Some Soft Focus Lens Sales Information

[Emil Schildt]

You already "have" one, Emil!

well - I have but I don't own...:p

[Jim Galli]

If you've won an auction at a surprisingly low price, its hardly rare that the seller comes up with an excuse for not fulfilling the bargain. Not very upstanding, yes, but if there's significant money and little retribution from peers, people find justifications for not sticking with agreements. People, corporations, governments, you name it. They honor agreements when its too costly to deal with breaking them, by and large.

Personally, I find dwelling on conflicts to be detrimental to my shooting inclinations. And furthermore, equipment that's acquired through difficult transactions seems to carry a karma that affects later images, and conversely, lenses that came through pleasant encounters seem to carry a more positive ability to produce good images. Lenses, from Galli, for example, seem to have a natural momentum towards positive imagery, at least from my own experience.

Thanks John! What a nice thing to say.

[jumanji]

1 460 USD - Voigtlander Universal Heliar 300mm
item number - 320688824926

Last month, a Universal Heliar 360mm f4.5 in very good condition was sold on ebay Italia, just about 1000$. Poor me, can't bid because i have no cash.

[Emil Schildt]

STRUSS PICTORIAL LENS 18 IN

US $2,025.00

Item number: 250809614300

______

Dallmeyer Soft Focus f4.5 12in lens

US $0.99... ended early..

Item number: 300551142571

[Emil Schildt]

don't know this one... almost got it, but was beaten with 5$...

Adjustable Soft Portrait Lens 1:4.5 f=6

"Apex" ?

US $390.00

Item number: 320690251966

[Steven Tribe]

"Let the user Judge".
Isn't this an old Wollensak trademark?

[CCHarrison]

"Let the user Judge".
Isn't this an old Wollensak trademark?

Abouy 1913, Wollensak started to use this phrase...

Photographic Times Jan 1913

"Page nine, of the Wollensak Optical Company's new catalogue contains a guarantee which should be of interest to all purchasers of photographic goods. It is as follows:

"LET THE USER JUDGE"

That we guarantee our product is a matter of course—all reputable firms do so, but we go a step farther, and take the attitude that we don't care to make a sale unless it is to a thoroughly satisfied customer, and we don't consider it good business policy to force our goods on anyone. The merits of our products are presented in a truthful, concise manner, no claims being made for them that will not bear out our statements in every respect.

We aim to furnish the prospective customer with all necessary information regarding our product, and will be pleased to arrange a trial period of from ten to thirty days with a customer's dealer, for any of our products they may be interested in, so that they may be tried out intelligently for the work desired and in comparison with competitive articles. We are then content to "Let the User Judge" and purchase whatever suits him best."



Thats one cool little lens...must research....

Dan

[Mark Sawyer]

don't know this one... almost got it, but was beaten with 5$...

Yep, I went in the day before at $211, and hoped no one else would see it. :rolleyes: I've never heard of this one before, and couldn't find anything on it.

[Emil Schildt]

outbid again... how can I ever get to use some money? ;-)

Dallmeyer 2B

US $902.63

Item number: 280664302214

[Emil Schildt]

Dallmeyer London 3B Large Brass 12" 3.5

US $2,140.00

Item number: 260774922232

[Emil Schildt]

HERMAGIS eidoscope 275mm f4.5 BLACK PAINTED BRASS No 3

US $1,212.

Item number: 360361591333

[john wood]

This one missed my search filters... Guess I'll add 'Hermagis' and 'Berthiot'. Not a terribly bad price, actually.

[Steven Tribe]

MWClassic always seem to miss something vital in their listings - so it might be better to have them as "favorite listers".
They have changed their business policies for the last six months and anything they think is interesting goes directly into e**y rather than their own website listing.

[Emil Schildt]

MWClassic always seem to miss something vital in their listings - so it might be better to have them as "favorite listers".
They have changed their business policies for the last six months and anything they think is interesting goes directly into e**y rather than their own website listing.

true - the name eidoscope wasn't in the description....

[Steven Tribe]

After a break - something new.
Item 150604473507. Cooke IIB 10 1/2" in quite splendid condition.
Withdrawn from sale - probably after a lot of "badgering" from a lot of "eager beavers" eyeing a bargain. So no price available, unless the beaver owns up!
Mounted on what I could imagine to be a narrow rail UK version of the Eastman Century Studio - Full plate - I think?

[cdholden]

Century Studio - Full plate - I think?

Half plate. Check out the measurements on the film holders. It's a little smaller than 5x7.
Whole plate is 6.5x8.5"

[cdholden]

MWClassic always seem to miss something vital in their listings - so it might be better to have them as "favorite listers".
They have changed their business policies for the last six months and anything they think is interesting goes directly into e**y rather than their own website listing.

I don't bother anymore. I've submitted questions to them for additional info on 5-6 items in months past without a single response (or even item description update).
I think their motto is "it is what it is, sold as-is."

[Steven Tribe]

CD - the original back had been replaced by the smaller half plate on the sliding back. Film holders are for this new back. Note the extra GG.

[eddie]

After a break - something new.
Item 150604473507. Cooke IIB 10 1/2" in quite splendid condition.
Withdrawn from sale -

I vot an e mail from him. Apparently the "beavers" gave him too much info so getting it at a steal is out of the question now. He plans to reliat the lens and camera separately this Thursday. Keep an eye out.

[Emil Schildt]

I vot an e mail from him. Apparently the "beavers" gave him too much info so getting it at a steal is out of the question now. He plans to reliat the lens and camera separately this Thursday. Keep an eye out.

and "beavers" are?

and why are they called beavers...

[Steven Tribe]

Quote:

eager beaver
someone who is very enthusiastic; someone who works very hard. New volunteers are always eager beavers. The young assistant gets to work very early. She's a real eager beaver. Someone who always asks for more details about an e**y listing.

