I recently traded for a very nice Anniversary Speed Graphic (4X5 no serial number that I can find (possibly painted over) name tag marked "Property of ED SILVERS CDR. USN) with some nice upgrades (Graflok back, Pacemaker front standard, folding infinity stops). My question pertains to the lens/shutter. The lens is a Schneider Xenar 150mm f/4.5 SN 3289526 which apparently means it is circa 1952-1954, the lens is mounted in a Graphex Full Synchromatic made by Wollensak for Graflex shutter. The lens shutter combo works great so my question is just out of curiosity. Was this lens shutter combination commonly available or is this something someone assembled out of available parts?

Open the camera. Turn the camera upside down. Look at the bottom side of the camera top. Use a flashlight. S/N is ink stamped on the bottom side of the camera top on 99% with the remainder stamped on the right side behind the RF actuating arm.

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/info.html
check the Wollensak catalogs for the 1930's - 1950's to get an idea of when the Rapax (Graphex) full sync shutter was introduced.

Thanks 45PSS for the cameraeccentic link and your response, very good stuff. As far as the serial number on the camera, it appears that during the mods the inside of the camera was painted black obscuring anything that may have been ink stamped. Thanks again for your help.

Woody, most of the lenses that Schneider made with cells that are direct fits to standard shutters are direct fits in shutters that meet the Compur/Copal/Prontor standard. Rapax shutters -- Graphex shutters are just rebadged Rapaxes -- don't conform to that standard. Neither do Kodak Supermatic or Ilex shutters.

Schneider has to have made your Xenar's cells to order. The typical normal average Xenar's cells will go in a Compur of the right size, not in a Rapax.

Dan Fromm,
Thanks for the information and your time.