(Yet another) Darlot identification question

[Mkillmer]

I have recently received a darlot lens that I am trying to identify.
This is a typical late 1800's looking brass lens with a 3 inch body with a focusing rack and short hood. The only writing is "Darlot" "Paris" with "B.F. & Co" (no symbol).
What I am finding confusing is the lens. The front is a cemented doublet with "Darlot Paris" written on the side of the glass. There is no rear lens. Instead there is a very short brass cone about 1/2 inch high with a wooden aperture.
The front glass is 1 1/2 inches wide with a focal length of 11 inches.
My guess is that this a Darlot landscape lens (?), but I have no real proof. I can't find it in the catalogue.
Can anyone confirm the ID of the lens?
Any ideas on its age?
I am travelling so I cannot shoot with it for another week or two, but I'm very interested in its background.
Thanks in advance!

[Mkillmer]

Oh... I should have explicitly mentioned - there is no Waterhouse slot or wheel.

[Amedeus]

An image of the lens would be sooooo helpful ...

[Steven Tribe]

But whilst we wait, one can only speculate:

- that is is not (originally) a landscape lens. The ones sold from BF & Co had wheel stops.

- that it could be a Petzval barrel with the front achromat/lens hood and lost rear lens set.

- that it is a modified Projection lens - which, in Darlot's case, are almost identical to camera lenses - apart from the absence of aperture/Waterhouse stop. Gem petzvals were also without stops - but these were simple affairs without lens hoods.

CCHarrison's website (antiquecameras.net) has a Catalogue from B.French from 1890(?) showing illustrations of the Darlot range.

[Mkillmer]

Hi, Apologies for being so slow to respond... Here are some pics...
hopefully you can see, this seems like the original back - except no rear lens, jsuts the wood aperture!
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2938/14257018366_c1f70cc710_b_d.jpg
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3722/14280129865_3beb97672e_b_d.jpg
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3804/14278097392_85d8a63948_b_d.jpg

[Mark Sawyer]

Looks like a standard magic lantern lens missing the two rear elements, and someone added a couple of parts that don't belong. Perhaps in that configuration it worked okay as a projection lens, but that wooden aperture is in the worst place possible in the barrel for a camera lens.

[Fotoguy20d]

This definitely looks like a darlot projection petzval missing its rear elements. Try using just the front (preferably out of the barrel) as a landscape meniscus. You will probably find that it will cover 8x10 with some interesting effects.

I had a no name petzval in similar state. You can find some images with it on this thread (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?80931-FS-8x10-Meniscus&highlight=Meniscus).
Dan

[Mkillmer]

This definitely looks like a darlot projection petzval missing its rear elements. Try using just the front (preferably out of the barrel) as a landscape meniscus. You will probably find that it will cover 8x10 with some interesting effects.

I had a no name petzval in similar state. You can find some images with it on this thread (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?80931-FS-8x10-Meniscus&highlight=Meniscus).
Dan

Thanks Dan! I will be trying the lens out this weekend.