So it doesn't have a negative meaning!

[eddie]

and "beavers" are?

and why are they called beavers...

It is the largest rodent in N America. It also have a slang meaning a pert of a woman's body..... I am sure u can figure which part...:).

But, steve has the meaning you were after. I just shortened it cause of my bad spelling and could not go back and look as my I phone hates me.

Jet lag sucks. Holland is great!

[uphereinmytree]

Item number: 200605808077 Imagon 300mm 382$

[Emil Schildt]

Quote:

eager beaver
someone who is very enthusiastic; someone who works very hard. New volunteers are always eager beavers. The young assistant gets to work very early. She's a real eager beaver. Someone who always asks for more details about an e**y listing.

So it doesn't have a negative meaning!

understood.

but when I read your sentence: "probably after a lot of "badgering" from a lot of "eager beavers" eyeing a bargain"... I thought it did have a negative meaning as a lot of people seems to be annoyed (to put it mildly) when external info gets to a seller.. (?)

[eddie]

understood.

but when I read your sentence: "probably after a lot of "badgering" from a lot of "eager beavers" eyeing a bargain"... I thought it did have a negative meaning as a lot of people seems to be annoyed (to put it mildly) when external info gets to a seller.. (?)


you are right emil, it can have a negative meaning as well. think steven meant to say "
So it doesn't have to have a negative meaning!"

but yeah, people get annoyed cause everyone wants to steal the item and does not want the seller to know. my stand is there are really not many deals to steal at an auction that runs to close on e bay anymore......BUT i just got a dallmeyer 1a soft focus lens for $125 shipped to me from europe. i was ROTFLMAO that no one around here but me and one other saw it.....:)

what annoys me is that i describe all my e bay auctions well with great photos and it never gets crazy like MWClassic auctions.

eddie

[Steven Tribe]

I nearly wrote "so it doesn't have a negative meaning per se" but decided it was enough with an idiom and an "animal construction" without pandering to Romans. This is not the place for half-baked attempts at erudition.

Eddie, I saw an interesting small petzval from Dallmeyer recently too - but didn't follow-up because of the Q&A system blows the whistle and they are not on my "to have" list. We both know that the ordinary versions of these series are not marked as 1A etc. and they are identifyable through the Séan Dallmeyer ledgers or guesswork!

Eager beavers, originally both sexes, has become unisex for the obvious reason given Eddie. Strangely "Guys" has become a term that covers both sexes - to my great regret.

Note that wild beavers have been re-introduced into Denmark, not too far from Gandolfi's residence!

Welcome back to Europe.

[eddie]

Thanks. I love Europe. I will try to get a visa that allows me to stay here. Better do it before the US Govt can't pay the vig.

Nope. This one is labeled Dallmeyer 1a. turn for soft focus etc etc. :)

[goamules]

Oh, there are still treasures out there! Just not as frequent as a few years ago, when internet resources and discussions about them were scarce.

[Darren Kruger]

Struss Pictorial Lens 9" $1599

Ebay Item 120723830178 (Ended May 13th, 2011)

[cyberjunkie]

After following a lot of soft lenses auctions on the bay, i came to the conclusion that the surge in sale prices, and the great (maybe in some cases even excessive) interest that many people have for such lenses, had a very bad side effect.
A number of vendors, private or professional, seem to get totally crazy, as soon as they discover that the item they are selling is very desiderable, and that some people are willing to pay big money to get their hands on the object of their desire.
I am not complaining about a few specialized sellers, auctioning over and over the same lenses at unrealistic prices. Probably they are waiting for some guy with thick wallet, who absolutely wants THAT lens. I know very little about auction fees, but i suspect that they are paying much less than any private, small scale ebayer.
What i can't really stand are the auctions (with bids!) abruptly closed short time after the opening, or other kind of wrongdoings, in blatant violation of the rules, that take place as soon as the vendor is made aware that there is some serious money that can be made. I have seen Pinkham and Smith lenses (always the same picture!!) "sold" by scammers... but i guess that very few people reading this thread could get hurt, the scam is too naive.
I must admit that i feel more disturbed by other !
I'll report the last example of disregards for the most basic rules. First link is the original auction, it was a big studio camera, plus a nice (albeit a little short, at least for me) soft focus lens. Then somebody probably contacted the vendor - there is a good chance that he got one or more emails from somebody on this forum - and raved about the lens, maybe saying at the same time that the camera + lens combo would be very expensive to ship to the other side of the Atlantic (or somewhere else in Asia or Oceania). There were already bids, but everybody knows that Ebay pays little or no attention to trivial things like this! Despite the fact that the vendor made already public that he was willing to ship the lens free, if the camera was not required... suddenly the auction was terminated (item not available). Of course, after very little, two new auction were opened, and the supposedly unavailable stuff got split in two separate auctions: one for the lens and one for the camera!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150604473507

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cooke-Anastigmat-Portrait-Lens-IIB-10-5-inch-270mm-f4-5-/150607314816?pt=UK_Photography_VintagePhotography_VintagePhotoAccessories&hash=item2310e53f80

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wood-Brass-Kodak-Large-Format-View-Studio-Camera-No-3B-/150607327618?pt=UK_Photography_VintageCameras_SM&hash=item2310e57182

Now a small question:
would you trust somebody who does these kind of tricks?
do you consider it a minor misbehavior, just because so many people seem to follow the same route?

