Linhof Technika II 13x18 (5x7"?) Film Holders

[timagal]

Hello, everyone

I recently acquired what I think may be a Linhof Technika II from the war times. Its serial number is 33753. Very unfortunately, it came to me without any film holders.

Could you tell me more about this camera? Would standard Linhof or Fidelity film holders be compatible with it, or was it produced before the standardization?

Thank you in advance for your answers
Regards from Finland.

[Bob Salomon]

Technika II, yes. Wartime, no. It was made in 1949.

[timagal]

Technika II, yes. Wartime, no. It was made in 1949.

Bob, where did you get this information from? According to my data, the Technika II was only manufactured between 1937–1943...

[timagal]

It seems that you are indeed right. The serial number in the Schneider objective points to 1948-1949. This means that Wikipedia and Camerapedia, among others, are just perpetuating mistakes.
Any idea on the film holders I can use with it? Can't wait to get some and take it out to the snow...

[Bob Salomon]

Bob, where did you get this information from? According to my data, the Technika II was only manufactured between 1937–1943...

My information is much more accurate. It came from the Linhof factory.

[timagal]

OK, thank you. Do you have any idea about the film holders?

[Bob Salomon]

OK, thank you. Do you have any idea about the film holders?

No, sorry.

[Sevo]

Can you post pictures of the back? Originally it would have been sheet metal type (in that size probably Millionfalz), but Linhof did after-market upgrades to Graflok in later years.

[timagal]

Hello, Sevo. Yes, of course: here they come... Sorry about the quality, I hope they can be of help, at least.
127159
127160
127161
127162

[Sevo]

That would be sheet metal. Plain edge as far as I can make out, which makes it Millionfalz. And a universal folding type (i.e. it will also hold Normal- and Normaldoppelfalz holders).

[Tin Can]

Can you post pictures of the back? Originally it would have been sheet metal type (in that size probably Millionfalz), but Linhof did after-market upgrades to Graflok in later years.

I have a Linhof 5x7 prewar, according to Bob. It may have been converted by factory to Graphic back. Very OE looking. First I heard of factory conversions. Mine seems pretty rare as currently configured. Every other one I see has a clumsy conversion or uses the original SSD metal holder, as the OP's does.

[timagal]

Thank you, Sevo. Thanks to your information, I am starting to realize which kind of holders I shall be needing.

[Gudmundur Ingolfsson]

You need to look for "Blechkassetten" 13x18cm on ebay.de Those are for one sheet only but cheep if you can find them. There was a convention I think in the UK in the early fifties when the "worlds" phographic industry assimilated DIN/ASA/Weston/Scheiner and decided on DIN and ASA for logarithmic and linear film speed scales and also that while roll film were in mm, sheet film seizes should be in inch. The Graflex double sided film holder was to be the norm so that the outside messurments were all the same for 5x7" 13x18cm and 12x16,5cm (half plate) the 4x5" and 9x12cm and 8x10" and 18x24cm had the same outside dimnetions. After that view cameras had backs for normed holders.

[timagal]

Bless, bless, also, Gudmundur. I have managed to find four and am waiting for them to arrive. I'm hoping they'll fit.

[timagal]

I finally managed to get the appropriate film holders, and have been shooting for two weeks now. What a wonderful camera.
Bob, according to this page: https://www.cameraquest.com/techs.htm my Linhof should be a Technika III and not a II. Can you confirm this?

[Bob Salomon]

Since your serial number is 33,xxx it is a II.

Actually Camerquest misquoted me, as well as misspelling my name. I had told them that the factory did not have serial number information for pre war and war time cameras.