Kodak Commercial Ektar 12" retaining ring for lens board mounting

Robert Williams · Sep 9, 2023

Good Saturday morning,
Looking for a retaining ring so I can mount the lens. I looked but do not see any threads on here specifically referencing hot to obtain one, one for sale, maybe someone has an extra etc. I believe this is the first time I have posted on here. Simply looking for some assistance in obtaining the hardware to mount the lens, thank you.

BrianShaw · Sep 9, 2023

Can’t help you find the part but a bit of information that might help. That lens originally came with a mounting flange for mounting with screws to front of a wood lens board. The flange could be flipped and used as a retaining ring on rear of a metal lens board.

One of my favorite lenses. I use for portrait on a 4x5.

Welcome to the site. Please stay and participate!

Robert Williams · Sep 9, 2023

Thank you! I received the lens as an "extra" in a Graflex kit I bought from someone. I failed to mention it is on an Ilex No. 4 Universal shutter. It came with the presentation box and lens caps but I dont think there was a mounting flange. I enclosed a photo to be sure Im not missing something clearly obvious, ha.

BrianShaw · Sep 9, 2023

This is what the mounting flange looks like.

Original Kodak Commercial Ektar Acme ~ Ilex #4 mounting flange 2.735" X 24 TPI | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Original Kodak Commercial Ektar Acme ~ Ilex #4 mounting flange 2.735" X 24 TPI at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

If you can’t find one, there are several camera machinists the probably can fabricate one for you.

Kino · Sep 9, 2023

I can highly recommend Jose Meneses at Custom Photo Tools in Portugal. His prices are quite reasonable, even with shipping from overseas.

Threaded Rings for Lens Shutters

Threaded rings for #00, #0, #1, #3, #3S, Compur 2, Compound 3, Compound 4 and Ilex 5 shutters on large-format camera lensboards.

customphototools.com

He has been open in the past to making rings he does not list, so I would contact him for a quote.

David Lindquist · Sep 9, 2023

Robert Williams said:
Thank you! I received the lens as an "extra" in a Graflex kit I bought from someone. I failed to mention it is on an Ilex No. 4 Universal shutter. It came with the presentation box and lens caps but I dont think there was a mounting flange. I enclosed a photo to be sure Im not missing something clearly obvious, ha.

Are you sure it's an Ilex Universal shutter (the one where cocking and releasing the shutter is one single motion) and not an Ilex Acme shutter (cocking is one operation, releasing is a separate operation)? An Ilex Universal will have the word "Universal" on the front, the Ilex Acme will (surprise!) have the word "Acme" on the front. The thing is the standard shutter Eastman Kodak used for these was the No. 4 Acme and further the shutters Ilex supplied Kodak had different dimensions for both the shutter mounting thread and the lens mounting threads than the standard No. 4 Acme.

If it is in fact a No. 4 Ilex Acme made for Eastman Kodak (and the front of the shutter should have words to this effect), then SK Grimes can supply a flange: https://skgrimes.com/mounting-flanges-and-retaining-rings/

Scroll down until you get to the flange described as "Flange - Ilex Acme #4 (Kodak)"

David

abruzzi · Sep 9, 2023

I got a retaining ring for my 300 commercial Ektar from SK Grimes. Price was reasonable, but little higher than the custom photo tools website.

mshchem · Sep 9, 2023

abruzzi said:
I got a retaining ring for my 300 commercial Ektar from SK Grimes. Price was reasonable, but little higher than the custom photo tools website.

Good advice! SKG probably has in stock, new and sometimes vintage. They will mount on your lens board as well. Perfect work, these folks have helped me multiple times, money well spent.

Rick A · Sep 9, 2023

I bought a mounting flange for my 12" Commercial Ektar from SK Grimes, it came a couple of days after I placed the order.

Robert Williams · Sep 9, 2023

David Lindquist said:
Are you sure it's an Ilex Universal shutter (the one where cocking and releasing the shutter is one single motion) and not an Ilex Acme shutter (cocking is one operation, releasing is a separate operation)? An Ilex Universal will have the word "Universal" on the front, the Ilex Acme will (surprise!) have the word "Acme" on the front. The thing is the standard shutter Eastman Kodak used for these was the No. 4 Acme and further the shutters Ilex supplied Kodak had different dimensions for both the shutter mounting thread and the lens mounting threads than the standard No. 4 Acme.

If it is in fact a No. 4 Ilex Acme made for Eastman Kodak (and the front of the shutter should have words to this effect), then SK Grimes can supply a flange: https://skgrimes.com/mounting-flanges-and-retaining-rings/

Scroll down until you get to the flange described as "Flange - Ilex Acme #4 (Kodak)"

David

Yes, it is a No. 4 Universal. I will include a photo of that as well.

Robert Williams · Sep 9, 2023

Kino said:
I can highly recommend Jose Meneses at Custom Photo Tools in Portugal. His prices are quite reasonable, even with shipping from overseas.

Threaded Rings for Lens Shutters

Threaded rings for #00, #0, #1, #3, #3S, Compur 2, Compound 3, Compound 4 and Ilex 5 shutters on large-format camera lensboards.

customphototools.com

He has been open in the past to making rings he does not list, so I would contact him for a quote.

abruzzi said:
I got a retaining ring for my 300 commercial Ektar from SK Grimes. Price was reasonable, but little higher than the custom photo tools website.

Rick A said:
I bought a mounting flange for my 12" Commercial Ektar from SK Grimes, it came a couple of days after I placed the order.

Thank you all! I will reach out to both. There seems to be "plenty" of the lens itself out there, but not the retaining ring or flange mount. Appreciate the input!

David Lindquist · Sep 10, 2023

Robert Williams said:
Yes, it is a No. 4 Universal. I will include a photo of that as well.

Thank you very much. I'm a bit surprised to see that but not incredulous. You could measure the diameter of the mounting thread and seee if it corresponds to that described by SK Grimes for either the Kodak version of the No. 4 Acme or the "regular" version of the No. 4 Acme. Adam Dau I've found responds to e mails. SK Grimes flanges are very nice. I haven't dealt with Jose Meneses but I see him recommended a lot, looks like he makes nice stuff

David

MarkS · Sep 12, 2023

I believe that the Ilex shutters made for Kodak say so right on the faceplate. These *might* be the ones with threading different from the others. I haven't ever seen two different ones together, or if I had, it never occurred to me to check. Of course inconsistencies abound, so measure to be sure.

Kodak Commercial Ektar 12" retaining ring for lens board mounting

Robert Williams

BrianShaw

Robert Williams

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BrianShaw

Original Kodak Commercial Ektar Acme ~ Ilex #4 mounting flange 2.735" X 24 TPI | eBay

Kino

Threaded Rings for Lens Shutters

David Lindquist

abruzzi

mshchem

Rick A

Robert Williams

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Robert Williams

Threaded Rings for Lens Shutters

David Lindquist

MarkS

Kodak Commercial Ektar 12" retaining ring for lens board mounting

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