If i were the seller, i would have felt the obligation to leave the auction alone until its natural end. Am i too old fashioned (not too difficult, being 53)?

have fun

CJ

[Jim Galli]

After following a lot of soft lenses auctions on the bay, i came to the conclusion that the surge in sale prices, and the great (maybe in some cases even excessive) interest that many people have for such lenses, had a very bad side effect.
A number of vendors, private or professional, seem to get totally crazy, as soon as they discover that the item they are selling is very desiderable, and that some people are willing to pay big money to get their hands on the object of their desire.
I am not complaining about a few specialized sellers, auctioning over and over the same lenses at unrealistic prices. Probably they are waiting for some uy, with thick wallet, who absolutely wants THAT lens. I know very little about auction fees, but i suspect that they are paying much less than any private, small scale, ebayer.
What i can't really stand are the auctions (with bids!) abruptly closed short time after the opening, or other kind of wrongdoings, or blatant violation of the rules, that take place as soon as the vendor is made aware that there is some serious money that can be made. I have seen Pinkham and Smith lenses (always the same picture!!) "sold" by scammers... but i guess that very few people reading this thread could get hurt, the scam is too naive.
Believe it or not, i feel more disturbed by other behaviors!
I'll report the last example of disregards for the most basic rules. First link is the original auction, it was a big studio camera, plus a nice (albeit a little short, at least for me) soft focus lens. Then somebody probably contacted the vendor - there is a good chance that he got one or more emails from somebody on this forum - and raved about the lens, maybe saying at the same time that the camera + lens combo would be very expensive to ship to the other side of the Atlantic (or somewhere else in Asia or Oceania). There were already bids, but everybody knows that Ebay pays little or no attention to trivial things like this! Despite the fact that the vendor made already public that he was willing to ship the lens free, if the camera was not required... suddenly the auction was terminated (item not available). Of course, after very little, two new auction were opened, and the supposedly unavailable stuff got split in two separate auctions: one for the lens and one for the camera!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150604473507

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cooke-Anastigmat-Portrait-Lens-IIB-10-5-inch-270mm-f4-5-/150607314816?pt=UK_Photography_VintagePhotography_VintagePhotoAccessories&hash=item2310e53f80

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wood-Brass-Kodak-Large-Format-View-Studio-Camera-No-3B-/150607327618?pt=UK_Photography_VintageCameras_SM&hash=item2310e57182

Now a small question:
would you trust somebody who does these kind of tricks?
do you consider it a minor misbehavior, just because so many people seem to follow the same route?

If i were the seller, i would have felt the obligation to leave the auction alone until its natural end. Am i too old fashioned (not too difficult, being 53)?

have fun

CJ

Ohhhhh!! I need that Cooke to complete my set!! Thanks!!!!!

[cyberjunkie]

Nice lens, Jim, isn't it?
Let me know how the vendor behaves, if you win!
BTW, i must admit that i posted the link because i am too broke to afford two 10.5" series II (i have the IIE) :)
Plenty of lens junkies here... including myself, of course!

Have fun

CJ

[edp]

Now a small question:
would you trust somebody who does these kind of tricks?
do you consider it a minor misbehavior, just because so many people seem to follow the same route?

I trust them more than anybody in the opposite "biggest steal of my life, I got this for nothing but it's worth thousands" camp. Information exchange is good; just because somebody's read a web page first doesn't give them the right to rip other people off. If you want to buy something, it's not unreasonable to expect to pay the going market rate for it.

(On the other hand, I do believe this thread is directly responsible for the inflated market rates for some of the lenses sold today, but that's another story).

[Steven Tribe]

I think this has turned out quite well!

The original listing (camera + lens) was done quite professionally. Good photos, which showed the Cooke to be in excellent condition, and the seller knew something about its use in portrait photography. Anyone on the lookout would have found it.

I originally raised the disappearance of the listing as I was afraid it was another example of a con job with "take it of your hands for £500 to-day" which, as we can see from documentation in the Q&A additions, is a quite frequent occurance. We should only be glad that these may have been in the category "giving helpful additional information" or that the lister smelled a rat and did extra googling.

Someone can now bid for a nice UK-made Eastman camera separately from the x times more expensive lens.

While I agree with edp, I think that the effect is more:

"Any old lens with brass and a name is worth a mint of money".

The high price of speciality pictorial lenses is much longer than the lifetime of this thread. It is growing interest in the images available/boredom with perfect renditions and their relative low production/survival that are the driving force in price rise (or should I say recovery?).

[Emil Schildt]

professional or not - he has listed the front plate with the lens, leaving the camera without...

soneone should tell....:rolleyes:

[Mark Sawyer]

I was watching the auction before it ended, as I'm sure a lot of us were. The listing had enough info to catch anyone searching even semi-seriously, and I doubt that the change will affect the final price much. I'm just glad it wasn't another case of someone getting a quick "buy it now" bargain after convincing an unwary seller that the lens wasn't really worth much.

Sellers might get nervous seeing no bids at all for the first few days of an auction, as the snipers hide their bids til the final seconds. I think we might do better collectively to start putting in a few low-ball bids just to show interest and keep the auctions from ending early with no bids.

[eddie]

Bid high and bid hard.

I have been waiting to get a good judge of value. It is $675 now. With 7 days to go. I bet it hits $1450-1550. Any bets?

When the dust settles I will be ready to sell mine. Har Har Har !

[goamules]

The phrase "All's fair in love or war" comes to mind. I recall, and have sometimes been party to, the different complaint trends about difficulties purchasing good lenses.

The first trend was rising prices. People bemoaned the fact you could no longer find a Verito at a camera shop for $35 or an old brass Dallmeyer for $75. Closely followed by complaints about "hoarders" or "collectors" and how they didn't deserve to buy a lens as much as a true, certified "user." Then it was complaints about the sniper bid process...and how bad it felt to think you were winning an auction only to get "robbed" in the last few seconds by a "cheap shot." And now this one, that a seller shouldn't be allowed to split up a camera and sell the items separately for more profit, if I read the post correctly. Basically, that once he starts selling, he can't change his mind and stop.

