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Serial Numbers 49000 - 50200 were Technika 23 III & IV cameras made without a rangefinder. The 23 Technika III shows up in 1951 and is only sold with the rangefinder until about 1954. From 1954 you could get the camera with or without the rangefinder. The without rangefinder version was sold for 40% less than the rangefinder version. Interestingly part of the sales pitch was you could send your camera back to Linhof and they would add the rangefinder if one paid the price difference. In 1956 The 23 Technika III design was refreshed as the Technika IV with mostly the same features and functions as the III - it had a few minor improvements and cosmetic changes. The RF model was branded the Super Technika and the NORF version simply the Technika. The NORF 23 Technika IV begins about Serial Number 49500. In 1961 the 23 Technika Super Technika IV was replaced with the Technika 70. However the NORF version of the Technika 70 known as the Expert 70 (English)/ Studienkamera 70 (German) did not arrivel until 1964. With the replacement of the 23 Super Technika IV in 1961 the NORF version was rebranded the Special in English marketing and Studienkamera in German. The strap lugs are removed but otherwise the camera remains the same as the 23 Technika IV. The Special/ Studienkamera serial numbers begin about 49800. While it is common to see a 23 III or IV with the added rangefinder mod, I have not seen an Special/ Studienkamera yet with a RF.

Glenn that is a great solution!

Beautiful camera Glenn! This has all the hallmarks of a Technika II. It has the vertical metal stripes as well as brads attaching the struts to the door, (wartime models used screws). The very last 13x18 II's had the screw in the center of the front standard base (missing on your camera) moved to the right hand side (when viewed from the front).

This back is for the 13x18 thin metal plate holders known in German as Millionfalz... Millionfalz plate holders were made in several different sizes (9x12, 13x18, 18x24 etc...) and held a single glass plate. A film sheath insert could also be used to hold a single sheet of film instead of a glass plate. The plate backs were popular in Europe until the early 1950's and were even found on the 1950 Technika III 5x7 (13x18) & 4x5 (9x12). Most of the post-war Linhof cameras that were sent to North America were fitted with a spring back to accept the 5x7 double sided holders that were popular in the USA. By the mid 1950's the Linhof plate backs are phased out and are no longer made when the Technika IV models are released in 1957. However they did continue to make an adapter plate that allowed you to use the Millionfalz holders in the modern spring backs... 13x18 Millionfalz are not as common to find as the 9x12 but they can be found from European shops or German ebay. Many will come with the film sheaths inside but in my experience using film with the filmsheath is a total pain... just stick to the glass plates, they are fun, beautiful, and still available today. They are far slower speed than film, say 10 ISO, but you can use this to your advantage as well... If you want to use 5x7 filnholders with this back you will need to invent a workaround. 13x18 is closer to 5x7 than 9x12 is to 4x5 so you may be able to make it fit with what you have... I don't have a 13x18 plate back so i'm not so sure... You probably will need to get creative... These pre-III Technikas did not have the interchangeable backs of the III, IV, V 5x7 cameras. You could remove them by unscrewing the corner tabs but the ring for rotation is slightly smaller on the II and earlier cameras so you can not just drop in a later 5x7 spring back.

Note: DRP DRGM. It was used until 1949 and in some cases as late as 1953 These German patent codes lasted long after the war and are not a good method for determining the age. Lots of arguments and misconceptions on the Rolleiflex forums as they also prolifically used these patent codes.

Hi Glenn, Bob was right your 13x18 (3241) is a 1947 Technika II. The Technika II arrived about 1945 near the end of WWII. It is nearly identical to the wartime Technika's but can easily be identified by the vertical metal stripes along the front of the housing (the wartime model had leather wrapping around the front). Another good identifier is the 2 lensboard clips (first appearing on the wartime model 1940-1945). The II was only available in 9x12 13x18 & 18x24. The 18x24 is so rare that not many exist. The 9x12 II was quickly replaced by the III in October 1946 but quite a few still exist. The 13x18 II lasted the longest as the 5x7 III was not available to replace it until 1950. The first Technika was made in 1934 but it pre dated the name. The same camera was given the Technika label in 1936. The Technika design evolved a bit until 1940ish when the style with the 2 lensboard clips was made. Hope this helps you find where your camera fits in the Technika history. Cheers, Chris

Pacific Rim Camera has posted a Kling Photo Linhof Dealer sheet from 1957 detailing the colors and finishes available on the Tecnika IV 4x5 23 and 5x7 https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/01694/01694.pdf 23 (6x9): Cameras are finished in Black and Satin Chrome. On special order (10-12 weeks) the camera can be supplied with leather covering and bellows in Sand Gray, Burgundy Red, or Forest Green, at no extra charge. An All-Ivory finish, including Ivory-Enameled camera bed and interior, with Ivory leather covering and bellows is also available @ $39.00 4x5 model IV: Cameras are finished in Sierra Tan and Satin Chrome, with Black leather bellows. On special order (10-12 weeks) the camera can be supplied with leather covering in Jet Black, Burgundy Red, or Forest Green, at no extra charge. An All-Ivory finish, including Ivory-Enameled camera bed and interior, with Ivory leather covering and bellows @ $50.00 5x7 : Cameras are finished in Black and Satin Chrome. On special order (10-12 weeks) the camera can be supplied in Sand Gray, Burgundy Red, or Forest Green leather, at no extra charge. An All-Ivory finish, including Ivory-Enameled camera bed and interior, with Ivory leather covering and bellows @ $55.00