What was the last year for 14-inch Commercial Ektars?

[John NYC]

I know the dating system (camerosity) for the serial numbers of these lenses, but what I don't know is what was the final year the 14-inch Commercial Ektar was manufactured.

[Mark Sampson]

Mine was made in 1967- but I've never seen another Kodak LF lens made after 1963 (and I've seen quite a few). Some enlarging lenses have late-'60s date codes, too.

[Lynn Jones]

The last ones made were in late 1965 or early 1966, however there were quite a few in the Kodak warehouse and they continued to sell for 1 1/2 to 2 years.

Kodak told us (the original Calumet) in 1965 that it was ending due to the retirement of the entire design and operation staff of 4 people so we placed order with them at that time while having f 6.3 Caltars made for us (same basic 4 element tessar that was re-designed by Manny Kiner of Ilex for us). The 6.3 Caltars were in 165mm, 215mm, 250mm, 305mm, and 375mm. Later there was a 20" (508mm) 3 element that was really good and of course wide field Caltar 90mm, f8.0, and the f 4.8 215mm S Caltar (an incredible lens if you can ever find one). That was the only American made S Caltar, all the rest were made by Rodenstock as f 5.6 (they sold them to us at a lower price than domestic lenses and primarily because they didn't want the competition).

Lynn

[John Kasaian]

The 14" Commercial Ektar is a lovely lens!
A gentleman who made quite a reputation for himself shooting food on 8x10 in the 50's mentored me while I was assembling my kit and practically demanded (lets say strongly suggested)that I
procure a 14" Commercial Ektar.
He was of course, right! :D

[John NYC]

Mark -- Your info conflicts with Lynn's somewhat. Are the first two letters of your lens' serial number OS?

[Curt]

Mine is 1951 and coated with original wood box. The are among the very best.

[Kerry L. Thalmann]

I also once had a 14" Commercial Ektar made in 1967 (OSxxx serial number). Beautiful lens. I sold it recently.

Kerry

[Kerry L. Thalmann]

Mine was made in 1967- but I've never seen another Kodak LF lens made after 1963 (and I've seen quite a few). Some enlarging lenses have late-'60s date codes, too.

I have a beautiful pair of Commercial Ektars, a 10" and a 12" made in 1964 (OExxx serial numbers). Other than the 1967 14", these are the latest Commercial Ektars I have seen.

Kerry

[John Schneider]

Just out of curiosity, did the 10" WF Ektar linger a bit longer or was it too gone by the mid-late 1960s?

[Kerry L. Thalmann]

Just out of curiosity, did the 10" WF Ektar linger a bit longer or was it too gone by the mid-late 1960s?

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe the WF Ektars ceased production earlier (early 1960s) than the Commercial Ektars. I know they weren't offered in the 1965 Calumet Catalog that still featured the Commercial Ektars, but the 7 1/2" and 10" WF Ektars were still listed in the 1961 "Kodak Products for the Professional" catalog. So, I'm guessing the 10" WF Ektar was discontinued sometime between 1961 and 1965.

Kerry

[Mark Sampson]

I dug out my 14" CE (I should use my 8x10), and it was actually made in 1966. So Mr. Jones is correct, no surprise there. I worked at Kodak (in an industrial photo department) for many years, starting in the mid-80's, and of course there were plenty of Kodak lenses around. But the 14" lens we used there was one of the Ilex-Caltars (a superb lens by the way).

[William Whitaker]

...The 6.3 Caltars were in 165mm, 215mm, 250mm, 305mm, and 375mm....

Lynn,

I have a 375mm ƒ/6.3 lens marked "Orbit". Do you know who sold Orbit? Was that a Calumet brand? Was it the same lens as the Caltar? My experience comparing the Orbit to a 14" Commercial Ektar on 8x10 color transparency film is that except for the slight magnification difference, I can't tell them apart.

http://wfwhitaker.com/tech/orbit375.jpg

[John NYC]

[QUOTE=Will Whitaker;758552]Lynn,

I have a 375mm ƒ/6.3 lens marked "Orbit". Do you know who sold Orbit? Was that a Calumet brand? Was it the same lens as the Caltar? My experience comparing the Orbit to a 14" Commercial Ektar on 8x10 color transparency film is that except for the slight magnification difference, I can't tell them apart.

That is one snazzy lens!

[rdenney]

Lynn,

I have a 375mm ƒ/6.3 lens marked "Orbit". Do you know who sold Orbit? Was that a Calumet brand? Was it the same lens as the Caltar?

Yes, it is the same lens as the Ilex-Caltar. Remember that Ilex made these lenses, with Calumet as their main but not only customer. They were also sold under other brands. I don't have my copy of the Vade Mecum handy, but I'm sure they were sold as Burke and James lenses. B&J sold their version of the Kodak Master View (which was also the progenitor of the Calumet CC-400) as an "Orbit" camera. There were also larger models. It makes sense that their version of the Ilex lens would be similarly branded.

Were I to show you a picture of my Ilex-Caltar 12" lens, you would see how similar it is to yours immediately.

Rick "and, yes, these are excellent lenses" Denney

[William Whitaker]

Of course, Burke & James! I knew I'd heard the name "Orbit" before!

[grahamcase]

I can't wait to get my lens board complete! I've been dying to use mine since I got it a couple of months ago, but had to get the shutter repaired first. Luckily, I got a fantastic deal on the lens ($30!!) so getting the shutter fixed for ~$200 was an easy pill to swallow.

Mines from 1947 (ES646).