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Thread: Suter serial numbers and dates.

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  1. #1

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    Suter serial numbers and dates.

    Suter's products have always been of special interest to me, especialy the large fast Euroskop type.
    There is, apparently, a dearth of catalogues and uncertainty about serial numbers and date of production.

    I am pretty sure that the data in Lens Vade Mecum is reasonably correct. That is, that Suter were a late starting firm - just before 1890. This is in some contradiction with the date given to Suter Petzvals in auctions and the Dan's article on Petzvals which talks about the 1850's!

    Obviously, there are a lot of Suters around and in use, so this won't be an attempt to list all. But there are a few model change markers which might help:

    1. The engravings on Petzvals changed at some stage (twice?).
    2. The anastigmatic series (I and III) were introduced.
    3. The rapid aplanat became series B and the series A (F.6) began.
    4. The F.5 rapid aplanat introduced (US F scale and modern F scale).
    5. When the licensed Zeiss protars were made.
    5. Plasmats introduced.
    6. Landscape meniscus production.
    7. Stella(r) production.

    I thought I could start with making some lists of products with serial numbers based on earlier posts here as well as my own collection. Which could then be added to?

    This would be an ideal place for any Suter catalogues to be posted - if anyone has one!
    Last edited by Steven Tribe; 9-Feb-2017 at 13:10.

  2. #2

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    Re: Suter serial numbers and dates.

    An example:

    serial number 577 is a 42cm ordinary F.8 Aplanat - no series marking at this date.

  3. #3

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    Re: Suter serial numbers and dates.

    I have now approximately 40 suter serial numbers with series identification. I'll try and make a table in the next few days.
    Two lenses, 2,482 and 4,673, have a sole agent engraving, Allen Bros., which Dan mentioned at some time and which also appears in the lens VM (late 1880's early 1890's).

    There are quite a lot of surviving Suter cameras with original suter lenses. One from 1905 has serial no. 35,927. The date of the anastigmatic Suter Swiss patent is 1900 and the earliest anastigmatic serial number I can find is 22,309.

    So some progress, I think.

  4. #4
    LF/ULF Carbon Printer Jim Fitzgerald's Avatar
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    Re: Suter serial numbers and dates.

    Steven, if it helps I have a series B #6 that has a serial number 3052. Love the lens and need to use it more.

  5. #5
    Vaughn's Avatar
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    Re: Suter serial numbers and dates.

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Fitzgerald View Post
    Steven, if it helps I have a series B #6 that has a serial number 3052. Love the lens and need to use it more.
    I have the same lens (B #6, 13x16), #3531

    A quick portrait of one of my boys (11x14 contact silver gelatin print) with the lens. Too much light for wide open -- I think I used the f11 or f16 waterstop.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Bryce11x14a.jpg  
    "Landscapes exist in the material world yet soar in the realms of the spirit..." Tsung Ping, 5th Century China

  6. #6

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    Re: Suter serial numbers and dates.

    I own a Suter "Stella" 160mm f/5 in a Compur shutter.
    It has a special front thread and so I Žam sure that it is the shutter the lens were delivered.
    The lens has the serial 46296 and the Compur shutter has the #986078
    This dates the lens to the years 1928/29

  7. #7

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    Re: Suter serial numbers and dates.

    Jim, this is quite an early B aplanat. The earliest I have at the moment is a 2482 (Allen Bros. Sole agent). Of course, the unmarked, earlier aplanat, are also F.8 versions, like the B series.

    It is obvious that Suter made only a few Zeiss lenses under licence compared with their own 8 lens anastigmat.
    Last edited by Steven Tribe; 9-Feb-2017 at 13:02.

  8. #8
    LF/ULF Carbon Printer Jim Fitzgerald's Avatar
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    Re: Suter serial numbers and dates.

    It is in nice condition as well. Glass is clean. Like I said I need to use it more. I'm thinking late 1800's or early 1900's?

  9. #9

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    Re: Suter serial numbers and dates.

    Well before 1900 - around 1890.

    Now up over 60 lenses. Including a Landscape lens and the double plasmat.
    Last edited by Steven Tribe; 9-Dec-2021 at 14:43.

  10. #10

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    Re: Suter serial numbers and dates.

    I don't know if this is the place for members to post data on their random Suter lenses, but here is the information on mine:

    E. Suter Basle
    No 4079
    Aplanat B No 5
    13 x 11

    Rough measure of focal length around 15" to 16" (380mm to 406mm)

    Lots of patina on barrel, a large ding in the hood partially and crudely straightened, glass excellent with just a few small spots of separation around the periphery of the rear group.

    No flange or waterhouse stops. Made a temporary stop from black construction paper around f16 to f22 to look at the image on the GG. Made a temporary lens board from 1/8" Masonite and screwed the lens directly into the board. Image looked good. Plan to make stops, mount the lens on a board, and install a Packard shutter that I have behind the lens board.

    I posted on this lens once before. Saw it on Ebay and thought it was a fake because the city of origin appeared to be misspelled. Dan Fromm quickly schooled me on the spelling issue. Decided to take a chance on it and won the auction.

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