help identify first Petztval

**IanG** · 29-Jul-2012, 09:24

If anyone can shed some light on the origins of this lens it would be appreciated.

Picked up this lens today at a Flea market, it looked terrible but has cleaned up fine, optics are excellent. It has a slot for Waterhouse stops, is 5" overall lenght (ex hood) elements 2.5" diameter, FL approx 11" just covers 5"x4". It was sold as a projection lens but the seller hadn't spotted the slot for the stops which slot in the side and between two round disks inside the barrel.

All the mud and grime washed off the lens elements and the spiders that lived in the barrel now have a new home.

Ian

**Louis Pacilla** · 29-Jul-2012, 11:20

Did the rare /front glass have any writing on them? I'm guessing not or you would have mentioned that. More than likely it was manufactured by Darlot as they where prolific it providing many camera manufacturers and Supply houses with lenses with the barrels with out engravings. Leaving it up to the other merchants to engrave or in some cases like yours, not engrave the lenses barrel at all.

BTW -I would think The hood is not original to the lens but cool and OVER sized a little

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**IanG** · 29-Jul-2012, 12:29

Thanks Louis, your right there's no lettering at all anywhere on the lens, also the oversized lens hood is at the wrong end of the lens

The seller thought the "lens hood" part was possibly part of a projector but I doubt it. The hood is quite well made but I'd agree probably made later, it fits the lens flange and may incorporate the original retaining ring.

I'll use the lens with a Thornton Pickard or similar shutter fitted on the front anyway, I've a few that'll fit.

Ian

**goamules** · 29-Jul-2012, 14:36

The large brass part you are calling a hood is most likely part of the magic lantern projector it was on. Look around on the web and you'll see some have this. Often the companies would use whatever lenses they could get for their projectors, and I've seen several mounted with waterhouse stop cut lenses. I'm sure the seller just disassembled the parts that looked interesting or seemed to go together. It's not a hood. But if you cut it down and drill some screw holes, you'll have a flange.

**Steven Tribe** · 29-Jul-2012, 16:45

Garrett is absolutely right.
This will fit in the russian iron casing of a scrapped magic lantern.

**IanG** · 30-Jul-2012, 01:05

Thanks Garrett, I was showing the lens to an engineer friend last night and his instant comment was the "hood" didn't match the lens - he meant in terms of build quality. That would match what you're saying, that the magic lantern manufacturer used what lenses they could find available..

The retaining ring is possibly soldered into the "hood" but I'll try to find another ring first as it isn't very wide and may not be original, I know someone with a few that may fit. I'd also like to keep the lens as I bought it with the hood, adding some Waterhouse stops.

Ateven, I've never really looked closely at how early magic lantern projectors are made so maybe it's time I did

The seller has had them occasionally at camera fairs.

Now to find some Waterhouse stops.

Ian