J C Somerville

[lenser]

The recent thread about Dallmever lenses sent me checking on some of my other brass beauties, one of which is engraved as a 3 J C Somerville, St Louis. Marked f stops range from f 8 to f44, but there are factory scribe marks on either end that seem to indicate that the actual range may be from f5.6 to f64. Serial number is #2873 and it is also engraved 8x10, presumably for the coverage. It is a barrel lens which requires a Packard style shutter.

So far, I can't find any other examples of this lens which leads me to guess it is rebranded from some other manufacturer.

Can anyone out there enlighten me? (Value is important, but history is much more so.)

Thanks.

Tim

[lenser]

Images

[goamules]

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...Somerville-who
http://www.largeformatphotography.in...ght=somerville
http://www.largeformatphotography.in...ght=somerville

They were a big reseller or supply house starting in the late 1800s. They didn't manufacturer any lenses. . I've seen B&L rapid rectilinears and unknown maker lenses marked by them.

[lenser]

Garrett,

Many thanks for these. I had found a couple of the site references, but I seem to always have lots of trouble with the search function. The ads are a very welcome addition.

Tim