I bought a pretty elderly but nice Tele-Xenar 5.5/360 on a Linhof Technika board from eBay assuming (wrongly) that it would be mounted on a typical size Linhof Technika board.

It is, in fact, mounted on a Linhof Technika board which measures 3 1/8 inches by 2 7/8 inches, as near as I can measure it. The lens seems to be attached to the board by 6 screws.

Can I get a Technika board to fit this? If the board is attached by screws rather than a retaining ring will a less elderly Technika board be able to take the lens?

Or, my favoured option, is there an adapter board which would allow the small Technika board to be mounted on a (to me) standard Technika board, measuring 3 5/8 inches by 3 3/4 inches.

Any advice or suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

Andrew Watt

-- Andrew Watt (SVGDeveloper@aol.com), January 24, 2002

Answers

Reads like you have a lens board for a 2 X 3 camera. Regular Linhof Technika lensboards are available from Linhof dealers. There are also many types of good copies available at around $40.00 each. Since you may have an odd sized hole needed it would be most convenient to obtain a blank board and have the right sized hole bored in it and the mount flange attached with screws, like the one you have.

I charge $15.00 to bore the lensboard and affix the flange, which you supply. I can supply the Technika type copies at $40.00 or obtain a genuine Linhof board from a Linhof dealer for you if you don't feel like shopping.

Steve G.

-- Steve Grimes (skgrimes@skgrimes.com), January 24, 2002.

It sounds like you bought a lens on a Technika III board which doesnot fit the Technika IV and later cameras. A III board has a recessed light trap surounding the hole in the board. A IV board has a raised ring around the hole.

Your lens is probably in a 3 shutter, if so, any camera store can order a current Technika or Wista board with a pre-milled hole for the 3 shutter. But you may need to buy a spacer and locking ring should they not be on your lens now.

BTW, Most III boards are silver or black. Later boards were tan, gray or (current ones) black. If your is silver it is from a III.

-- Bob Salomon (bob@hpmarketingcorp.com), January 24, 2002.

Steve & Bob,

Thanks for the replies.

Unfortunately, Steve, it would be pretty expensive for me to take advantage of your offer since I am in the UK and you are, I understand, in the USA. I had visited your Web site in the past and was impressed by the aura of good old-fashioned craftsmanship. :)

Does anyone know of a reliable (and hopefully not too expensive) LF shop in the UK?

Bob, I suspect the board may be older still. One aspect of it which I failed to mention in my original post is that the upper corners are cut at a diagonal rather than square. The lower corners are also cut at a diagonal.

The shutter is a Compound. The cap on the lens, which may or may not be original, is a Zeiss Ikon one with "Germany" stamped into the reverse. Possibly a lens from the 1930's?

Andrew Watt

-- Andrew Watt (SVGDeveloper@aol.com), January 24, 2002.

Andrew,

From your description, it sounds like a board from a 2x3 Technika. If your lens/shutter will fit in that smaller board, it will easily fit in the larger 4x5 size Technika boards. All you need is a proper board - either blank or with a smaller hole - and a competent machinist. I don't know if Steve Grimes has a counterpart in the UK. You might give Robert White a call and see if they offer lensboard drilling services - or can recommend someone who does.

WRT the age of your lens. I doubt if it's from the 1930s. Probably 1950s (or perhaps late 1940s or early 1960s). You can yet an approximate date of manufacture based on the serial number from the Schneider web site at:

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

Kerry

-- Kerry Thalmann (largeformat@thalmann.com), January 24, 2002.

I have the same lens and love it. It just unscrews from the board's flange and to be honest with you, the first person who answered your post, Steve, is a large format wizard and has been an icon here in the Boston, MA area for years! I would imagine you can find a machine shop in your area though to cut a Tech V board. Just remove the lens by unscrewing the shutter from the board (marking the flange which position is up) and have them mount it to the new cut board. Cheers

-- Scott Walton (scotlynn@shore.net), January 24, 2002.

Andrew,

May be a silly question but ... have you contacted Linhof & Studio Ltd. in London?

Paula Pell-Johnson and her technician, Bill, are well able to weave whatever magic you require as well as being a font of knowledge concerning Munchen Monsters.

Linhof & Studio Ltd. Pump House, 10 Chapel Place, Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DQ

Phone: 0207 7295 734

Fax: 0207 729 5787

Email: paula@linhofstudio.co.uk

I hope that this is of some assistance to you.

Cheers, Walter

-- Walter Glover (walterg@netaus.net.au), January 24, 2002.

" been an icon here in the Boston, MA"

But is Steve still in Boston?

-- Bob Salomon (bob@hpmarketingcorp.com), January 24, 2002.