Darlot/Jamin casket set

[Emil Schildt]

just got one...

But I don't know anything about it. The VM doesn't mention a lot (just "several"), and the one description is dated much later than this one must be, as the Jamin name is written on it.

Original case - "secret" compartment in the lid where the original flange and a front plate was hiding..

beautiful condition.
Compleate as I can tell.

on the lens is written "B" and "PORTRAIT" - on the base of the barrel it says "A".

I am almost sure the Portrait "mode" is a petzval...

6 extra lenses to combine - 8 waterhouse stops.

Anybody know about this kind of set?

see images:

[Emil Schildt]

a few more images:

[Sven Schroder]

Hi
I have an orphan portrait combination and no other cells, it is a petzval I confirmed that when I cleaned it. Mine is marked Darlot Opticiens paris 1008, not a lot of help!
Regards
Sven

[Emil Schildt]

thanks anyway.

Mine has a serial number 288 (very low?)

[goamules]

thanks anyway.

Mine has a serial number 288 (very low?)

Using Jamin and/or Darlot serial numbers to determine dates is pretty impossible.

That is a very low number, however, the fact that it reads "Anc ne Mon Jamin..." and "Darlot" indicates it is after Darlot took over the Jamin company, so not as early as the 228 number would make you think. If I recall, this type of marking would be around ~1860 - 1869, still very early, but not a mid 1850s lens.

I am beginning to believe they either used a separate serial number range for different designs (Cone Centralizer vs Landscape, etc.) or restarted numbering at certain points, like after Jamin died. All of this is hypothesis...research is needed but difficult on Darlots, their numbers are all over the map.

[goamules]

Hey, great find! I've seen most of the early Jamin's have the pieces marked, perhaps to help the owner keep track of the configurations on more complicated designs. A - typically the flange, B - typically the main barrel, etc. Very lucky to find the hidden flange inside!

[CCHarrison]

Please see the attached entry in Cassell's 1912 Encyclopedia of Photography regarding Darlot's casket set..

Dan

[Emil Schildt]

Please see the attached entry in Cassell's 1912 Encyclopedia of Photography regarding Darlot's casket set..

Dan

almost word by word the description in VM(?)...
and it sounds like a description of mine.

the 5 cells (beautifully made!!) have numbers on them:

F:11
F:17
F:27
F:38
F:38

the sixth one looke slightly different - has no numbers, and looks like a cell to be put at the back of the barrel (?)

8 watehouse stops with the numbers:

2-5-6-7-12-15-18-29 (maybe millimeters? the biggest numbers has the biggest hole)

[Ole Tjugen]

almost word by word the description in VM(?)...
and it sounds like a description of mine.

the 5 cells (beautifully made!!) have numbers on them:

F:11
F:17
F:27
F:38
F:38

the sixth one looke slightly different - has no numbers, and looks like a cell to be put at the back of the barrel (?)

8 watehouse stops with the numbers:

2-5-6-7-12-15-18-29 (maybe millimeters? the biggest numbers has the biggest hole)

Just guessing here...

The numbers on the cells would be focal lengths in cm. Maybe the sixth cell is a "flat" correction cell to be used with single cells? That could be why it has no number - no focal length?

The progression of numbers on the stops looks odd, but I think it could very well be hole diameter in mm. A simple measurement will confirm this.

I have a piece of cardboard which I pin to the wall at the end of a corridor. By focussing the image of the window at the other end of the corridor on the cardboard, I can read the focal length of the lens off a simple chart, calibrated with several modern lenses and a classic 15-25-35-45-55-65-75 casket set.

[Steven Tribe]

This must be 300462624800! Quick post as always from the UK. Looks much nicer now you have given the set a deserving photo session!