B&L Zeiss Tessar IIb - date from serial number?

Printable View

20-Feb-2007, 20:23
Doug Kerr

B&L Zeiss Tessar IIb - date from serial number?

Greetings,

I just acquired a B&L Zeiss Tessar IIb "6-1/2 x 8-1/2" size barrel lens. It is of the old style, with brass finish and the manufacturer's name engraved on the aperture ring.

It is apparently the No. 8 size of the Tessar IIb, which in the 1906 B&L catalog is in fact "rated" to cover a 6-1/2" x 8-1/2" plate wide open. By 1920, the same size of this same model lens (with the same parameters) was rated to cover an 8" x 10" plate, larger yet at smaller apertures. (Marketing engineering!) This is discussed here in this thread:

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...ad.php?t=23243

The lens has serial number 1052620. Can anyone relate this to the date of manufacture of the lens?

An interesting piece of trivia is that engraved on the retaining ring of the reamost element is: "BACK." (period and all).

Thanks.
21-Feb-2007, 05:19
Dan Fromm

Re: B&L Zeiss Tessar IIb - date from serial number?

Because engraved "Zeiss," pre-1917 or so.

The VM reports two B&L serial numbers 1,8xx,xxx from 1914, so pre-1914. The VM also remarks "by 1903, production was about 500,000."
21-Feb-2007, 05:45
Doug Kerr

Re: B&L Zeiss Tessar IIb - date from serial number?

Hi, Dan,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Fromm

Because engraved "Zeiss," pre-1917 or so

Ah, so.

Quote:

The VM reports two B&L serial numbers 1,8xx,xxx from 1914, so pre-1914. The VM also remarks "by 1903, production was about 500,000."

Well, I forgot to look in the VM!

Thanks so much.

Best regards,

Doug
21-Feb-2007, 14:21
Jim Noel

Re: B&L Zeiss Tessar IIb - date from serial number?

You will find the info you need on this link.

http://home.sprynet.com/~stspring/Zeiss%20Ikon.html
21-Feb-2007, 15:09
Dan Fromm

Re: B&L Zeiss Tessar IIb - date from serial number?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Noel

You will find the info you need on this link.

http://home.sprynet.com/~stspring/Zeiss%20Ikon.html

Sorry, Jim, that link points to a Zeiss chronology. The lens in question was made by Bausch & Lomb, not CZJ. B&L had their own numbering scheme.
22-Feb-2007, 06:53
Doug Kerr

Re: B&L Zeiss Tessar IIb - date from serial number?

Hi, Dan,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Fromm

Sorry, Jim, that link points to a Zeiss chronology. The lens in question was made by Bausch & Lomb, not CZJ. B&L had their own numbering scheme.

Yes, I had stumbled on that site earlier, but found as you point out that it refers to actual Carl Zeiss Jena production.

Jim: Thanks anyway.

By the way, here is the lens mounted on Orange Crate, our mystery 8x10 studio camera:

http://images.dak.home.att.net/camer...FR_E24748R.jpg

It has a gigantic Packard Ideal no. 5 shutter behnd it.

The lens board is made from laminate flooring!

Best regards,

Doug