Your Oldest Lens

[Geoffrey_5995]

Hi GB,

My bet is that the lens dates to the 1845-50 period. While they were making cameras fairly early (before their patented bellow camera), I believe their lenses were a bit later.. Attached is an account from Henry J. Lewis from 1886.

Dan

Thanks Dan, Great info. Now I need to read the rest of the posts in this thread. GB

[Geoffrey_5995]

Geoff - can you post a pic of your Lewis lens? I think I have photos of one I owed many years ago to compare it to....

Dan

Hi Dan, Will get a pic posted as soon as I get a moment. GB

[CCHarrison]

Hi Garrett,

There were American made lenses right from the start with John Roach, Henry Fitz and a few others. You really need to check out the book above. You should also read Images & Enterprise by Jenkins http://www.amazon.com/dp/0801835496?...merabooks.html
which outlines manufacturers in America from 1839 on.... Very small numbers mind you, and focused in NY City. And yes, Voigtlander's (and Ross) were re-sold by everyone, but were very expensive which is why there were cheaper American made "tubes" made/sold almost immediately.

Lastly, if you are interested, I can send you an article written by Matt Isenberg on early equipment... For those who dont know, Matthew maintains the largest collection of American made Dag Cameras in the world and is the leading authority on the subject (and a heck of a nice guy too !) you can email me at dcolucci AT aol.com

Best
Dan

[goamules]

Sure, I'd love a copy. I sent you an email. I'd read that first book you'd mentioned, when I checked it out of the Center for Creative Photograpy's library a while ago. I'd forgotten. They have a lot of early periodicals too. I go there when I research some of the strange equipment I encounter, like my reversing prism. It turns out Matt said it wasn't as early as I'd hoped. Yeah...he knows his stuff.

[Two23]

Anyone have any info on American lens maker John Dean (1860s?), or a photo of his lenses? Or, have I been asking too difficult questions here? There was a stereo photographer named Alfred A. Hart who took a lot of railroad photos in that time period in California, and he used a pair of John Dean lenses. They appear to be radial drive Petzvals. Is that a curious choice for landscapes? Wouldn't the newly available rapid rectilinear lenses have been a better choice?


Kent in SD

[CCHarrison]

Kent

Saw the reference to "John Dean" lenses, but I dont believe he was an optician. The closest match is to John Dean & Co. who was a BIG seller of tintype plates and other "soft" photographic supplies. Perhaps, he resold some lenses in the 1860's with his name on them as was pretty common.

Dan

[Two23]

Kent

Perhaps, he resold some lenses in the 1860's with his name on them as was pretty common.

That would make a lot of sense. Thanks.


Kent in SD

[Geoffrey_5995]

Geoff - can you post a pic of your Lewis lens? I think I have photos of one I owed many years ago to compare it to....

Dan

Hi Dan, Here are the pics of the Large Lewis #282. Pics of other lenses to follow. Geoff

[Geoffrey_5995]

Dan, These are pics of my smaller Lewis #697. Geoff

[Geoffrey_5995]

And these are pics of the Gardner & Harrison. Geoff