Ciro 35 Serial Numbers

<p>A couple years back I began to write down serial numbers for Ciro 35 cameras.<br /> <img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6165/6265716665_e118eb1fa8.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="412" /><br /> Unfortunately I no longer have the list... But I'd like to continue the project so I'm posting here and asking if those who own Ciro 35 cameras could check theirs and contribute. My aim to is find out how many were produced, and when a few basic changes in the design occurred.</p>

<p><a title="Graflex Ciro 35 by stowupland, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2458/3643725633_d6ab8e9a76.jpg" alt="Graflex Ciro 35" width="500" height="375" /></a></p>

<p>The serial number is on the inside bottom of the camera. If you can please respond here with the number and note these details: <br /> <strong>* Is the back of the top plate engraved for Ciro Cameras, Inc or for Graflex, Inc. </strong>(most important detail to note)<br /> <strong>*</strong> Is the rangefinder window tall or short. See the first picture it depicts a tall rangefinder window, at some point this window was changed to one that was half as tall.<br /> <strong>*</strong> Is the focus lever smooth or ribbed? The first photo shows a smooth lever, later levers have three ribs on the end.<br /> <strong>*</strong> Misc. notes if you want to - is the camera black? What shutter is used? (Alphax, Century or Rapax) - what lens is used?</p>

<p>Things I have noted so far: All serial numbers start with a 5. The numbers appear to be consecutive. What I want to find out is if the second number in the serial number corresponds to the year. Observed serial numbers range from 50XXXX to 54XXXX. It's possible that the first two digits indicate the year, as the Ciro 35 was produced from 1950 through 1954. It's also possible that the second digit is part of a consecutive sequence and 40,000 or so Ciro 35s were made. They were not best sellers, and are far less common than contemporary Argus and Bolsey cameras, so this is entirely possible.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance to anybody who can help!</p>

<p>notes on my camera to add to your database: back is graflex inc., rangefinder window is squinty, focus lever is ribbed, camera is faded peeling silver with black underneath (I'll strip the bad silver paint to show off the professional black finish), alphax shutter, wollensak anastigmat 50mm f3.5 good luck with your project.</p><div></div>

<p>Look up "capture recapture" on the web to learn how to estimate the size of the subject population. There's some surprisingly non-intuitive stuff, but it's very powerful.</p>

<p>Here is serial #507126.<br>

Back plate casting: Ciro cameras Inc. Delaware, Ohio Made in USA Patents Applied For.</p>

<p>Back of top plate: Ciro Cameras, Inc. Delaware, Ohio Made in U.S.A.</p>

<p>This one has the short RF window, the black accessory shoe, Alphax shutter, 50mm/f4.5 Anastigmat.</p>

<p>It was made here in Delaware, Ohio just a few blocks from here, at about the same time I was.<br>

I have several more of these around here and I will try to pull them out and get you more information.</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks for the responses.<br /> Michael thanks for mentioning the the back plate casting, I forgot that this was changed. My oldest Ciros have a smoothed casting - the molding for the Candid Camera Corp was simply ground off on the early ones. Then they revised the molds to show Ciro Camera Inc. Probably around the same time they changed the dies for the top plate, etc.</p>

<p>The black Ciro in the original photo is number 502077, so it seems that the large rangefinder window didn't last too long. In fact, though it has the large window, the mirror is already half height.</p>

<p>@paul: it's entirely possible the silver was applied at the factory over the black paint. The metallic paint use on these isn't particularly good. Unless it looks like somebody brushed on testers model paint, it's probably original.</p>

<p>Sorry I forgot to include serial number on my Graflex Ciro 35 is: 512702</p>

<p>Serial #526407:</p>

<ul>

<li>Engraved GRAFLEX INC.</li>

<li>Short RF window</li>

<li>Ribbed lever</li>

<li>light grey (not black), Wollensak 50mm f/2.8 Anastigmat (the Cw is orange), Rapax shutter</li>

</ul>

<p>Thanks Erik. That's only the second f2.8 version on my list so far. That version seems to be pretty uncommon. It was sold as the "Model T" and actually cost a fair bit of money when new. Ads show it advertised for $98 initially, then it was dropped to $89. Still pretty pricey considering what you could get from a foreign company in that price range.</p>

<p>Ciro 35 # 533612 (tall range finder window)(ribbid lever)<br>

Century (M-F) Synchromatic made by Wollensak for Graflex INC.<br>

Graftar f/3.5 50 MM Graflex<br>

Back of top plate casting:Graflex, INC. Rochester, N.Y. Made in U.S.A<br>

Back plate casting: Ciro cameras Inc. Delaware, Ohio Made in USA Patents Applied For.</p>

<p>- Serial #502127<br>

- Ciro Cameras, Inc.<br>

- Tall rangefinder window.<br>

- Smooth focus lever.<br>

- Black<br>

- Alphax shutter<br>

- 50/4.5 Anastigmat Wollensak</p>

<p>Good luck with your Ciro 35 list, Dave!</p>

<p>Back is Marked Graflex, Inc. Rochester, Ny Made in U.S.A.<br>

Ranger Finder is Short<br>

Focus Lever is Ribbed<br>

The Shutter is Marked Century, but on the inner edge it says Garflex - Graftar - f/3.5 50 mm<br>

Serial # is 540029<br>

The Body is Silver on top an silver shutter but the rest of body is Black<br>

on the back is a blue sticker with yellow lettering and arrows showing to open and close easily</p>

<p>I just inherited a Ciro 35 (S/N 513757) and am fascinated by the elegant design. Nothing there that doesn't need to be.</p>