Buying collectibles have always been high stakes. It's not like going to your local store and buying a standard item at a fixed price.

But what we are experiencing is classic human nature of buying and collecting, coupled to a fairly new, global electronic market. The behaviors of capitalism, risk taking, sense of fairness, greed, level of effort, etc. are all still variable with each seller and buyer.

But now in the information age, all the answers are there for the asking. All the information and technology can be used to work for you...or against you.

[Jim Galli]

One of the lenses in my top ten........Eidoscop #2 375mm............$888.89 320697884595

Sorry Eddie. Nothing wrong with it either. Should have been $2200.

[Two23]

The prices on these things go up and down. I'm just not going to buy anything fancy right now. I think once Nikon starts making new cameras and lens offerings again, a lot of the money that's currently chasing LF stuff will go back to buying the new big money Nikon stuff. At any rate, when prices go high I stay away and buy something that others aren't. I have pretty wide interests.


Kent in SD

[eddie]

One of the lenses in my top ten........Eidoscop #2 375mm............$888.89 320697884595

Sorry Eddie. Nothing wrong with it either. Should have been $2200.

Phew! Glad it was not my eidoscope. It should have been higher......good for the buyer.

Ah! But the Cooke is 712$.

Bid bid bid!

[eddie]

I think once Nikon starts making new cameras and lens offerings again, a lot of the money that's currently chasing LF stuff will go back to buying the new big money Nikon stuff.

Kent in SD

I disagree. I bet the market continues along as it has been going. But let's see what happens.

If anything the stupid high prices of the new stuff desensitizes people in a way. A top of the line DSLR is like 3-4 thousand. Top magic lens like 600mm f4 or the like is like 8000 or so. AND u can buy as many as u like all day long.

So in the end of the day what is 3-4G on a "rare" old lens for LF?

Eddie in London.

[Armin Seeholzer]

So in the end of the day what is 3-4G on a "rare" old lens for LF?

Just to much, but its just my opinion!

Cheers Armin

[eddie]

Just to much, but its just my opinion!

Cheers Armin

Do u hold the same opinion about the price if a top of the line professional full frame DSLR? Cause I think they are just too much........but that is just my opinion.

[cdholden]

Do u hold the same opinion about the price if a top of the line professional full frame DSLR? Cause I think they are just too much........but that is just my opinion.

That isn't a fair comparison. I have never seen a digital camera INCREASE in value/price as time passes.

[eddie]

That isn't a fair comparison. I have never seen a digital camera INCREASE in value/price as time passes.

I am not compairing anything. I am saying people vet desensetizef to high prices cause the prices of new stuff is crazy high. That is all. Makes other stuff fell cheaper relatively.

[SergeiR]

Damn you, whoever got that Speedic Cooke, while i was on the shoot and unable to update bid :((((

8)) j/k.. hope you enjoy this lens.

[jp]

Looks like the Speedic got sniped. I bid on it, but was way outbid. Looks like a fun lens for some lucky person to put on a speed graphic.

16 bidders and the winning bid was an only bid by a person seconds before it closed; was probably a high bid we wouldn't want to compete with. (I have no problem with other people sniping and don't want to create an argument here) What I'm curious about is the second place bidder has private feedback. That's rather unusual, but apparently allowed; first I've seen of it.

[Steven Tribe]

There are many who employ this system. My experience is that they are often from the western of the Pacific, while cultural norms are different and identity is kept as private as possible.

[cdholden]

Graf Variable 7.5-8.5", $726.00

[jumanji]

#230623365537
Somebody here?

[CCHarrison]

Goerz Portrait Hypar Soft Focus Lens, 3.5 version. read more here:

http://antiquecameras.net/softfocuslenses2.html

Dan

[Steven Tribe]

Another well concealed soft lens. You would have to do a search after magic lantern/ligny.
This is the last model that came from P&P, although I think Puyo had lost interest.
The production of Anachromatique type was transfered from Darlot to Ligny (Meusse) and several versions were made - see Dan's soft lens no. 1.
This is a two lens (meniscus?) type without adjustment- I would guess it was version 4 in Dan's table. Staley & Co has a long history of being the UK agents.
£345 /item 280681092594

[Joe Forks]

this one didn't last long at $2100 USD - 170646910597 18" Cooke

[Jim Galli]

this one didn't last long at $2100 USD - 170646910597 18" Cooke

I've got it's brother, Series IIE, Coated, very near mint, $2400 if anyone wants it. Much prettier than that one.

[Louis Pacilla]

I've got it's brother, Series IIE, Coated, very near mint, $2400 if anyone wants it. Much prettier than that one.

Actually Jim your Cooke is a MUCH better deal at $2400.

For one it's a series II f4.5 & Not a IVf5.6

More importantly yours is a series II E . As you know has much more displacement of the cells for better or more diffusion.

[Jim Galli]

Actually Jim your Cooke is a MUCH better deal at $2400.

For one it's a series II f4.5 & Not a IVf5.6

More importantly yours is a series II E . As you know has much more displacement of the cells for better or more diffusion.

My Bad Louis. Mine IS the f5.6 but the late style E type. So it's a Series VI.

[cdholden]

I've got a 15.5" Series VI (sans iris), but no soft focus. They're the same optics, aren't they? Mine doesn't have the E coating... at least it isn't marked as such.

[Jim Galli]

I've got a 15.5" Series VI (sans iris), but no soft focus. They're the same optics, aren't they? Mine doesn't have the E coating... at least it isn't marked as such.
Series IV is f5.6 but not a portrait lens. Series VI is identical to Series II with knuckler soft focus adjustment but they are f5.6 instead of f4.5. 1/2 stop slower and a tiny bit smaller.

