Well, I have a couple more obscure questions that are only important to me. When Graflex got a lens and shutter in from Zeiss, or Schneider, or anybody else they ordered from, do you think Graflex engraved "Graflex" on the shutter speed rings, or do you think Deckel did it for 'em? Also what is the latest date code someone has seen on a Ektar in a Supermatic shutter. I saw one on Ebay yesterday that was 1954. Also what is the latest date code anyone has seen on a Ektar period. I saw one from 1963 once. And I don't know if I have posted this before or not, but for everyone's info Kodak say the first use of "Ektar" was from May 14, 1936, and the first use of "Supermatic" was May 25, 1939. Wollensak claimed first use of "Velostigmat" in 1909, and the first use of "Rapax" for shutters on July 1, 1942. First use of "Raptar" was Dec. 14, 1945. Does anyone know when Graflex first offered lenses with the Optar name? I have a uncoated 162mm Optar with the serial number 289450 that was in a non sync Graphex No. 3 shutter. Which was the same as the Rapax.

I have nothing to add to this thread, except to say that my 162 Optar has serial 298963, also uncoated, and in Graphex (Wolly) unsynched (no. 3?) shutter. That no.3 is a whopper, bigger than the no. 2 on my 203 Optar.

It's anybody's guess where the Graflex name was engraved on a shutter, but I'm gonna guess it was at the factory. I've seen Supermatics with Graflex, Kodak and Busch engraved on them. F. Deckel also engraved shutters for Bausch and Lomb.

1955 is the first year of the Syncro Compur / Ektar combination, though I"ve seen 1954 dated Compur Ektars, so I believe Kodak stopped making the Supermatic in '54.

Ektar shows up on "miniature' cameras first. It's rare to see a 1940 Ektar on a Speed.

Kodak got out of the large format lens business slowly. 8x10 lenses went first, the latest Ektar lens I've seen is a 203 Ektar dated 1967, but most end around 1963
the first Optar I see is in 1945 (it was in the June supplement) and it was the 101mm

Yes, the first Ektar was on the 1936 828 Kodak Bantom. I have a uncoated Optar with a 268xxx serial number that came in a Graphex shutter. I also thought 1954 was the last Supermatics. There was one on Ebay a few days agoi as well as a 1955 Ektar/Compur combo. I have a 107 Anastigmat Ektar in Supermatic with. No. Date code and a 1941 uncoated 127 Ektar in a Rapax shutter. -

hey I have a Ektar 105mm EC23xx (L) in a Gtaphic "marked"
Flash Supermatic!! making it a 1941
& I have seen two more on ebay this year!!
the (L) & Flash Supermatic don't show up on any thing other then the 105mm untill about 1945

bobo!! {Gtaphic} "marked" Graphic
I also have a 107mm Ektar #683 in a Kodak "marked"Compur-rapid
on a minty speed #2415xx looks like it mite be a 1940 or 41

In my June 1939 Kodak Lens book, the 107mm is indeed listed as coming in the Compur Rapid. Mine is in the No. 2 Supermatic. Guess they quit using Compurs shortly after WWII started, even though we were neutral until May 1941. That's when Pres. Roosevelt signed Lend-Lease and started offering convoy protection. I too saw the 105mm Ektar on Ebay with the 1941 date code. The 107mm is a reversed Tessar, not a heliar design like the 105mm.

Quote:

#2415xx

2 1/4 x 3 1/4 Speed Cameras, mid 1939.

OK mid 1939 ya the S# I was finding was giving me much on the
"miniature' untill the Pacemaker come out. And then I have not
found out much on the old Kodak S# to go by for lens before the
CAMEROSITY and it looks like that started in maybe 1941?!?

The code started in 1940. I have a 101 Anastigmat Special with a EY code.

good to know! as I have never seen a EY I had no way to know
but I have & have seen the EC so i did know they was useing it by 1941
it would be nice to see the numerical systoms

I just seen this one on ebay #380327894032
its a Minature Speed Graphic Camera 2 1/4 x 3 1/4
it has a Ektar f 3.7 105mm lens EC 216
it does not have (L) Lumenized BUT my #EC23xx (L)
has it

FWIW, my own EC9xx 105mm f/3.7 Ektar is also without "circle L". But the coatings and color-cast of this lens are in every way identical to other circle-L samples of the same lens dated 1947 and 1953. Fantastic glass!

I just saw an "Eastman Anastigmat" with a date code of EY on ebay