Large format lens restoration anyone?

[Stefan F.]

Hello,

My name is Stefan. I am from Austria. I am new to this forum.
I just bought a beautiful Goerlitz Stella 8x10" studio camera from the 1920s. It came with an interesting lens that unfortunately is in bad condition. It is a Steinheil Muenchen/Munich Triplar-Anastigmat f3,8 with unknown focal length, diameter about 10cm/3,9" x 10cm / 3,9" overall length.
The front mounting is broken, the mounting flange has a crack, the diaphragm blades are not working, the lenses show lots of dust (maybe fungus?).
Does it make sense to repair such a lens? If so who repairs such lenses - preferably anyone in Europe?

Thank you!

Best regards, Stefan

[Tin Can]

What is your goal?

Use it?

Sell it?

Learning curve is steep

[Steven Tribe]

OK Stefan!

This is not a common studio lens!
The best description I found here. https://chambre-photographique.blogspot.com/2020/08/steinheil-munchen-triplar-anastigmat.html
The damage to the aluminum body is, however, very common as this generation of aluminum alloy seems to become very brittle. Similar, but not quite so devastating, damage is often seen on early Voigtlander Heliars.

Restoration of lenses becomes very much a DIY activity as even commercial small jobs become more expensive than buying a replacement that is in better condition. There are a few simple sought after lens which justify paid restoration.

However! There is nothing about your lens that obviously excludes photographic use.

The flange may be cracked, but will be held firmly in place by the two screws seen the photo.
The iris may not move now, but is usually fairly easy to loosen. Often it is just the turning ring on the outside of the barrel which has “glued itself” to the barrel.
Non coated lenses only get loose and non-corrosive fungus which can be cleaned off. Damaged balsam layers (the front lens) can be desolved and replaced. The open hole in the lens with missing thread can be covered when (if) you take photos.

Performance will be like a Helier.
The focal length will be 3.8 x about 10 (diameter of entrance pupil). So about 36cm.

[Richard Wasserman]

I have no experience, but there is a craftsman in Taiwan who claims to be able to do repairs on old lenses. Maybe ask him if he can do what you need?

Lens-cla.blogspot/p/blog-page_19.html

[Stefan F.]

Thank you all for your feedback and help. Much appreciated!

Stefan

[nolindan]

The lens barrel may be made from pot metal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot_metal

[RockAndRolf]

It seems to me indeed a lens to restore, only that hole in the barrel is a pity. Other than that, I completely agree with Steven.
Another option is to have a new shaft made, only with waterhouse stops. This is relatively easy to do since you can measure the spacing of the elements, so you can at least use it quite normally again. You may miss your adjustable aperture, but recreating it is much more difficult/more work.
Good luck with the restoration of the lens!