Dallmeyer 5A... teaser

[goamules]

I've got an 1880s EH Anthony catalog that shows a 5A covered 15x15, and cost $450. That was a LOT of money back then, similar to $9500 today.

[Steven Tribe]

£50 in 1892 can be computed as representing the following to-day.

A. Using selling price alone items - £4,240.

or B. Using average incomes then compared with now - £19,700

[OldCrow]

That is simply amazing. It was a huge chunk of a persons income. This might help to show why it is so rare.

I think I need to make the time to get to the warehouse and dig it out and make a lens board for the 8A and shoot some plates with it.

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Sean McKenna, when he checked the serial number of mine, told me that my lens was the only 5A made that year (1870). This seems rather abstract, but to put it in context, how may 11x14 or larger portraits you have seen from the 19th century? At that time you can find lots of 2x3 carte-de-visites, or 4x6 cabinets, but larger portraits were pretty rare.

[OldCrow]

How do I get in touch with Sean Mackenna? Do I simply email him through his site?

You are very right on that Jason. You do not see many images of that size surviving today...