[cyberjunkie]

Another well concealed soft lens. You would have to do a search after magic lantern/ligny.
This is the last model that came from P&P, although I think Puyo had lost interest.
The production of Anachromatique type was transfered from Darlot to Ligny (Meusse) and several versions were made - see Dan's soft lens no. 1.
£345 /item 280681092594

Spotted that lens since day one.
The word "Anachromatique" was clearly visible from the pictures, but no reference in the text.
Did a small research and came to the conclusion that was some kind of Puyo's lens.
Unfortunately the winning bid was nearly 100 pounds higher than mine :(
Very few good deals these days, if the auctions are open to a wide public.
The only two remarkable deals of 2010 (as far as soft lenses are concerned) were one Italy-only and one EU-only auctions. None so far in 2011.

I guess i have to sell a few of my sharp lenses, to be able to get one of those soft ones from your greedy claws :)

have fun

CJ

[Steven Tribe]

The lister of the P&P is well established and thorough gent - who probably didn't miss out much by not repeating the engraving in the text.
Bidding pattern was unusual as there were regular increments the whole time. A mixture of petzval (now they would have been surprised!) and soft focus interested? A "would like to have" rather than a "must have" so I was a lot short too.
Something tells me this might be Eddie from his temporary base in Birmingham!
He is more fearless than most of us.

[Jim Galli]

The lister of the P&P is well established and thorough gent - who probably didn't miss out much by not repeating the engraving in the text.
Bidding pattern was unusual as there were regular increments the whole time. A mixture of petzval (now they would have been surprised!) and soft focus interested? A "would like to have" rather than a "must have" so I was a lot short too.
Something tells me this might be Eddie from his temporary base in Birmingham!
He is more fearless than most of us.

fwiw, I never found it and would have bid more than that because it's a nice size, one size smaller than what I have. With all of ebay's changes I'm not finding a lot of things lately, and likely just as well.

[Mark Sawyer]

With all of ebay's changes I'm not finding a lot of things lately, and likely just as well.

Same experience here. And just as likely just as well...

[eddie]

Something tells me this might be Eddie from his temporary base in Birmingham!
He is more fearless than most of us.

nope not me.....but i do not really watch e bay....i just let "you" all point them out to me.......


Bid high and bid hard.

I have been waiting to get a good judge of value. It is $675 now. With 7 days to go. I bet it hits $1450-1550. Any bets?

When the dust settles I will be ready to sell mine. Har Har Har !

$1050 with 6 hours to go....maybe i guessed too low....bid boys and girls bid it up.....har har har.

tick tock

eddie

[eddie]

the 10.5 cookes seem to have come to the top of the drawer. here is a 3.5 knuckler....

220786726154

[Jim Galli]

the 10.5 cookes seem to have come to the top of the drawer. here is a 3.5 knuckler....

220786726154

Normally they aren't worth that much, but this one is a Petzval :eek: :rolleyes:

[Mark Sawyer]

Normally they aren't worth that much, but this one is a Petzval :eek: :rolleyes:

Well, you've gotta give the seller credit for putting all the right search words in the title, technically correct or not!

[eddie]

I bet it hits $1450-1550. Any bets?
!

HA! 1597$. Damn. Close. Closest without going over:)

I got one for sale. Head over to the FS section.

[Mark Sawyer]

The nicer Petzvals seem to draw the big money. At least two bidders had impeccable taste:

"ROSS PETZVAL PORTRAIT LENS , CABINET No3 12 inch F3.4", $2,111 (+$80 s&h)

#120730558968

[Jim Galli]

The nicer Petzvals seem to draw the big money. At least two bidders had impeccable taste:

"ROSS PETZVAL PORTRAIT LENS , CABINET No3 12 inch F3.4", $2,111 (+$80 s&h)

#120730558968

That does it! I am so getting a big buffing wheel and some compound! I'm going to be offering a free pair of sun glasses with my lenses when I sell them. Maybe I'll photograph them with a star filter. Woo Hoo. I'm onto it.

[Steven Tribe]

Since when does a Ross Petzval qualify for an entry in "Soft Lens Sales Information"?

But new info will be coming tomorrow!

[Jim Galli]

Since when does a Ross Petzval qualify for an entry in "Soft Lens Sales Information"?

When it fetches $2100?? That's a really large amount of money for a Ross Cabinet lens, which some will agree is really what this thread is all about. If I manage to get $1326 for a Turner Reich, I'll be posting it here. No harm no foul intended comparing a Ross to a TR. The Ross is a worthy lens, just not THAT worthy IMESHO.

[cdholden]

Since when does a Ross Petzval qualify for an entry in "Soft Lens Sales Information"?

But new info will be coming tomorrow!

From the auction description:
"THE LENS HAS VARIABLE SOFTNESS BY SLIGHTLY UNSCREWING THE REAR ELEMENT BUT IS SHARP WHEN THE ELEMENT IS SCREWED RIGHT HOME."

I didn't know it had this feature, but then I've never used one of these. Has anyone seen this function on a Ross? Is it the same as the rear of a Dallmeyer petzval portrait lens? I recall reading that J.H. Dallmeyer worked for Ross before going out on his own. I'm wondering if he incorporated Ross' diffusion control into his own design.

[cdholden]

That does it! I am so getting a big buffing wheel and some compound! I'm going to be offering a free pair of sun glasses with my lenses when I sell them. Maybe I'll photograph them with a star filter. Woo Hoo. I'm onto it.

All this time I thought it was the yellow Kodak film canister that made the big sale.

[Steven Tribe]

"THE LENS HAS VARIABLE SOFTNESS BY SLIGHTLY UNSCREWING THE REAR ELEMENT BUT IS SHARP WHEN THE ELEMENT IS SCREWED RIGHT HOME".

I have looked at the auction and it is obviously made long after Dallmeyer left Ross. So it is not a legacy of his presence there before he left in 1860. Ross were loosing out to Dallmeyer big time and this is a later copy of the Dallmeyer design.

