Bausch & Lomb Lens Date Code
Many of you are aware of the code Kodak used to indicate date of manufacture*. It has been suggested that Bausch & Lomb used a similar code in their serial num bers - but the "key" seems to have been lost. Maybe we can reconstruct it. Her e's what I propose: 1. Those of you who have a B&L lens with a coded serial number (2 letters follo wed by some numbers) send me the _complete_ lens info. For example, I have a le ns labeled "Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. - Rochester, N.Y.,U.S.A. - Gold Dot - Mage nta Dot - Protar V. - 90mm E.F. - f/18 - UF3271". The rear element has a matching serial number (only). Pl ease also include any other info that might help us date the lens: if you are th e original owner, when you purchased it; if your lens is still in its' original box, any other labeling info on the box; any sequence info such as "must be afte r x because of ... but can't be after y because of ...", etc., etc. Please also include any pieces of B&L history or "lore" that might shed light on this proble m.
2. I will collect all your submissions for a few weeks and then re-post them h ere and to the rec.photo.equipment.large-format newsgroup (and perhaps also the cryptology newsgroup)
3. Hopefully a pattern will develop that will help us decode at least part of the sequence.
As you'll notice in my example, I included every piece of info on lens with a "-" between parts of the label. I don't know if there will be any changes in the labeling structure that might help us decode the sequence but, just in c ase, please send it all.
Also it has been suggested that, if the lens is in a shutter, we might be able t o use the shutter info tohelp date it so, if yours is in a shutter please also i nclude; shutter type, size, description, serial number.
If the code is like Kodak's, it's fairly simple - two element, direct substitution, with the second element 1-9 or 0 and the first element 4-9 (the co de isn't reported to have started until after WWII --- anybody know otherwise - or when it stopped?). If we're lucky it might be fairly simple -- like if the s erial numbers don't reset to zero each year. Sound like fun?? Please take a second to help. The larger the "example pool" we have, the better our chances of success. Thanks Brian Downey
* The Kodak code is CAMEROSITY where C=1, A=2, etc. (e.g. a lens with a serial number beginning with RA was manufactured in 1952).
Bausch & Lomb Lens Date Code
Hello Brian:
I found your B&L serial # post in the archives, so I don't know if you ever got it solved.
Anyway, I have a f/5.6 508mm (20 inch) B&L telephoto anastigmat that I'm using on my Agfa/Ansco
8x10. It has the serial # MS7137R, and I'd love to know its history. It looks like it was made for
a military or space operation, is huge, and weighs a ton.
Thanks,
MM
Bausch & Lomb Lens Date Code
Mark, what do you use for a shutter on that monster lens and how well does it shoot?
Cheers,
Dan
Re: Bausch & Lomb Lens Date Code
Wow, someone else has this lens. I have the same Bausch & Lomb Opt. Co Telephoto Anastigmat Focal Length 20 inch (508MM) f/5.6. Serial number of mine is US1616R.
I have read that this lens is from a Korean War era bomber camera. Unfortunately, mine came from a junk yard and although externally is not bent up, it is dirty on the inside and the aperture ring does not work.
Re: Bausch & Lomb Lens Date Code
baush & lomb telephoto anastigmat 20'' (508mm) f/5.6 #5 universal shutter..app. 2 1/4 lb not to bad. sn# vf7879r. ??? my studio partner of years had this lens, it seems to cover 8x10. I really havent used. all clean and works, only a 1/50 speed. lou.@ photo gizmo, called it a 3rd bace lens. pre-focus and shoot. any way ? any news about this (elvis) hunk a hunk a lens ? thanks
Re: Bausch & Lomb Lens Date Code
If not too late:
B&L Tessar 1c 164mm f 4.5 UF152 in a Betax No 3 shutter
Re: Bausch & Lomb Lens Date Code
@Maretzo: Well, your lens is from 1942 and the #152 made in that year
@pin-register: your lens is from 1944 and #7879 made in that year
@robotnumber10: your lens is from 1942 and #1616 made in that year
@mark: your's is from 1942 and #7137 made in that year
Hope that helps a bit,
Cheers,
Re: Bausch & Lomb Lens Date Code
Ok, Klaus, share the code, direct us to the magic table, or share the magic table with us.
Cheers,
Dan
Re: Bausch & Lomb Lens Date Code
If your neighbor, the "Zeiss Historical Pesident" does'nt do it, giving a great role model - why should I...??
.
.
.
give me a bit, I'll make it available, I'm not that type....
Re: Bausch & Lomb Lens Date Code
But Klaus, you're not my neighbor. Unlike you, he's never consigned me to the outer darkness.
Cheers,
Dan