Big Ross lens - any info?

[Emil Schildt]

NOT a valuation, but merely a question..

A friend of mine has just bought a nice old and big Ross lens. Serial nr 4022 which makes it rather old...

Old Ross spelling type. Waterhouse which must be a later "addition" (doesn't look too good to me..)

FL about 660mm (26") and F about 6 (diameter of both glasses 11.5cm - height 19cm) (no flange - no Hood...)

So here's the question from him: are there anything you can tell about this lens (a name / nr or so) or should I just tell him: It is a very nice and very big Petzval lens and I am jealoux...?

[Emil Schildt]

edit as I thought the 660mm sounded crazy - he focused on a piece of paper...

so I think 500 sounds better but I will know tomorrow...

[goamules]

Wow, good find. I have some dates , let me see if I can give you a guess. I have a serial number 5xx (three digit) which when I researched it a few years ago led me to 1843. I also have a 47xx serial that I put 1852. So if we say they made 466 each of those 9 years, yours would be about 1850 or 1851.

These old Ross's are iconic. Just about the first Petzvals made in the UK, and along with Voigtlanders, some of the first ever.

[Tin Can]

We all are envious, so that's an Ostrich egg...

:)

[Emil Schildt]

thanks - I didn't realize it was that old - I thought maybe 1850ish...

So no fancy name? Just a great find? (which is ok actually...)

[Emil Schildt]

We all are envious, so that's an Ostrich egg...

:)

:D :D :D must be!!

[brandon13]

looks to be about the same dimensions my old ross 16 inch FL f4.7 petzval I used to own if it was without the flange but that's obviously a 405mm lens. Is it possible they are off by 95mm?

[Emil Schildt]

looks to be about the same dimensions my old ross 16 inch FL f4.7 petzval I used to own if it was without the flange but that's obviously a 405mm lens. Is it possible they are off by 95mm?

possible - night time here now - he will mesure more correctly tomorrow...

[ic-racer]

So here's the question for him: Is there anything additional you can tell about this lens? Cost, provenance, coverage, number and condition of elements, sharpness, intended use, examples of images?

[Jim C.]

Your friend needs to buff it up to a high shine ! ;)

[Emil Schildt]

Your friend needs to buff it up to a high shine ! ;)

Oh Dear God, no...

[Emil Schildt]

So here's the question for him: Is there anything additional you can tell about this lens? Cost, provenance, coverage, number and condition of elements, sharpness, intended use, examples of images?

I know the cost - provinance... he is working on making a flange - images later...

[Jim C.]

Oh Dear God, no...

Joking of course !

[Emil Schildt]

thank God.. :D

[Steven Tribe]

The 1864 Ross catalogue (CCHarrison) mentions a 5" 20" efl portrait lens that covers 18x16" and a 6" 24" efl that covers 22x18". So we Talking about something like the A series from Dallmeyer.
Brandon13's size is the no.4 - the bigger sizes didn't have a number.

[Emil Schildt]

The 1864 Ross catalogue (CCHarrison) mentions a 5" 20" efl portrait lens that covers 18x16" and a 6" 24" efl that covers 22x18". So we Talking about something like the A series from Dallmeyer.
Brandon13's size is the no.4 - the bigger sizes didn't have a number.

thanks - I think it is the 20" (he mesured to about 49-50cm.. the coverage is great. Good find.

[Emil Schildt]

apparent ly the lens have been sold by W. Morley...

Quote: "Sold by W. Morley on it and the address 70 Upperstreet, Islington, N. and a number."

[Steven Tribe]

Morley was a big early dealer in Ross lenses. I have a Ross C de V with his name on the reverse and his own extra serial number.

But Morley was only at this address from 1857, and this must have been a second-hand item by then.

[Emil Schildt]

Morley was a big early dealer in Ross lenses. I have a Ross C de V with his name on the reverse and his own extra serial number.

But Morley was only at this address from 1857, and this must have been a second-hand item by then.

thanks - I'll pass this on..

[Steven Tribe]

It look like Morley added details everytime a lens passed through his hands, either new or secondhand. Even he has seen it before. This double sale is again on an early Rofs (Ross) engraved lens.


The big Petzval has now a new flange and brass lens hood.