Nikkor Zoom 85-250 2 inch thread lens mount?

[NIKON KIU]

Fred, I got an answer from the Montana TV engineer. Their 8.5cm~25cm Zoom is the same version as the one you pictured, and (serial #257965) in the same series. So my lens is not a TV camera lens—or at least not in the same way.
What it is a 35mm Movie camera lens.
The short mount will take a Arriflex adapter, or something similar. Uli Koch put me onto the solution. He has a Type 2 85~250 with the same semi-auto diaphragm and the same chrome ring at the back in Arriflex mount. Looks like the Arriflex adapter slips through the ring and then the ring locks it onto the lens. This explains the depth of the case, assuming the lens would be stored with the adapter on the lens. And it explains the opening in the ring.
Being designed for movie camera work, there would be no need to motorize the controls for rear-of-camera operation, although that still might be a possibility.
As I stated earlier, this lens was never designed for reflex housing mounting. Nor was the Braczko/Lownds lens. Someone did an adaption to a Visoflex III and it worked.
I am attaching a picture Uli sent me of his lens. It is a type 2 with the single focus and zoom control ring. Note the semi-automatic cock and release for the diaphragm and the chrome ring at the back that secures the Arriflex mount to the lens.
The other picture shows a Type 2 mounted on an Arriflex. In this case a remote control for the zoom (but not the focus) has been added, and a rod attached to the diaphragm ring with a hose clamp to allow easy diaphragm changes. I think this answers my question, but I am still doing research, and if I find anything new, I will share it. Thank you for all your suggestions. WES

They made 500 of these?
It's interesting that NK kept making Movie camera lenses after the 13mm f1.9 that saved their company in the late 1940s.

But since the zoom lacks the Cine-Nikkor designation, it must have been produced to fit other applications as well. Or could it be that Cine-Nikkor was dropped in favor of Zoom-Nikkor?

500 sounds like more than(amateur/semi-pro) movie industry could digest.

Kiu

 

[wes loder]

Now I have more answers, and a new mystery. Davies, the engineer from the Montana TV station has sent me more pictures of their TV Nikkor. He confirms that it uses a two-inch keyed mount. So that must have been some kind of standard.
The lens was purchased with its camera, a RCA Image Orthicon Camera MI-26011-A3 in March 1958! Now wait a moment, didn't the Zoom Nikkor first become available in the late fall of 1959, you say?
Well, Davies dug out all the instructions and original paperwork, so I guess he knows what he has. The was one of a set of four. The lens and the turret are controlled by a rod and grip that extend to the back of the TV camera. Push-pull the rod for zoom, turn the knob on the end to focus and rotate the grip to bring in another lens. So did the TV Nikkor version predate the still camera lens by over a year? Was the 'New' Auto Nikkor Telephoto Zoom for still photography a super innovation? Or did Nikon just convert a zoom they were already making for still photography? I wish I knew all the answers, but I seem to be getting questions faster. Take care, WES

 

[NIKON KIU]

My guess is that you have a one off adapted lens to who knows what special purpose.

There were many professional photo machine shops in Los Angeles and NYC during the hey days of film Hollywood, adapting virtually anything to everything.

.....

The one off adapted lenses normally look like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NIPPON-KOGAKU-NIKKOR-Q-1-4-F-25CM-LENS-431-/361487718005

Interesting part is, this 25cm looks like it's also modified to a 2" screw mount.

Kiu