Graflex.org

jsiladi · Joined: 20 Aug 2004 Posts: 34 Location: midwest

A couple years ago I purchased a top rangfinder crown graphic to get the back for a speed graphic I was working on.. When it arrived, I was pleased to find out it was a crown graphic special.. Or at least that's what the lens board says. Needless to say, I didn't canablize it. The lens however, was not the normal Schnieder but a Rodenstock 135mm Ysarex. I've now sold the camera and would like to know what lens really belongs there. It was my impression that both could be proper as for a time, the rodenstocks were used in place of the scheiders. Please help.. The buyer would like to know.. THanks, Jeff..

t.r.sanford · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 6:39 am Post subject:

I've seen a couple with Rodenstock 135mm. lenses, too, and Rodenstock did make lenses for the "XL" system, so apparently had a relationship with Graflex. Les would know whether a "Crown" with an "Ysarex" ever was marketed as a "Special."

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

The proper lens for a Crown Special is....

either
a 135 Xenar
or
a 135 Ysarex.

on rare occasion a 150 Ysarex.

I'm not sure when they switched but I have a Xenar special from '61 and a Ysarex from '73. Gotta be sometime in between, I suspect thelate 60s.

jsiladi · Joined: 20 Aug 2004 Posts: 34 Location: midwest

Okay, Thanks for all the help.. One more question.. I understand from this website, that the date / revision code can tell the date of manufacture.. On this particular camera, it is D2B, dating it to April 1962 if I read the info correctly. Since they started in 1961, I guess it could also be 1972 but with a "B" revision letter it doesn't seem likely. The shutter is a 1-400 speed compur rapid type, and appears older style compared to the schneider I have on another camera, that I believe came from a special.. The question is this.. Did they, (if so and when) did they begin stamping the lens number on the lens board?? Just for my own info in case I come across another camera like it. Thanks again, Jeff.

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

alecj · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 853 Location: Alabama

Les, you said "I've never seen Ysarex in a Compur, they were usually in copals."

I've got a 1970 Singer Graflex lens brochure that includes the 150mm Ysarex, and it indicates it came only in a No. 1 Compur MXV Shutter. BTW, it was offered both in shutter & lens for the Graphic cameras, and in a focusing mount for XL use.

In fact, to further support your statement that you could individualize your order, the brochure offers this lens in: Lens and shutter only, or with Century Graphic, Pacemaker 45, or Super Graphics "lens fitting kits".

Strange, but the 135mm Ysarex wasn't mentioned at all. At that point, only the 127 and 135mm Optar was offered for 4x5. I assume the Ektars came later?

t.r.sanford · Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 3:32 pm Post subject:

I think the last "Optars" were made by Rodenstock. I believe the "Ektar" lenses flourished in the '40s and '50s, and so predated Rodenstock's collaboration with Graflex.

jsiladi · Joined: 20 Aug 2004 Posts: 34 Location: midwest

The serial number is 989548.. The shutter is a 1-400 syncro-compur, labeled Graflex on the aperature ring.. Perhaps some confusion could be ended if you viewed the camera.. It was sold last week on ebay item number 3833480263.. Note that the camera is already sold and this is not an offer to sell.. They schneider I have is also in a syncro compur but a more modern one, speeds ranging from 1-500 and with the lever preview.. It may not even be related to graflex but it did come on a speed graphic I purchased some time ago.

As to the serial number of the lens being on the lens board, I had read somewhere that's the way it was. As with all info on the net, it should be viewed with some reservation and be checked out before stating as fact.. There Is a serial number ink stamped on this particular lens board but I can't really read it as it's black ink on black paint... Need a UV light to see it clearly (which I don't have). Thanks for all your help (everybody).. Jeff

[ This Message was edited by: jsiladi on 2004-08-23 11:35 ]

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

well with a D2B date and a 989,xxx serial number I'm gonna bet this was a 1972 vintage. Maybe Gandolf can confirm it.

I really need to organize my shutter/lens data better, If I dig deep enough, I probably have one of these lenses.

Also Kodak bailed on the pro market in the early 60s, the latest date code I could find on any Ektar is '62.
Wollensak was bought by 3M for their tape players and the lens division was ignored.

Graflex had no choice to go to Germany for their lenses, and Japan for their shutters, at least at the end.