The ad in the listing says everything - so it deserves to be here ( and in the Soft Lens part 1 by CCHarrison).

[Mark Sawyer]

The Dallmeyer Patent Portrait Petzval was the first lens ever designed to be used as a soft focus lens, and did so by increasing the spacing between the two rear elements. some other Petzvals can be sort of made to do the same thing, but weren't necessarily designed for it. On others, when you unscrew the rear, it moves both rear elements back, and may not have the same effect, (I'm not sure). The Vitax and Bausch and Lomb Series A Petzvals also had factory-equipped moving interior element, but was slightly different, moving the inside element forward instead of the rear element back.

My experience is that the "soft" effect is very slight, not even noticeable unless you put two images, sharp and sorft, side by side and look very closely.

BTW, Dallmeyer reversed the rear elements on their Portrait Petzvals. I wonder how many of the later Petzvals by other manufacturers were also reversed, and how many Dallmeyers and others that were made reversed were put back into the "proper" orientation by later owners...

I'm surprised it went that high, but the Ross was a nice fast Petzval.

[Jim Galli]

The Ross doesn't have a soft focus feature even though the guy claimed it did. Fallacy.

[Richard Rankin]

The Ross doesn't have a soft focus feature even though the guy claimed it did. Fallacy.

Yep.

The Ross petzvals I've seen have the two rear air-spaced elements in separate metal 'housings'. These, in turn, have a tiny screw holding them together in their relative positions. So, there is really no way that you'd have a simple soft focus feature by unscrewing the elements because it would not adjust the space between the rear elements. Just slightly unscrewing both rear elements at once, still in their respective positions, has little effect on the image and certainly wouldn't be called a 'soft focus' feature. I've tried it...

OMG, could Ebay be exposing us to liars????

Cheers,
Richard

[Mark Sawyer]

OMG, could Ebay be exposing us to liars????


Oh, I don't see how that could ever happen. :rolleyes:

Just out of curiousity, has anyone ever gotten a noticeable soft focus effect from a Petzval? I never have. (Someday I'm goint to pull a Vitax apart and tuck that moving rear element right up next to the front element and see what it does... )

[Jim Galli]

Oh, I don't see how that could ever happen. :rolleyes:

Just out of curiousity, has anyone ever gotten a noticeable soft focus effect from a Petzval?

Sure, you take the front off and face it towards the film alone. :D:D

[eddie]

The Ross lenses DO Unscrew just like the dallmeyers. The trouble is u need to remove the rear group to do it. There are no markings like the dallmeyers. Clearly it was not designed go do it like the dallmeyers but u can do it.

[Mark Sawyer]

Sure, you take the front off and face it towards the film alone. :D:D

Oh, that's just cheating! :mad:

:D

[cdholden]

Just out of curiousity, has anyone ever gotten a noticeable soft focus effect from a Petzval? I never have. (Someday I'm goint to pull a Vitax apart and tuck that moving rear element right up next to the front element and see what it does... )

I'm not sure about the smaller ones, but on the 16" Vitax it's the inner element that moves, not the one on the rear.

[Mark Sawyer]

I'm not sure about the smaller ones, but on the 16" Vitax it's the inner element that moves, not the one on the rear.

Yes, that's what I meant, the inner rear element...

duh, I is stoopid...

[cdholden]

Oh, I misunderstood. Sorry about that.

[CCHarrison]

I have found one ad regarding diffusion on the Ross Cabinet Lens. The ad attached appears in 1908 Snap Shots magazine. Perhaps only the later versions have this feature? And perhaps this was only on the # 3 size? No other size listed.... Also, note they list the aperture at f/3.5, where the ebay ad says f/3.4.

I must update to my Soft Focus Lens pages as soon as I establish when this feature first appeared. Any help appreciated.

Best,
Dan

[Steven Tribe]

This is the ad used by the NZ seller taken from his Ross catalogue (1910ish).
It mentions that larger sizes are available!

VM has just two lines, but confirms softness, sizes 8.5, 10, 12 and 16".
Must have been either great lenses or cheap lenses to compete with the well established Dallmeyer range.

[eddie]

Must have been either great lenses or cheap lenses to compete with the well established Dallmeyer range.

If anything Dallmeyer stole the idea from Ross. They are Not cheap in any way!

[Steven Tribe]

Another Puyo to-night 260791041609.
An incomplete trousse version. £720.

[Geoffrey_5995]

Another Puyo to-night 260791041609.
An incomplete trousse version. £720.

Why do you think it is incomplete?

[Steven Tribe]

A trousse set is a casket/satz set. These can contain a variety of items - short/long focus adapter, spacers, shutter and additional lens(es) to supplement one or both of the cells.
Some original barrels in casket sets have no distinguishing marks to indicate they were once part of a casket set. But this one does.

VM gives a vague outline of at least 1 casket set Puyo (with extra lenses) and there is an illustration of a P&P casket - which I cannot see as I only have the text version of VM!

The sold item is complete in itself - just part of a more splendid set!

There is quite a lot of data in the archives. Member anachromatic has posted some pictures and had a number of postings about the trousse set (2006). I think the Trousse set was a combination of lenses for Portrait and the tele landscape use. It looks as if the item sold was set up for Portrait use.

[Geoffrey_5995]

A trousse set is a casket/satz set. These can contain a variety of items - short/long focus adapter, spacers, shutter and additional lens(es) to supplement one or both of the cells.
Some original barrels in casket sets have no distinguishing marks to indicate they were once part of a casket set. But this one does.

VM gives a vague outline of at least 1 casket set Puyo (with extra lenses) and there is an illustration of a P&P casket - which I cannot see as I only have the text version of VM!

The sold item is complete in itself - just part of a more splendid set!

