Ilex Universal number 3??

[Torsten]

Hi, could somebody please explain which kind of lenses can be mounted on an Ilex Universal number 3? Is it compatible with any Copal or Compur size or does it just take lenses with american threat????

thank's a lot in advance
cheers

Torsten

[John Kasaian]

Depends Torsten. I doubt that it would be compatible with a copal or compur. Check out www.skgrimes.com which I believe has all the thread measurements of Ilex and other shutters. If your Ilex Universal is an older "General" (which looks like a dial set compur) I haven't heard anything good about them. If it is a black or sliver/white Universal without the dial (the dial reminds me of a face with a moustache) with the retro art deco lettering they can be quite good. If it is marked "for Eastman Kodak" you just might find a Kodak lens that will fit. If not perhaps an Ilex lens will fit or maybe even a Goerz. There is no way of knowing that I'm aware of outside of trying them out. If you can find some old lens catalogs and see which lense were offered in Universal #3 shutters and whose f-stops matched the one on your shutter, perhaps that would narrow down things a bit.
Unless your's is one of the Universals that didn't have an aperture. Then you're on your own. Of course the non aperture Universals are great for rear mounting a barrel lens with it's own aperture. That would be quite economical to have done IIRC.

What is cool about these old Universal shutters is that they are "double action" like press shutters (or Smith and Wesson revolvers) in that they cock and fire with one deression of the cable release.

[Peter K]

In "Kodak Lenses - second 1946 printing" the Eastman Ektar f/6.3 8 1/2" was aviable in No. 3 Ilex Univ. Shutter.

[Gustavo]

here is a photo of the shutter In question

[Dan Fromm]

Hmm. Something about the thing says "oscilloscope camera" even though it doesn't have a sync terminal.

Is the rear of the shutter threaded externally to accept a retaining ring?

[Gustavo]

mine does have a sync PC ans yes on the retaining ring witch I have

[EdWorkman]

WHoaaaahh
That sez "3X" so how does that compare to "3" ?

[Dan Fromm]

Ed, I think a 3X is a 3 with X sync, except that this one doesn't seem to have a sync terminal.

[Turner Reich]

In "Kodak Lenses - second 1946 printing" the Eastman Ektar f/6.3 8 1/2" was available in No. 3 Ilex Univ. Shutter.

Ive got one of these.

[Gustavo]

it does you guys can you see the nipple !
the shutter is mine and yes it has a pc sync