Studio Shutter

Does anyone have information on "studio" shutters? I often see them

sold with older Wollensak portrait lenses, particularly soft-focus

models. Was the shutter made by Wollensak? Is it mounted in the lens

barrel or behind like a Packard? Does the shutter function on T, B,

or both? Is it air-driven with a bulb apparatus or with a standard

cable release? Finally, are there any typical mechanical defects that

I should look for when buying used? Thanks.

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FWIW,

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The only one I have been fortunate to see was at the Museum of

Science and Industry in Chicago in a display on Pictorial Photography

circa 1933.

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It was at least as big as a #5 Ilex, and probably bigger. It was

marked Wollensak. It was air activated (piston on the left side as

you look at the camera from the front) and had at least 3 speeds, T,

B, and 1/30th or something. I doubt it could function much faster

than that anyway, given it's size.

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I cannot honestly recall now if the lens was mounted in the usual way

(shutter between two halves of the lens) or it was "front mounted" -

i.e. shutter mounted to outside of board, lens mounted to front of

shutter. But I seem to recall the former rather than the latter.

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Maybe someone who has one of the monsters will chime in?

Wollensak manufactured Studio Shutters into the 1920's. Following is

summarized from a 1919 Wollensak consumer catalog:

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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.

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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.

I asked Steve Grimes about the possibility of using a Studio Shutter

for a very large 360mm/f:4.5 Heliar, which is a tad too big for even

an Ilex 5 (it can be adapted at the cost of a half stop, but I might

just do it anyway for convenience). He said they are very difficult

to find and are almost always in irreparable condition.