leica may have needed it and found it. You should be able to separate the lens from the LTM adapter.

[argusmike]

Dan,

Thanks for your reply on this (I was beginning to think there would be none) and for the great link to the NGII instructions.

When I bought this I assumed it was for a National Graflex II and began to compare it to those you see online (the same as in the link). I was surprised that it was clearly distinct.

The thread mount was not what was described online, and I found that in fact it was an LTM. The mount is integral to the lens, and doesn't look like it will come off unless you use a Dremel and a pipe wrench.

I made a side-by-side image of this lens and the NGII Telephoto and included a photo of the mount end. The text of a link to it is copied below. I will also try putting it into an <a> link and inserting that.

Mike

https://www.pool2012.net/graflex/Nat_Graflex_II_vs_LTM.jpg
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Mike

[Dan Fromm]

Mike, thanks for the further explanation. All I can say is "Sorry, wrong again."

What does the set screw in your lens' barrel hold in place?

Cheers,

Dan

[argusmike]

Dan,

I tried removing the set screw (there are two more, spaced evenly around the circumfrence). With all three out I thought something would budge, but no luck (like the surfaces were stuck together). I think it's safe to assume though that the barrel should come apart around that point.

The two lenses are the same from about 5mm below the focusing ring up. From there down the LTM lens is 3x longer than the NGII lens. This is not clear at first glance at the pictures. (See the linked image, in which the top parts are adjusted to about the same scale.)

https://www.pool2012.net/graflex/Graflex_equal_scale.jpg

Mike
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Mike