Goerz-Berlin never made "gold" lenses, did they?

[John Schneider]

This looks to me (eBay 220953604824) like somebody aftermarket anodized a gold rim, but I could be wrong ?!?

[E. von Hoegh]

That's not a Goerz Berlin lens, it's a B&J remount. The clue is the "Series" should be "Serie".Also, if it was real, it would say "Doppel Anastigmat Dagor" or maybe just "Doppel Anastigmat", with this serial number.

To answer your question, CPG Berlin never made a gold dot or gold rim lens.

[Steve Hamley]

No, they didn't. Most were brass under the black paint, so most likely you're looking at a nice patina on brass.

The seller should, and probably does know better.

It would be a nice lens at about $200-250.

Cheers, Steve

[Louis Pacilla]

I'll be honest goes. I would NOT trust columbuscameragroup with much bought on their word.This is from personal experience with this used camera shop in Columbus Ohio.

Not to be confused with the wonderful Dealings I have had with MPX Mid-West photo Exchange. They are tops.

[John Schneider]

I would NOT trust columbuscameragroup with much bought on their word. Not to be confused with the wonderful Dealings I have had with MPX Mid-West photo Exchange. They are tops.

I agree on both counts. I just hadn't seen such a lens before; not that I was going to buy it at their price. I had totally forgotten about the B&J "Series" vs. "Serie", that explains a lot. Thanks all for your input!

[E. von Hoegh]

I agree on both counts. I just hadn't seen such a lens before; not that I was going to buy it at their price. I had totally forgotten about the B&J "Series" vs. "Serie", that explains a lot. Thanks all for your input!

The hell of it is, those B&J remounts can be perfectly good lenses. They can also be crap, you have to check them out. I know of a 10 3/4" B&J Dagor that is just lovely.

But I'd never buy one without testing it.

[Leonard Robertson]

So are you saying B&J actually made up counterfeit front rings with Goerz name on them? I've read vague things of B&J making up lenses from various parts, but didn't realize they went to that much trouble.

I have the same opinion as Louis regarding Columbus Camera. I had a bad experience way back in the days when I was buying through ads in "Shutterbug". Likely none of the people involved are still working there, but the company name is still the same. When I click on an eBay auction and see their name, I automatically click off the page. From their feedback, I guess they are doing a decent job as far as most buyers are concerned, though.

Len

[E. von Hoegh]

So are you saying B&J actually made up counterfeit front rings with Goerz name on them? I've read vague things of B&J making up lenses from various parts, but didn't realize they went to that much trouble.



Len

Yes, they did. They remounted the glass in cells, and put them in shutters.. Carl Meyer was one of their names as well, playing on the popularity and quality of Hugo Meyer and Carl Zeiss. It seems Ernemann was used, too.http://www.largeformatphotography.in...212#post838212

[Leonard Robertson]

Yes, they did. They remounted the glass in cells, and put them in shutters.. Carl Meyer was one of their names as well, playing on the popularity and quality of Hugo Meyer and Carl Zeiss. It seems Ernemann was used, too.http://www.largeformatphotography.in...212#post838212

I suppose if B&J had a machinist who worked cheap, this was economically doable, for someone with minimal ethics anyway. The 1951 Goerz catalog on page 5 has a warning about this: http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/goerz_3.html I recall reading that warning many years ago and wondering what Goerz was referring to.

I have about 20 Goerz lenses, but only a couple of Berliners. I checked the 150mm and it is a proper "Serie". The other is a ancient brass barrel I doubt anyone would have counterfeited back then. But don't know about my American versions. Probably nothing to lose sleep over.

It is my understanding Goerz Berlin and Goerz American used different serial number systems, so dating a Berliner using the American number list isn't accurate. And there isn't a number list for the Berlin lenses. Does that sound right?

Len

[E. von Hoegh]

I suppose if B&J had a machinist who worked cheap, this was economically doable, for someone with minimal ethics anyway. The 1951 Goerz catalog on page 5 has a warning about this: http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/goerz_3.html I recall reading that warning many years ago and wondering what Goerz was referring to.

I have about 20 Goerz lenses, but only a couple of Berliners. I checked the 150mm and it is a proper "Serie". The other is a ancient brass barrel I doubt anyone would have counterfeited back then. But don't know about my American versions. Probably nothing to lose sleep over.

It is my understanding Goerz Berlin and Goerz American used different serial number systems, so dating a Berliner using the American number list isn't accurate. And there isn't a number list for the Berlin lenses. Does that sound right?

Len

I don't know of a serial list for Goerz Berlin. Goerz New York was a susidiary of the main firm until it split off around the end of WW1. War reparations? Quite likely.