What size shutter for 14.5 Wollensak verito?

[Jay De Fehr]

Hi. I have a 14.5" Wollensak Verito lens in a studio shutter
and would like to mount it into a "real" shutter, but I'm
not familiar enough with LF lenses to know what size shutter
it will fit into. Also, until then I would apprecite any
helpful hints and tips for working with a studio shutter.
Lastly, relating to an earlier post, to which R. Knoppow and
C.W. Dean responded with complete and concise information,
there IS a slot in the barrel of the lens, and I am not sure
what it's purpose is. Could it be a filter slot? It looks
like slots I've seen in other lenses for waterhouse slots,
but that doesn't make much sense as it's mounted in a studio
shutter. Could the slot have preexisted the shutter? Thank
you for your patience.

Sincerely,

J. De Fehr

[Joseph Smigiel]

Jay De Fehr wrote:
>
> ...

> there IS a slot in the barrel of the lens, and I am not sure
> what it's purpose is. Could it be a filter slot? It looks
> like slots I've seen in other lenses for waterhouse slots,
> but that doesn't make much sense as it's mounted in a studio

> shutter....
> J. De Fehr

I've seen a similar Verito on eBay listed with a star disk presumably to do a
star filter-like effect to the highlights.

Joe

[Tom Ferguson]

I have a 14 inch Veritar, a very similar lens to yours (older I think??).
It is also (like yours) in a studio shutter. These are BIG lenses. You can
have someone put it in a shutter (#5 would be my guess), but it will be
expensive. Steve Grimes ( skgr...@ma.ultranet.com or 401-762-0857 ) is
very good at this.

If your objection to the studio shutter is lack of set shutter speeds, a
new/used shutter installation is your only real choice.

If your objection to the studio shutter is lack of modern flash sync, you
have limited choices. Many years ago I sent mine to Steve hoping he could
add a modern sync. He was "game" to try, even anscious to try, as he hadn't
done a studio shutter yet. Sadly, he couldn't find a way as the contact
point moves for each f-stop. I finally added a simple micro switch to the
front of the shutter that is activated when you fully depress the "go"
button.

Hope that helps, it is a fun lens!

--
Tom Ferguson
http://www.ferguson-photo-design.com

[C. W. Dean]

The slot was to accommodate some accessory factory diffusing stops which
the catalog describes for enlarging. Back then, many photographers used
the same lens for taking and enlarging.

Wollensak manufactured Studio Shutters into the 1920's. Following is
summarized from a 1919 Wollensak consumer catalog:

"Practically noiseless in operation, the Studio Shutter is an efficient
outfit for both studio and home portraiture. The studio Shutter is
operated by a three-foot wire release supplied with each shutter, or if
desired with bulb and tube, can be furnished at slight cost with a "bulb
attachment" which readily screws into the wire release socket. The
Studio is a "between-the-lens" type, having ten leaves which constitute
both diaphragm and shutter. Exposure is made by opening and closing at
the center. Since the Studio Shutter is designed primarily for studio
use, it is not equipped with automatic exposures, but allows exposure
with bulb or wire release for about 1/5th of a second to any desired
duration by continuous pressure of the bulb or release. It can also be
opened for focusing or for time exposure by moving a lever."

Unfortunately, Studio Shutters found today in old lenses tend to be worn
out from heavy use and may be uneconomically repairable. Good ones may
be finicky and prone to fail at any time. Check that the iris/shutter
blades make a reasonably round opening when the f stop is set. Check
to see that you can get repeatable settings on f stops and that the
shutter opens and closes smoothly. I use several with a Packard shutter
where I have abandoned the Studio Shutter but still use the iris blades
for f stops.

--
Best regards & Good Photography!
C. W. Dean
Practicing Professional Photography since 1972
Photography Samples: http://www.erols.com/cwdean/home.htm

[Jay De Fehr]

Thank you C.W., that's what I wanted to know. The studio shutter I have was
overhauled as a part of the deal I made with the shop. The remaining problem
is to adapt a cable release to operate it. It requires an extraordinarily
long throw to open the shutter to it's maximum aperture of 4.5, and the end
of the shaft needs to be larger to engage the mechanism correctly. Any tips
on this front would be gratefully accepted. Thanks again.

Sincerely,

J. De Fehr