Info needed for LINHOF TECHNIKA

[P. L. McClinton]

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[cowanw]

at a guess 1954
Regards
Bill

[P. L. McClinton]

Thanks Bill. The owner got a little upset about the S.N. thing. The S.N. is below 5,000 and above 4,000 (this is silly but it does not belong to me, yet).
I have also been told that this is a Color model, 4X5, w/a mono rail. I really appreciate so many of you taking time to read this and offer your information and advice. I'm a beginner at this and can't take the chance of spending what cash I have on a loser right off the bat.

[Peter K]

My Technika III 4x5", late model, has a serial number with five digits. But my Kardan 8x10" about the same age as the Technika has three digits. But possible Bob Saloman can reveal this enigma.

Peter K

[Bob Salomon]

5002 is a 4x5 Technika III from October 1946.
3002 to 6221 is a 57 Technika III made from October 1946 to June 1954.

Are you sure of what the serial number is?

The Linhof 45 Linhof Color also had serial numbers above 3000 which were made from September 1958 to May of 1962. These, of course, are not Technikas.

[Peter K]

It's the number stamped in the accessory-shoe of my Technika III (55471), Kardan-Bi 5x7" (3751184) and 8x10" (3721319). The Kardan 8x10 has a small plate at front- and rear-standard with Nr 446, the central bellows suport is Nr 460.

Peter K

[al olson]

I have a Linhof 4x5 Color with the tubular rail. My reference, The Linhof Camera Story (published 8/2000), cites it as "the predecessor of the Kardan Color". It also states that the Color was manufactured from 1958 to 1964.

The serial number on the plate riveted to the lower rear frame is engraved 100751. This is considerably larger than the serial numbers mentioned above. It could be that part of this number is code that references the model or date/year of manufacture.

I use this camera primarily for indoor work. Except for focusing, the back standard moves instead of the front, the rest of the movements are nearly identical to my Technika IV, which the book says was manufactured from 1956 to 1964. (My IV has SN 68115.) The Color is a dandy camera and I frequently shoot indoor still life with it.

[Bob Salomon]

I have a Linhof 4x5 Color with the tubular rail. My reference, The Linhof Camera Story (published 8/2000), cites it as "the predecessor of the Kardan Color". It also states that the Color was manufactured from 1958 to 1964.

100,001 was manufactured in May of 1962 so your camera was made in late 1962 to mid 1963. That series ended with 103,554 and the next production was the newer version, the Kardan Color 45 with split rail and rear rise, started in November of 1964.

[Peter K]

I have a Linhof 4x5 Color with the tubular rail. My reference, The Linhof Camera Story (published 8/2000), cites it as "the predecessor of the Kardan Color". It also states that the Color was manufactured from 1958 to 1964.

The Color 4x5 and the Kardan Color 4x5" were different from the Kardan Color 5x7" and 8x10" as you can see in "The Linhof Camera Story". As you mentioned, the front standard is the same as the Technika IV 4x5". The back from the Kardan Color 4x5" can be verticaly shiftet and the front is the same as the Technika V 4x5".

Peter K