Info on 11x17 to 16x20 Portrait Group Lens needed.

[Greg]

OK yet another lens question... Pre-purchasing my 11x14" Chamonix, had a brass lens mounted into a Copal 3 shutter by S K Grimes. Lens was: f/9.5 "Portrait Group 11x17 to 16x20 New York Lens Co. Sole U L Agents No 834". Focal length seems to be around 600mm. Couldn't find reference to it in the Vade Mecum. Could anybody shed light on this optic? Stopped down totally covers 11x14 with excellent image sharpness. Am totally happy with the image this optic produces.

thanks

Greg

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Greg are you sure it says 11 x 17? Mine is a 14 x 17 to 16 x 20 Portrait group lens. F-8 to F-44. New York Lens Co. #831. Great lens that covers my 14 x 17's wide open. Don't know for sure but most likely a rapid rectilinear. Great find. Got mine cheap!

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Does it look like this?

[Greg]

Jim,

Dug up the original brass lens barrel the lens came with and it does read 14x17. Mine had only a slot for T-stops. Have to conclude that the iris of in a Copal #3 shutter limits the max aperture to f/9.5.

Greg