sandro Posted May 3, 2020 Share #1 Posted May 3, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) Recently I bought a nice Elmar 4/9 cm, made in 1937. Am I correct that the lens head can't be unscrewed? Lex Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 3, 2020 Posted May 3, 2020 Hi sandro, Take a look here Elmar 9 cm. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
luigi bertolotti Posted May 3, 2020 Share #2 Posted May 3, 2020 (edited) I have an item close to yours (1936 - 321.867) and the lenshead unscrews like in postwar chrome items , with exactly the same thread (but not interchangable.. I tried and focus isn't correct - something slightly changed in the dimensions.. or maybe just a matter of shims... I didn't go in depth) Edited May 3, 2020 by luigi bertolotti Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted May 3, 2020 Share #3 Posted May 3, 2020 This is a 1939 lens, unscrewed. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/309152-elmar-9-cm/?do=findComment&comment=3966278'>More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted May 3, 2020 Share #4 Posted May 3, 2020 My oldest 9cm is also 1939, and the head removes easily. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 4, 2020 Share #5 Posted May 4, 2020 So does my black Elmar 4.0-90mm from1941. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandro Posted May 4, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted May 4, 2020 Since with several of your lenses the head can be removed rather easily I have tried again, but I don't want to force anything. It doesn't move at all. I have several other lenses of which the head can be removed so I am familiar with the feeling, but here is no movement at all. Thanks, Lex Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
romanus53 Posted May 4, 2020 Share #7 Posted May 4, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) Even my fat Elmar-head can be unscrewed and although the PLOOT came later this feature might be intended to use the head with an enlarger or some close-focusing device. Does this Elmar look different than the others? I think it just stuck. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandro Posted May 4, 2020 Author Share #8 Posted May 4, 2020 No it doesn't look different. It had the aperture ring on top and then a second ring which would make sense to unscrew the head. I tried again but there is no movement whatsoever. Once we can meet other people again (may take some time though) I will take it to Will van Manen and see what he finds out. Lex Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabears Posted May 4, 2020 Share #9 Posted May 4, 2020 5 hours ago, sandro said: No it doesn't look different. It had the aperture ring on top and then a second ring which would make sense to unscrew the head. I tried again but there is no movement whatsoever. Once we can meet other people again (may take some time though) I will take it to Will van Manen and see what he finds out. Lex Post a photo, please Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandro Posted May 4, 2020 Author Share #10 Posted May 4, 2020 Apologies for the quality of the images, I took them with my Phone since I don't have a digital camera (only analog). Lex Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/309152-elmar-9-cm/?do=findComment&comment=3967057'>More sharing options...
willeica Posted May 4, 2020 Share #11 Posted May 4, 2020 Lex, I have 3 of these from the 1930s. My memory is that one of mine won't allow unscrewing of the head, but the other two do. I will check tomorrow and revert. William Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabears Posted May 4, 2020 Share #12 Posted May 4, 2020 I don't see nothing wrong: I think it just stuck too! 🔨 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted May 5, 2020 Share #13 Posted May 5, 2020 (edited) 9 hours ago, sabears said: I don't see nothing wrong: I think it just stuck too! 🔨 Me too.. keep in mind that maybe it has NEVER been unscrewed for >80 years !! 😎 Same happened to me for my Summicron 50 of 1963...😉 I had to torque strongly a lot... and half part of the chrome barrell had a quite different aspect, having been "hidden" for 40 years or so... Edited May 5, 2020 by luigi bertolotti Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted May 5, 2020 Share #14 Posted May 5, 2020 (edited) Yes, I think it is probably just stuck if it has never been unscrewed before. When I try to unscrew a lens head like this I start by putting the diaphragm somewhere in the middle stop range so that while I am trying to turn the top part of the lens I am not inadvertently forcing the diaphragm mechanism against the end of its travel at one end or the other. Don’t know if it actually makes any difference but it feels safer. if you are determined to unscrew it a drop of penetrating oil will help, make sure you put it at the point that it comes apart, see my picture of the unscrewed lens. Stand the lens up so that the oil is running away from the actual lens head as it won’t do any harm just working it’s way into the threads where it comes apart. purists will be horrified at the idea of penetrating oil/WD40, but you are just trying to undo 80 year old threads in the metal parts of the lens body. It worked for me recently with a similar problem on an old 135mm Hektor lens barrell. Edited May 5, 2020 by Pyrogallol Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandro Posted August 12, 2020 Author Share #15 Posted August 12, 2020 Will van Manen managed to get the head loose and now it unscrews easily. Inside the focusing unit the numbers '281' are inscribed (not realy engraved as in other later lenses), correspnding with the last three digits of the serial number. I also read '80', wich I don't understand. Lex 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umfundisi Posted August 24, 2020 Share #16 Posted August 24, 2020 I recently acquired a 1947 version of this lens. No problem removing the front lens section. The focusing helicoid, however, is very sticky and I want to clean it out. Have any of you got any experience in opening up the back section in oder to get at the helicoid? Any advice you can give is highly appreciated. Best, Jens Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan mcfall Posted August 24, 2020 Share #17 Posted August 24, 2020 Here are a few screw mount 90 Elmars. All the heads unscrew. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Dissasembly to completely expose the helicoid threads for cleaning, probably should be left to the professional. It is possible to add a little new lubricant, perhaps of a thinner grade, and it seems to reduce or soften the thicked old lubricant. The next photo shows a small rectangular port that when the lens is at maximum close focus, exposes a small section of focus thread. A needle type oiler can be used. Not the best solution, but could assist in the short term. Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Dissasembly to completely expose the helicoid threads for cleaning, probably should be left to the professional. It is possible to add a little new lubricant, perhaps of a thinner grade, and it seems to reduce or soften the thicked old lubricant. The next photo shows a small rectangular port that when the lens is at maximum close focus, exposes a small section of focus thread. A needle type oiler can be used. Not the best solution, but could assist in the short term. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/309152-elmar-9-cm/?do=findComment&comment=4032761'>More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted August 25, 2020 Share #18 Posted August 25, 2020 (edited) On 8/12/2020 at 1:41 PM, sandro said: Will van Manen managed to get the head loose and now it unscrews easily. Inside the focusing unit the numbers '281' are inscribed (not realy engraved as in other later lenses), correspnding with the last three digits of the serial number. I also read '80', wich I don't understand. Lex Exactly like my 321.867 ... "867" inscribed, and a two digits number which can be either "90" or "80" (writing is very worn) : i think that it's a number related to the effective focal length, used in final assembly to fine tune the infinity focus : I can see similar writings in all my later Elmars 90.. from the "all chrome" to the "E39 filter mount"... it's only the "3 elements version" that has a completely different fitting of the lenshead - and of course the collapsible, which has no removable lenshead) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited August 25, 2020 by luigi bertolotti Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/309152-elmar-9-cm/?do=findComment&comment=4032868'>More sharing options...
sandro Posted August 28, 2020 Author Share #19 Posted August 28, 2020 Hello Luigi, several of my lenses have such numbers engraved in the focus barrel and/or on the lens head, visible when you unscrew them. My Elmar 90mm 3 elements also shows the last three digits of the serial number engraved on the inside of the focusing unit. On the lens head itself the numbers 51 and 90 are engraved. The 90 is obviously referring to the focal length, but the 51 is not clear to me, as is the 80 on the older Elmar I mentioned earlier. Lex Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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