Linhof Studio Tripod

[Allen in Montreal]

Does anyone know anything about this Linhof studio tripod?

How old is it about, will it take my 8x10 or just a 5x7? It seems to be a very nice unit.
The head, which I removed to clean looks like the weak link due to very dried out spacers.

Can parts still be had to replace theses.

[Frank Petronio]

The two pictures don't seem to go together?

The first picture -- I don't have a 1958 Linhof catalog but what that looks like isn't a tripod at all. You loosen the legs and let them spread out almost flat, so seen from above it makes a shape like the center of a Peace symbol. Then you stick the three feet of a massive Linhof tripod into the sockets over the wheels.

You now have a rolling tripod dolly.

The second picture, that's a close-up of a head, right? So show us the rest of the tripod if you want an ID?

Pretty amazing stuff, makes Manfrotto and Matthews gear look like crude pot-metal toys.

Perhaps Marflex may have some old parts or tell you how to fabricate something? If it is only rubber or phenolic washers, go to the hardware store and use some imagination?

[Robert Crigan]

Frank's right, you've shown a picture of a dolly. I'm guessing it's from the first half of the twentieth century and intended for a movie camera. Can't see much pracical use of it today.
As for the head, if you can get it working well enough to do what you need, and it costs less to do that than a modern head, go for it.
Good luck
Robert

The two pictures don't seem to go together?

The first picture -- I don't have a 1958 Linhof catalog but what that looks like isn't a tripod at all. You loosen the legs and let them spread out almost flat, so seen from above it makes a shape like the center of a Peace symbol. Then you stick the three feet of a massive Linhof tripod into the sockets over the wheels.

You now have a rolling tripod dolly.

The second picture, that's a close-up of a head, right? So show us the rest of the tripod if you want an ID?

Pretty amazing stuff, makes Manfrotto and Matthews gear look like crude pot-metal toys.

Perhaps Marflex may have some old parts or tell you how to fabricate something? If it is only rubber or phenolic washers, go to the hardware store and use some imagination?

[William Whitaker]

A scan I found online of a Linhof catalog refers to it as the 493 dolly, but it's also shown with the code STAW. My own copy of a Linhof catalog appears to be from the late '60's and denotes the dolly with the code SWG.

The crank wheel turns a lead-screw which drives a nut which is attached to the three legs. Turning the crank then spreads the legs so they can be opened flat or set to an intermediate setting. There's a fixture on top of the crank wheel to allow mounting a head to use the dolly as a hi-hat for low shots. Being able to crank in the legs allows the dolly to fit through a doorway without dismantling the setup. But it also allows height adjustment in the hi-hat mode.

I have one of these. It's over-designed and over-built in typical Teutonic fashion. You just gotta love Linhof stuff... The dolly's nice to have if you want something repositionable, but isn't quite as large as a studio stand.

[eddie]

i have the tripod that is shown in Wil's attachment above. it is a huge beast. i had to buy it as it is a nice piece.....and it was cheap. you can still buy that tripod new at B&H....go check the price of the tripod, head, and center column....you will fall out of your chair....like $10K!

[Bob Salomon]

i have the tripod that is shown in Wil's attachment above. it is a huge beast. i had to buy it as it is a nice piece.....and it was cheap. you can still buy that tripod new at B&H....go check the price of the tripod, head, and center column....you will fall out of your chair....like $10K!

Well, not quite!
The tripod is the Linhof 003323 2-section Linhof Heavy Duty Pro which has a list price in the USA of $2911.99. If you want the geared center column for it 003755 that would add an additional $1240.99 list to the tripod price. The head illustrated, partly, is no longer made. The 003669 Profi III Universal Pan/Tilt Leveling Head 003669 is made to clamp directly to the tripod or to the center column and it has a list of $2308.99. But the tripod itself is less then $2900.00 at retail. Linhof also makes the PROFI III tripod with the Large Geared Center Column 003454, this tripod and column has a list price of $3352.99 and has the same capacity and vibration resistance of the 003323. The Profi III is a 3-sec. design with twist locks and a 3 position leg angle control system. The older 003323 is a 2-section lever lock system with no leg angle system. The Profi III is a much newer design.

The dolly pictured was the Linhof Large Wheeled Dolly 003791 which has been out of production for many years as well. It alone weighed 28.6 pounds, the 003323 tripod weighs 16.6 pounds and the Large Geared Centerpost weighs 8.1 pounds. Then add the head and the camera and this becomes a very substatial support system.

Since the question had been raised by the OP this trpiod can support any format camera. It is used to also support radar and satellite receivers. It is immensly strong and stable and totally vibration free.

[Allen in Montreal]

The unit was given to me by a studio shooter who used it to shoot Corp head shots.
Mostly Hassy at the end but Sinar 4x5 before that.

Frank, that was the head he had mounting on the dolly. It seems like very little changed in his setup other than the height of the subject. It was in a small studio setting design just for H+S. I guess he did enough of them to justify leaving that set up intact.

It needs a good cleaning but it feels like a really nice unit.
The tripod head concerned me with the dried out spacer, seems very well build if I can nurture it back a little.

That sure is it Will, thank you!
I agree, have you ever seen anything Linhof that was not beautifully made! :-)


Bob, do I bother trying to find original parts for it or go straight to improv?
I would really like to use this in the studio.

[eddie]

Okay. I remembered it a bit wrong. I am glad I only paid $65 for mine ready to shoot...:). Killer tripod for sure.

[Bob Salomon]

Bob, do I bother trying to find original parts for it or go straight to improv?
I would really like to use this in the studio.

Marflex or Blazes might have them. Check with both. Marflex is 252-652-4401

[Allen in Montreal]

Thank you Bob,

I have tips on how to replace it, the part is no long made, and I have a new handle for the head on its way.

Allen