There is quite a lot of data in the archives. Member anachromatic has posted some pictures and had a number of postings about the trousse set (2006). I think the Trousse set was a combination of lenses for Portrait and the tele landscape use. It looks as if the item sold was set up for Portrait use.

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this valuable information.

[eddie]

Another puyo went. $1800


LENS ADJUSTABLE LANDSCAPE OF M.L. DE PULLIGNY

120723712991

[Steven Tribe]

Interesting contribution to Puyo knowledge.
It looks as though there was a free-for-all after Darlot (and the people who took over Darlot) lost interest in Puyo design. Must have been another maker, who unlike "Ligny", didn't have the courage to put his name or town on it!

[Geoffrey_5995]

Another puyo went. $1800


LENS ADJUSTABLE LANDSCAPE OF M.L. DE PULLIGNY

120723712991


This one wasn't marked and still got $1800. I have a similar one like this that is not marked. The brass mounts don't look like Darlot.

[Geoffrey_5995]

Just tokk a look at my unmarked one and it is Darlot mounts.

[MFFOODCO888]

Does anyone tell me any information on this lens? Thanks

[eddie]

Does anyone tell me any information on this lens? Thanks

B&L rapid rectilinear that covers 20x22 inches.....but you know that.....:) very nice lens.

[CCHarrison]

http://antiquecameras.net/images/860_bl99.jpg


While this monster doesnt belong under Soft Focus, it is quite impressive with a 36" diameter image circle when the lens is stopped down and 22" coverage with a "large stop".... thats 3 FEET folks stopped down !!!

In B&L's 1894 catalogue, the lens comes with an iris diaphragm or waterhouse stops...by 1898 they are only advertising the iris diaphragm.

1898 ad below

Dan

[Fred Heming]

so it does not fit to shoot portrait;
for landscape, there are compact lenses with huge coverage.
this monster is out of date therefore

[MFFOODCO888]

Thanks eddie and CCHarrison the information provided. I purchased it, ready to shoot 16x20 collodion photography.:)

[eddie]

so it does not fit to shoot portrait;
for landscape, there are compact lenses with huge coverage.
this monster is out of date therefore

yes, a perfect portrait lens for 20x24 or larger.


Thanks eddie and CCHarrison the information provided. I purchased it, ready to shoot 16x20 collodion photography.:)

should be a great lens for WPC. enjoy it and post some pictures when you make them.

[alex from holland]

Hello all,

I need some help with these 2 dallmeyers.
I found them last week. The big one is complete with it's original aluminium lens cap !
It took me some work, but i managed the fix the softfocus feature again on both. They were both stuck.
So now i have 2 really fine working dallmeyers.
The have some sign of use as you can see, but the glass is like new !!

Can someone "date" me those lenses ?
The small one has serial number 111337 and the big one 157402.
Note that the iris mechanisme at the small one works from left to right and at the big one the other way around ??!!

Thanks

Alex

www.collodion-art.blogspot.com

http://upload.pbase.com/image/135392163/original.jpg

[Jim Galli]

Hello all,

I need some help with these 2 dallmeyers.
I found them last week. The big one is complete with it's original aluminium lens cap !
It took me some work, but i managed the fix the softfocus feature again on both. They were both stuck.
So now i have 2 really fine working dallmeyers.
The have some sign of use as you can see, but the glass is like new !!

Can someone "date" me those lenses ?
The small one has serial number 111337 and the big one 157402.
Note that the iris mechanisme at the small one works from left to right and at the big one the other way around ??!!

Thanks

Alex

www.collodion-art.blogspot.com



I have a couple of the black ones too. A 1A and a 4A. They are pictured that way in the 1931 catalog on Seth Broder's site. My personal favorites too.

[Jim Galli]

Thanks eddie and CCHarrison the information provided. I purchased it, ready to shoot 16x20 collodion photography.:)

A small note. Bausch and Lomb were copying some of the greats at this early point. I've had several of their 'Rapid's' but never one that looked like yours. Mine were all like the 1898 picture. Subtle but different. Yours looks like the pieces would be completely interchangeable with the Voiglaender Euryscop Series IV which is I'm sure either what they imported to put their name on until their production facility got up to speed to make the more common one, or the duplicated it exactly, and got nervous about patent issues later and changed them to the more common one.

VERY pretty lens by the way. I think the equivalent to a serie IV #7 Euryscop. Or perhaps it is one. Bausch and Lomb glass was superb. This was very very early in their photographic lens production though.

[goamules]

I agree with Jim, B&L made some fine glass, soft focus and not. I have an F6 "Rapid Portrait" that is about a 26" focal length that looks fantastic on the ground glass. It's marked by someone else, but obviously a B&L

[eddie]

seems the cookes are finally increasing in value. 13 inch f4.5 $2000

350467080054

[Emil Schildt]

Berthiot Eidoscope 275mm f4.5

looks like sh"", but if the glasses are good, then who cares (except collectors of course)

US $560.00

Item number: 110696862693

::::::::::

EMIL BUSCH 48cm f4.5 NICOLA PERSCHEID

US $2,758.76

Item number: 360370561028

[Steven Tribe]

Alex - in the spirit of this thread, you forgot to mention how much you paid for them - for statistics sake. A buy is the same as a sell!

[Mark Sawyer]

The soft Velostigmat Series II's look to still be holding their value. $455 for a nice 12" in a barrel. 220793821643

[eddie]

Berthiot Eidoscope 275mm f4.5

looks like sh"", but if the glasses are good, then who cares (except collectors of course)

US $560.00

Item number: 110696862693



too bad. he is a forum member here.....he got killed cause of his location i am sure.

[Jim Galli]

too bad. he is a forum member here.....he got killed cause of his location i am sure.

