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Re: Linhof cameras before 1945
Adding to this very cool thread! Just got this Linhof (Perka/Silar/help identifying more specifically?) from my wife's grandfather's collection. I did some work on the lens shutter, which was a bit slow. Seems to be much more accurate, but I'm not expecting perfection. I'm new to large format, so this is a fun adventure for me!
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Re: Linhof cameras before 1945
:)
It is interesting to see your camera has the same front standard as the Technika that Shootar401 posted.
Does it have the Linhof logo on the inside of the front panel?
Re: Linhof cameras before 1945
I didn't see the Linhof logo on the inside, but haven't done too much investigating yet. Anywhere in particular I should be looking when I get home from my rehearsal tonight? Also looking for the serial number still...
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Re: Linhof cameras before 1945
Here's all I can see on the front panel inside.
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Re: Linhof cameras before 1945
the old bellows were made of leather, not leatherete.
i had an old linhof 4x5 and wanted information on how to care for the leather bellows but it seems no one there was willing to help other than telling me their bellows doesnt need any care they are made of leatherete but their old cameras had leather bellows. seemed as if i were talking to a machine. after repeating the same question a hundred time in every possable way i could phrase it and still getting the same answer, i gave up. customer service sux!
Re: Linhof cameras before 1945
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Paul Ron
the old bellows were made of leather, not leatherete.
i had an old linhof 4x5 and wanted information on how to care for the leather bellows but it seems no one there was willing to help other than telling me their bellows doesnt need any care they are made of leatherete but their old cameras had leather bellows. seemed as if i were talking to a machine. after repeating the same question a hundred time in every possable way i could phrase it and still getting the same answer, i gave up. customer service sux!
Who were you asking? Sales/marketing or service?
Re: Linhof cameras before 1945
i asked everyone at linhof. they bounced me around the world... including answers in german from their factory technical department, a so called specialist in germany.
theyd keep telling me the same thing... "leatherette bellows doesnt need care... linhof stopped using leather many years ago."
so id repeat my request... "my camera has leather and id like to know what the manufactrer recomends."
i did that over n over and never got an answer.
i literally sent over a hundred correspondences with them.
Re: Linhof cameras before 1945
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Paul Ron
i asked everyone at linhof. they bounced me around the world... including answers in german from their factory technical department, a so called specialist in germany.
theyd keep telling me the same thing... "leatherette bellows doesnt need care... linhof stopped using leather many years ago."
so id repeat my request... "my camera has leather and id like to know what the manufactrer recomends."
i did that over n over and never got an answer.
i literally sent over a hundred correspondences with them.
Did you ever ask the USA Linhof service center? The current one is Precision Camera in Niles, IL. The Linhof factory trained owner is Bob Watkins. He just might know.
You are asking about cameras made over 72 years ago and there is no one at the current factory who has worked on cameras that old from Linhof nor were they ever trained to work on them nor has the factory, for over 60 years, made parts for those old cameras.
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Re: Linhof cameras before 1945
Just to add to the pot, here's a couple of mine.
My first Linhof was what I came to believe is a Standard, but may well have been a Press, as it's pretty tough and has a no-nonsense front standard that would put up with the pushing and shoving in the Press Scrums of the day. I doubt if it had ever seen a life in the Press Corps though, as it came with an inventory label, reading "Bundesdenkmalamt, Inv Foto, No 3" , which I discovered was this place, so it's likely it had an easy life photographing exhibits or taking record shots from time to time. https://bda.gv.at/
The number is 15232. It had an almost new set of bellows, and the wrong lens (an S-K 15cm instead of a 135mm), so it was likely used as a view camera only, as the wire frame was missing.
It's a curious sort of beast, as I think it dates to 1946, but is, for all intents and purposes, a pre-war camera. Definitely the pre-war 9x12 body, indeed, it being that little bit smaller makes it nicer to use.
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Next I acquired a Tech II, which I believe dates to 1936 or so, but I can't be certain because of the gap in the records. The serial number is 19098.
I've never shot with this one at all, as I'm in the process of sorting it out, and wondering if the bellows can be repaired for a couple of years or so.
It has the normal front standard that you'd expect on a Technika, but of course there's no swing. Some clot of a previous owner has stripped the teeth from the lower part of the riser geared track, but it's not insurmountable. Everything else works fine.
It came without a lens, but is scaled for a 15cm, so I might fit the S-K 15cm from the other one. Annoyingly, Linhof changed the lensboard sizes between the two, but I've no intention of doing any lens-swapping on these cams once I get them set up with their own standard lenses they'll stay like that.
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80-ish years on from the day it was made, it still feels solid and accurate (but feel might be deceiving) and I'm looking forward to using it.
I've got plenty of 9x12 film and the metal single-sided holders (those too, are much better made than the majority of other holders I've got), so I'll buy some more in from Fomafoto and get shooting with them.
Luckily, I also have a pair of Rada rollfilm backs which work well. No bells or whistles to go wrong, you just wind it on and watch for the numbers.
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Re: Linhof cameras before 1945
Awaiting this Linhof Standard, this will be my first adventure into LF. Its going to need some TLC to get it up and running, but for $96 winning bid I'm not complaining. Anyway my question is to do with film holders, what do you all recommend? Hope to contribute more here in the future!
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