Ilex Universal number 3??

[Jim Ewins]

Mine has a front lens and a rear lens. In combination or singly it gives a 13 1/4 ", 11 3/16" or 7 ". The Lenses are B&L Zeiss Protar series VII. The aperture plate covers the lettering which describes which No 3 it is

[EuGene Smith]

I have one of those Universal #3 shutters with a front mounted Elgeet 3 inch f1.9 Oscillo-Navitar Series 125 - 1:0.9 Mag. It has stops f1.9 to f11 and speeds 1 - 150, B, T. It is double action (no cocking), has the cable release nipple, and no sync (what good would sync be on an oscilloscope lens?)

As for the rear, it has both internal threads and external threads w/flange. The front mounted lens has a heavy lens hood which is about 1" deep and of black enameled metal about 3/8" thick that is labeled TEKTRONIX (a maker of very expensive lab scopes)

Eu

[Dan Fromm]

EuGene, if there's no rear cell you have only half a lens.

As for sync, I believe they use it to trigger the 'scope.

[EuGene Smith]

Dan: You're right and I can see that the rear element is missing. I had never looked the thing over, so I thought it was a front mounted lens like some of the old microscope lenses.

Anyhoo, I dug around in my old junquebocks and drug out a Wolly Oscillo-Raptar in an Alphax. Now I see what you mean, as both lenses appear to be the same formula (Homocentric? Protar?) with what appears to be identical or very similar elements back to back.

By the way, are those 'scope lenses any good for WA use with a 4x5 camera?

Eu

[Dan Fromm]

EuGene, the consensus is that they're best used as paperweights (or sources of shutters). They typically cover 3x4 at around 1:1, so don't come close to covering 4x5 at infinity.

Cheers,

Dan

[EuGene Smith]

Thanks, Dan.

HMMM! Before I harvest the Alphax & junk this Oscillo-Raptar, I think I will connect an MD reversing ring to the 55mm adapter ring that is on it, put it on my Minolta bellows, attach that setup to my trusty, rusty, old SRT 101, and see what happens. Years ago I did something similar with an old B&L 88 and had a ball with it.

Then I'll rescue the Alphax and mount a real lens on it.