"Cooke Lens Compendium" is finally published

[Barbara Lowry]

Great! I didn't miss it after all. It looks like I put it in the general history section years ago.

[David Lindquist]

And my thanks to you Barbara and your company for making this information available. Industrial history, albeit restricted to a few specific areas, is a particular interest of mine.

David

[Mark Sampson]

Ms. Lowry- many thanks for doing all this research, and publishing it for everyone to see. It's an invaluable piece of photographic history that enriches us all- even those of us who do not use Cooke lenses. ...And I'm sure you knew that you'd find some dedicated historian/editors on this site, too.

[Tri Tran]

Thanks Ms Lowry for your time and valuable information . I'm a big fan of the Cooke's lenses. Your input is much appreciated.

[Steve Goldstein]

The text under the Series XV makes mention of the Series XVa, but there's no other information about it. I also didn't see any mention of the PS945. Shouldn't these also be part of the history?

[Steven Tribe]

Hi Steven --


The IIe, IId and VIa -- guessing that the catalogues had typos in them regarding the coating, because there is a 1951 lens out there that is coated. Good eye, Steven!

Barbara,
I have a real problem with your quoting from the commentary part of old catalogues - that are obviously in error in some instances - without this being remarked on. All "Cooke" lenses after serial number around 290,000 are coated (unless someone has had a special order). I have seen approximately seven series IIe lenses after this serial number into the 1950's - and all have the same coating ex workshop.

Whilst I appreciate your efforts, just about all this data (and without the testimonials and sales pitch!) on series is available in one of the better sections, on T,T & H in the Lens Vade Mecum from 1999. They mention that the extensive T,T & H archive was deposited at the "Snibston Discovery Park" in 1998, perhaps at the same time as the Cooke Management Buy-Out? Is this perhaps a red herring and there is nothing of relevance there?

[John Layton]

Barbara,
Its been awhile - hello! Just so you know...right off the bat - that I'm still adding fontina to my pizzas!

Sadly I must also relate that my L-45A is more or less a bust at this point (despite some very enlightening intersections with Linhof and Sinar) - but I still press the five prototypes (one is now a 5x7) into service regularly!

But what a great thing that you and Les have done...bravely (very bravely!) resurrecting the old Cooke factory to carry on such a noble tradition. How can we ever thank you for this?

Oh...you are a member here - I'll shoot you a PM!

[MMELVIS]

Very nice work putting all this information together

[Kristoff]

Have looked but cant find my Anastigmat special.
Second one i have had!
5 inch 1:4.5
Serial number 286681
Can anyone tell me what its for?
Medium format or cinematography?
Thanks

[Colin D]

Greatly appreciated.