[LargeFormat] Wide field and Commercial Ektars

[Les Newcomer]

My take on the 000 lenses is it shows this lens was not part of 
production.  It could mean anything from testing a slight tweak of the 
lens formula to a new way to mount/manufacture  the lens.

   I think the date codes are accurate and some of these were 
sequential.   Maybe a project needed 3 sets of lenses in 54, so they 
would make up 001 002 003 all with an RE code.   Other projects may 
need only one lens,  so 5 RE 000 were made.      There could have been 
a hundred RE000 lenses of different types and focal lengths out there.  
there are also 4 digit varieties too, but have no idea of the 
significance, if any.
Some early lenses  (ie around 1940) that have a K at the end of the 
serial number. Another mystery

While the word prototype is accurate, it usually is taken to mean 
something to do with the glass, when in fact it could be a lens that 
was assembled on the production line and then tested to see if the 
production line is ready to roll.

Back in the 60s Ford did this with the letter K.  All Mustangs with a 
plant code of K were pilot plant cars....cars made to test the factory. 
  99% of them were scrapped.  Many were photographed for brochures and 
press packs.  (and if anybody is a Mustang fan, lets not start a thread 
mixing up the high performance engine K code with the plant code.)
On Aug 10, 2005, at 7:17 PM, Ken Hough wrote:

> Les
> I dug them out. They are 1947 ES. The sales reciept for 3 of them is 
> from
> March 1947. Do not ask why I have the reciept. I've seen and heard of 
> lots
> of 000 lenses since I got mine. I think they are salesmen samples. Too
> many of them. Give Gustafson at GEH a call about it.
> Ken
>
> Very interesting. Does your '46 set say "Wide Field" or "Wide Angle"
> Ektar.   I have a 135 and 190 also from '46 that say Wide Angle, but
> these have a 000 serial number.
>
> While I'm still in negotiations with the owner, I'm aware of a 14"
> Eastman Ektar.  Has all the markings and machining of a Commercial
> Ektar (bright mount of aluminum, style of engraving) accept its date
> code is EY (1940); hence the interest of the "Commercial" introduction.
>
>
> On Aug 9, 2005, at 11:45 PM, Ken Hough wrote:
>
>> Les
>> I have a "set" (100mm, 135mm, 190mm, 250mm) of WF Ektars from 1946.
> Code
>> EO.  I was told these were VERY early in the series. You saw the 250 
>> at
>> Greenfield Village. Most of the ones I've seen are from 48 including 
>> the
>> 190 I use most. When I was in the Navy I worked on shutters of WF 
>> Ektars
>> that were not marked WF Ektars. They just said EKC and a series #  
>> with
> a
>> serial number. No letter code. I can't remember the series number. A
>> Series 32 f4.5 turned into the Ektars. and I think Series 33 f6.3 
>> turned
>> into the Commercial Ektars.
>>  Copals showed up around 1965 with a Polaroid "pro camera" the 180.
>> It also had compur shutters too.
>> Ken
>>
>> Does anybody have an introduction date or "earliest known" date for
>> these lenses in any focal length? The best I can get is a 1948 edition
> of
>> "Kodak Lenses"  which mentions them, but doesn't say they are new or
> just
>> introduced.
>>
>> While I'm asking for dates, when did the Copal shutters start coming
> into
>> the US market?
>>
>> Les
>>
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>> Ken Hough Photographic Repair Service
>> Specializing in the Complete restoration of
>>            Deardorff View Cameras
>>                             Est 1982
>>      www.deardorffcameras.0catch.com
>>                       219 462 0281
>>
>>
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>
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> Ken Hough Photographic Repair Service
> Specializing in the Complete restoration of
>            Deardorff View Cameras
>                             Est 1982
>      www.deardorffcameras.0catch.com
>                       219 462 0281
>
>
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