Hello everyone,
One more request for help with identification of a Darlot lens that I recently acquired on the well-known site.
ANCneMonJAMIN
Darlot,Sr Paris
16017
The seller claimed it’s a Petzval and it looks like a typical Jamin Darlot Petzval lens with 5” body with hood and 4x5 coverage. However, when I received the parcel and disassembled the barrel it became clear that the rear lens is composed of only one glass element.
The front lens is a typical Petzval type compound glass. The edge of the front element is marked with “14 Darlot + some word I cannot decipher + (date) 1863”.
The rear lens is just one element almost flat biconvex glass with D=6cm (2 1/2”) and thickness of 5mm (about 3/16”). Nothing is written on the edge. Actually,
it’s a bit greasy compare to a clean edge of the front element.
Regarding rack & pinion mechanics it moves both elements together against the flange, so the distance between the front and rear elements doesn’t change. The barrel doesn’t have a slot for waterhouse stops. Everything in the lens is done with very high tolerances and both front and rear elements sit very tightly in the barrel. It is unlikely that the seller has substituted the rear element although you never know how smart some people can be.
The questions is what is it? Is it another "bastard junk hybrid" Petzval with substituted rear element or something else? I have already checked the forum and CCHarrison's website, but didn’t find any relevant information. Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Vassily
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