[Rollei] Rolleiflex T Reprise: from the archives!

[Marc James Small <msmall >]

ROLLEIFLEX T

	The Rollei T was developed by a young engineer named Theodore Uhl in 1958:
 it was intended as a model intermediate between the Rolleicord and the
Rolleiflex;  it used a four-element Carl Zeiss Tessar lens and incorporated
Uhl's contribution to the Rolleicord Va, the use of PTFE plastic internal
parts.  Like the Rolleicord, it also used a lever to set apertures and
speeds in lieu of the 'Flexes wheels.  When Franke & Heidecke management
discovered other young engineers had named this camera "the Theodore
camera", or "T" for short, they were not amused:  Uhl shortly thereafter
was discharged, though the T designation remained, ostensibly for "Tessar".

	The basic T did not come with a lightmeter, though the camera was fitted
to take the T lightmeter as used on the 2.8 and 3.5 E and F 'Flexes, and
many of them have been so equipped.  The camera was equipped with the
removable hood similar to that on the 2.8 E (2).   Originally, the camera
was made in grey only;  from January, 1960,  through the rest of the
production run, either grey or black finish  were available.  A Rolleikin
35mm kit was made available after s/n 
2,151,000.

TYPE 1:  s/n 2,100,000 to 2,199,999, 12th August 1958 to 1966.
Synchro-Compur shutter with MXV (M=flashbulb, X=electronic, V=self-timer).
Black plastic arms for aperture and speed.  Most are grey.  99,000.

TYPE 2, version 1:  s/n 2,220,000 to 2,228,999, 11th November 1966 to July
1968.   Synchro-Compur X shutter with X synch only.  Metal arms for
aperture and speed.  Most are black. 9,000 (?).

TYPE 2, version 2:  s/n 2242,000 to 2249999 and 2310000 to 2314999,  late
1968 - 1970.  Same features as type 2 save for addition of 220 film
counter.  Most are black. 13,000 (?).

TYPE 3:  s/n 2315000 to 2319999 (?), September 1971 to 1975, and one final
batch from 2320000 to 2320300 produced 1 to 12 May 1976.  Same as  type 3,
save for 'white face' (plain, non-removeable) lens panel.   300 produced
with Tessars for civilian sale, 2,500 with Tessar 
and another 2,500 with Xenar for military use.  About 2,000 of  the Xenar
lensed models were released as surplus in 1987.  Almost all,  if not all,
are black.

total production:  126,300 or so.  Most common is the grey TYPE 1;  least
common is the Xenar TYPE 3.

Marc

msmall    FAX:  +540/343-7315
Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!

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