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Thread: Voigtlander & Sohn No. 9, ca. 1875

  1. #1

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    Voigtlander & Sohn No. 9, ca. 1875

    I picked up a very large lens this weekend from an antique store in Houston, Texas that I'm hoping to find more information about. The lens measures 19" long and 7.5" across the lens hood. It is still in the possession of a friend that found it and informed me of its existence so these are the only dimensions I have at the moment. The coolest part of the purchase was that the original shipping box was included with the purchase, it had the hand painted address of a photographer in Tyler, Texas on the front.

    I shoot the historically common sizes (9th -whole plate) so I'm not familiar with large format lenses, but the fact that it was a Texas ID'd lens was all I needed to pick it up. Does anyone have any information on this lens? It was described to me on Facebook as a No.9 or 9A, but I haven't been able to uncover much info online.

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    I appreciate any help,

    Cody Mobley
    Last edited by codymobley; 6-Sep-2017 at 16:00.

  2. #2

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    Re: Voigtlander & Sohn No. 9, ca. 1875

    Hmm. Is that the price tag I see in the second photo? Wish there were a few antique shops like that round my part of the world

    Sorry I can't help, I'm sure a few people here will be able to though.

  3. #3

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    Re: Voigtlander & Sohn No. 9, ca. 1875

    Yes, I purchased it for $295.00. Which is roughly half the price of my least expensive half plate lens that I use the most.

  4. #4

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    Re: Voigtlander & Sohn No. 9, ca. 1875

    The price is a joke and you will have a bad (but elated) feeling about this for a long time!

    If it is a 9, then the most likely is the series IV Euryscope.
    This has a focal length of 46" and the front lens is 6 1/2" across. The Waterhouse slot should be midway between the two symmetrical lens cells. If it is this one, it will cover 40x50". Cost 890 usd in 1890. Measure the approx. focal length (from the Waterhouse slot) and the diameter of the front glass and we can say more!
    Last edited by Steven Tribe; 5-Sep-2017 at 09:39. Reason: cm to inches!!

  5. #5

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    Re: Voigtlander & Sohn No. 9, ca. 1875

    Quote Originally Posted by Steven Tribe View Post
    The price is a joke and you will have a bad feeling about this for a long time!

    If it is a 9, then the most likely is the series IV Euryscope.
    This has a focal length of 46cm and the front lens is 6 1/2" across. The Waterhouse slot shouĉd be midway between the two symmetrical lens cells. If it is this one, it will cover 40x50cm easily. Cost 890 usd in 1890. Measure the approx. focal length (from the Waterhouse slot) and the diameter of the front glass and we can say more!
    I think Steven meant 46 inches with 6 1/2 inches across, which translated to ~1168mm f/7. Still doesn't reduce it in any way, as one insane sweet deal you got there. The information can be found at http://www.antiquecameras.net/1890lenscatalogue.html on the 7th page of the catalog .

  6. #6

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    Re: Voigtlander & Sohn No. 9, ca. 1875

    Yes correct. I have changed the cm to inches. I was using the Prochnow book and some of the catalogue listing he reproduces are from the USA agency.

    If the lens hood is 6 1/2", then the front lens must be less than this. So I don't think we are talking about no. 9.
    More likely, no.8 which has the front lens diameter at just over 5" and covers merely 30x36" with a focal length of 32".

    The brass condition is exceptional for this date, lets hope the glass is OK too.

  7. #7

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    Re: Voigtlander & Sohn No. 9, ca. 1875

    Quote Originally Posted by Steven Tribe View Post
    Yes correct. I have changed the cm to inches. I was using the Prochnow book and some of the catalogue listing he reproduces are from the USA agency.

    If the lens hood is 6 1/2", then the front lens must be less than this. So I don't think we are talking about no. 9.
    More likely, no.8 which has the front lens diameter at just over 5" and covers merely 30x36" with a focal length of 32".

    The brass condition is exceptional for this date, lets hope the glass is OK too.
    I can't comment on the focal length, but on OP's second picture, you can tell the hood is in the excess of 7 inches (~7 1/2''), and the rear's glass itself on the first picture is pretty big as well. As said earlier, this is one insane deal. Looking forward to see it use on ULF plates.

  8. #8

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    Re: Voigtlander & Sohn No. 9, ca. 1875

    Quote Originally Posted by codymobley View Post
    Yes, I purchased it for $295.00. Which is roughly half the price of my least expensive half plate lens that I use the most.
    Well, sounds like you were ripped off with the half plate lenses, so this evens up the score Good luck with the lens! Pity there isn't a camera attached to it.

  9. #9

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    Re: Voigtlander & Sohn No. 9, ca. 1875

    If I could give a bit more information?

    It doesn't appear to have the small size number above the normal engraving - next to the edge.

    This may be because they didn't make many of this size. It was made in the period when Voigtlander did not engrave Euryscope on their barrels. In addition, the various series II to VI were still under development. So this could be a lens which doesn't quite fit the speed or focal length of the strict Euryscope series.

  10. #10

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    Re: Voigtlander & Sohn No. 9, ca. 1875

    I don't know how many antique stores are accessible without a boat nowadays in Huston area but this is a lucky find. The seller clearly wasn't a photographer. It is not a IV type, I bought one for someone a few years ago. You can unscrew the mid section to make it easier to carry. It was still a struggle for me to bring the two sections as carry-on onto a flight.

    Tuant

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