Does anyone knows this lerebours lens ??

[alex from holland]

Hi all,

does anyone knows this lens ?
it's about 360 mm ans want to use it for 10 x 10 inch max wetplate

thanks

Alex

http://www.pbase.com/alex28/image/119688766.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/alex28/image/119688767.jpg

[Steven Tribe]

Very nice early petzval (of course!) made in the era before Waterhouse stops. VM quotes numbers between 3,000 and 10,000 and notes that some have been retrofitted for stops. Date is probably around 1850 -55. Coverage really depends on what you want the non-central parts of the image to look like?

[alex from holland]

Very nice early petzval (of course!) made in the era before Waterhouse stops. VM quotes numbers between 3,000 and 10,000 and notes that some have been retrofitted for stops. Date is probably around 1850 -55. Coverage really depends on what you want the non-central parts of the image to look like?

Hi Steve,

thanks for the feedback.
I prefer sharp in the centre and "blurry" in the noncentral part of the picture.
Doe you any idea how "fast" this lnes will be ?

alex

[goamules]

Alex, I answered some more Lerebours history on the collodion board, but you can figure the speed if you have it in hand, or ask the seller to measure the focal length, and divide that by the diameter of the front glass. That will get you pretty close.

[Jon Wilson]

Alex, what are the measurements of your Lerebours lens? I was fortunate to pick one up from another LF'er on this forum and I believe mine to be about 7 inches f4, serial #894x. I am not sure when it was made. Does anyone have any data to match the manufacturing date with the serial #s?

Jon

[Steven Tribe]

I think you will have to search in French/German language optical books from the end of the 19th C - or get someone to do it for you! VM has only a little data. Has yours been converted to Waterhouse stops?

[Wimpler]

I checked my literature and while there is a reference to Lerebours et Secretan petzvals, not much more is mentioned. They were based in Paris and started in the 1850's, that's it.

[CCHarrison]

Lerebours and Secretan started together by 1846 - they were known as the Opticians to the Paris Observatory. By October 1846, Lerebours already published a book on Photography.. Traité de Photographie

Traite de Photographie, contenant tous les perfectionnements trouvees jusqu'd ce jour, appareil panoramique. differences des foyers, gravure Fizeau, &C. Par Lerebours et Secretans, Opticiens de l'Observatoire, et de la Marine. 5me Edit,. Paris, Octobre, 1846.

In addition, Lerebours and Secretan had published an optical catalogue in 1846...see attached...

They also published a book on the use of microscopes 1846...see attached...

The firm sold many optical instruments including microscopes, binocluars, glasses, and telescopes in addition to their photographic optics. Also attached is an ad from their 1853 optical catalogue regarding Portrait Lenses.

Dan

[CCHarrison]

More from http://www.europa.com/~telscope/tsfrance.txt

LEREBOURS et SECRETAN

Noel Jean Lerebours 1761 - 1840, worked for spectacle maker & for Louvel,
Paris. At 18, started own business; 1789 opened shop at 69 quai de
l'Horloge, Paris. Worked through Revolution. 1792, producing lenses for
instruments by Etienne Lenoir. Made series of lenses for optical
telegraphs. 1809 catalog. Produced telescope objectives 11 cm aperture,
1816 made a 19 cm objective, 1823 a 24 cm objective, 1829 a 32 cm for Paris
Observatory. 1836, a 15 cm Lerebours, the largest refractor in the U.S.,
installed at Wesleyan U., Middletown, CT. Made microscopes & distance
microscopes. Son, Nicolas Marie Paymal Lerebours 1807 - 1873, began work
1830, continued business, 1844 completed a 38 cm, 8 m f.l., bought by
Bureau des Longitudes; was also a very early photographer.

Marc Francois Louis Secretan 1804 - 1867, b. Lausanne, professor of
mathematics at Academy of Lausanne, moved to Paris 1844. 1845, L & S
joined, used name until 1880s and beyond. Secretan became head of
Lerebours and Secretan after 1855 retirement of Paymal. Secretan also
issued catalogs as sole proprietor after 1860. Collaborated with William
Eichens, important mechanical designer of telescopes. 1860s, worked with
Leon Foucault, improved silvering techniques.

Marc Secretan d. 1867, son, August 1833 - 1874 continued business, succeeded
by his cousin Georges Emmanuel Secretan 1837 -1906, then Paul Victor
Secretan in early 1900s, then mostly or solely a retail business.
George Prin, (successor to Gautier) was absorbed into Secretan in 1934.
Secretan in business through 1947; by 1955, although still named Secretan,
was controlled by C. Eprey and Jacquelin since circa 1920s.