What sort of Pinkham & Smith is this?

[SR95RACER]

Around 1905, both Bausch and Lomb and Wollensak did a large business supplying lenses to supply houses like Hyatt in St. Louis, Northern in Minn. Sears Roebuck, Montgomery Wards, etc. Both of them supplied lenses that the "houses" would then engrave their names on and sell.

Later on, around 1912 or 1913 I think, Pinkham & Smith began manufacturing their own line of soft focus lenses. They are catalogued. For instance, the $12,500 one that recently showed up on EBAY is the real deal. Catalogued and made by P&S. Yes, they did borrow some barrel components later on from Wollensak, but the lenses were there own. The earliest soft focus lenses, the Semi Achromats were in barrels quite different from any B&L or Wollensak and are unique. Any of the catalogued soft focus lenses are beyond special and priced accordingly.

Where ignorance happens is when folks think these early 1905-ish ordinary rebranded petzval's are one and the same with the later catalogued soft focus lenses and pay idiotic prices for a Bausch and Lomb petzval.

Believe whatever you wish about me or what I am claiming, this is all I'm going to say about this.

I prefer to think that it is a Wollensak barrel and not a Bausch and Lomb one,there is history to support the Wollensak claim and no history behind a Bausch and Lomb and Pinkham & Smith association.When we make a statement , we also have to provide some context or solid proof of our claims .For exemple ,the synthetic version of Pinkham and Smith uses a Studio shutter from Wollensak and the Bi Quality uses the barrel and iris of a Wollensak Verito,there's your context and solid proof .Until someone post some pictures of a original Pinkham with a Volute or Compound shutter,or mounted on a Bausch and Lomb barrel and yet cataloged ,i'll stick to my claim . But since you claim it is a Bausch and Lomb lens,to which Bausch and Lomb lens should i compare it to ?Let's not trash a piece of history with claims but with context and solid proof . I have no relationship with that seller or even know him ,until proven otherwise with real facts and solid evidence ,that lens is a legit Pinkham & Smith and a rare one .

[Jim Galli]

I prefer to think that it is a Wollensak barrel and not a Bausch and Lomb one,there is history to support the Wollensak claim and no history behind a Bausch and Lomb and Pinkham & Smith association.When we make a statement , we also have to provide some context or solid proof of our claims .For exemple ,the synthetic version of Pinkham and Smith uses a Studio shutter from Wollensak and the Bi Quality uses the barrel and iris of a Wollensak Verito,there's your context and solid proof .Until someone post some pictures of a original Pinkham with a Volute or Compound shutter,or mounted on a Bausch and Lomb barrel and yet cataloged ,i'll stick to my claim . But since you claim it is a Bausch and Lomb lens,to which Bausch and Lomb lens should i compare it to ?Let's not trash a piece of history with claims but with context and solid proof . I have no relationship with that seller or even know him ,until proven otherwise with real facts and solid evidence ,that lens is a legit Pinkham & Smith and a rare one .

You're absolutely spot on correct and I think you ought to bid it to the moon. I'd like to see you pay about $4800 for that lens. Brilliant.

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Based on the typeface alone, I would agree with Jim, this is a B&L made lens. Anyhow, much of the "collectors" value (as opposed to users value) of the lens has been thrown out by polishing the brass.

[SR95RACER]

You didn't answer to what Bausch and Lomb lens i should compare it to ...

[BarryS]

You didn't answer to what Bausch and Lomb lens i should compare it to ...

Which Wollensak are you comparing the lens to---the Vesta? I ask because I've never seen a 15.5" Vesta and they were marketed under many names. The Vesta 8x10 was a 14" lens. My own whole plate version of the Vesta is a Seneca Series A Portrait lens. The hood is certainly similar to the P&S lens in the auction, but beyond that--the barrel style is different.

From what I've seen, Wollensak lenses are very well documented in the catalogs that survive, but either B&L wasn't very good at cataloging their products, or many of the catalogs aren't readily available. Jim owns (and has owned) a lot of lenses and I know he's familiar with the B&L Petzvals--so I'd think hard before dismissing his identification.

[benrains]

You didn't answer to what Bausch and Lomb lens i should compare it to ...

The lens I'd compare it to is the Eastman Portrait Series B f/5 lens, as found here in this vintage catalog advertistment--

http://books.google.com/books?id=r_H...20lens&f=false

I don't know whether these were made by Bausch & Lomb and resold by Eastman Kodak and others, or whether Eastman made them themselves, but everything thing about the P&S in question in terms of its look and design, including the engraving font, matches up with the examples of the Eastman Portrait Series lenses I've seen.

[SR95RACER]

I'm comparing the the one on Ebay to this one on page 19 http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/...lensak_10.html .My point is , wollensak has a history with Pinkham but not with Bausch and Lomb .Here is my proof .But i'll be happy to to change my statement if someone can provide provide a similar looking lens made by Bausch and Lomb .We can say that Wollensak had been supplying P&S with barrels since at least 1906 .There is the context and proof of their relationship .

[seven]

here's a picture of my Kodak lens, as you can see it's the same as the P&S for sell.

[goamules]

...Now , i just can't bring myself to think that the Smith co .would market a B&L lens or whatever other availliable at the time ,and built their company name as a lens manufacture on top of that ...

...My point is , wollensak has a history with Pinkham but not with Bausch and Lomb .Here is my proof .But i'll be happy to to change my statement if someone can provide provide a similar looking lens made by Bausch and Lomb .We can say that Wollensak had been supplying P&S with barrels since at least 1906 .There is the context and proof of their relationship .

It seems your statements are changing on their own anyway. What, are you researching as you write these posts? Buy the "pinkham and smith" for $4500, it's all yours.

[Jim Galli]

Here's one with the Hyatt name. Note that they claimed exclusive. They didn't know those rascals up on Boylston street were selling them too. Probably exlusive in St. Louie.