How much would an "shutterbug ugly" size 3 Eidoscop with no flange have gotten in USA? or Europe? Sometimes I buy this stuff and make it my keeper while selling the prettier one. Like Gandolfi, I don't care what the lens looks like, if it's in good usable shape. But clearly the audience on Ebay does! He did in fact offer it here (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=76647) first.

[Jim Graves]

The soft Velostigmat Series II's look to still be holding their value. $455 for a nice 12" in a barrel. 220793821643

And from this forum's For Sale section, I just purchased a nice 12" Velostigmat Series II with diffusion in a fully functioning Betax 5 for $550:

[CCHarrison]

Hello Folks,

I have updated my Price Guide to Antique & Classic Guide to Soft Focus Lenses
http://antiquecameras.net/softfocuslenssales.html

The database now contains 162 entries over the past year and a half. If you remove the top 10% most expensive SF lenses (mostly Pinkham's), the average price of lenses listed equals = $ 932

If you take all 162 entries and remove the top 20%, average price = $ 772

If you remove the top 50% (leaving mostly Wollensak lenses), average price = $ 561

Fun facts with numbers that dont mean a whole lot :)

Dan

[eddie]

What is the average price of all 162?

[Mark Sawyer]

What is the average price of all 162?

An arm and seven-tenths of a leg...

[CCHarrison]

$ 1,224 ave price for all 162

Dan

[jumanji]

Berthiot Eidoscope 275mm f4.5

looks like sh"", but if the glasses are good, then who cares (except collectors of course)

US $560.00

Item number: 110696862693


I did LOL when read "look like sh*t" :D . I have two Eidoscope #2 (one Hermagis, one Bethiot), one HE #3, with better condition. Maybe I will list one of them in the future.

[cdholden]

I'll be waiting!

[Emil Schildt]

I'll be waiting!

no I'll be waiting....:D

[Joe Forks]

another 18" f5.6 cooke gone from evilbay for $2200 (or so it appears) 220795024532

[Emil Schildt]

I guess somebody is now happy!! (?)

550$ for this...

Artikelnummer: 200617239984

this happens when the seller isn't ready to ship out of country, I guess...

[Steven Tribe]

For those who can't find it it was a 405mm Kodak Portrait and a rather nasty looking Century Studio and the semi-cent. stand.

[eddie]

Yeah. For fun shouldnt we use text instead of listing #. Once the listing is gone this reference is useless. Like the poster about the Cooke 18 inch f5.6. Etc etc

[Richard Rankin]

Looks like the $2100 soft focus Ross cabinet lens from posting #586 and #587 is back up due to non-payment, so the lens avg price just dropped... at least until it sells again.

[cdholden]

I wonder if that was a binge drinking soft focus aficianado. Wake up after a rough night, only to find a seller's request for payment in the mail's inbox.
"I DID WHAT LAST NIGHT? $2100 FOR THAT?"

[eddie]

I wonder if that was a binge drinking soft focus aficianado. Wake up after a rough night, only to find a seller's request for payment in the mail's inbox.
"I DID WHAT LAST NIGHT? $2100 FOR THAT?"

Har har har! I once was "gambling" drunk one day on e at and won a 15 inch soft focus Petzval for $237!!! *gasp*. I was so mad cor paying above market value for a brass lens......way over market value. ( funny how times have chained) and I swore off r bay when drinking....but could not do it so now I use a sniping program so I can lower my bid when I see the bid sober.

[Mark Sawyer]

Now if we could just get you to price your "for sale" lenses before you sober up, Eddie... :D

[eddie]

That was a looooong time ago. I wish I could buy for those prices now......

[cdholden]

That was a looooong time ago. I wish I could buy for those prices now......

Buying low might be out of the question, but selling isn't.
First, we need to get you out of Norway. I've heard they have an extremely high tax on liquor. If we're getting you drunk, we need to get you somewhere cheap.
How about Germany or Estonia?

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Now if we could just get you to price your "for sale" lenses before you sober up, Eddie... :D

Buy low and sell reasonably drunk pricing. I like that!

[cdholden]

Ebay # 250836891163, 16 inch French soft focus - 567 GBP ($916 USD)
I wondered if this was a copy of one of the Puyo/Ligny designs, but at this price, I wouldn't even get close to finding out.

[Steven Tribe]

Yes, agreed.
I discovered it just as I making a contribution to the "counterfeit"" thread - and had great difficulty in not saying that a third variety of post-darlot Puyo was in the pipeline. Now CC can group them together in the list.

[cdholden]

567 GBP ($916 USD)
That loud sucking sound is the US Dollar. If our government could get their act together, our currency might be worth more to the rest of the world.
On another note, what country's citizens would allow an elected official with the name "Wiener"? Seriously... what the hell were they thinking?
*sigh*

[vitality]

Darlot (Puyo) was sold for 1210 EUR (110700187339)
Bidding was finished few minutes ago... Quite big lens 20cm long.

[Emil Schildt]

Darlot (Puyo) was sold for 1210 EUR (110700187339)
Bidding was finished few minutes ago... Quite big lens 20cm long.

missed that one--- proberly all as well..

[Jim Galli]

Darlot (Puyo) was sold for 1210 EUR (110700187339)
Bidding was finished few minutes ago... Quite big lens 20cm long.

Actually on a relative scale, that is one of the small ones being focus about 10" I think. Most that I have seen personally are about focus 15" and Eddie has left one at my house to play with that is giant, about focus 22".

[vitality]

Actually on a relative scale, that is one of the small ones being focus about 10" I think. Most that I have seen personally are about focus 15" and Eddie has left one at my house to play with that is giant, about focus 22".

May be. In last month I've managed to find only 3 of them going for sale. One of them is still in shop for less than 1000EUR, same size, and it is stated 45cm (18") FL. (however it's says petzval in description, but on barrel says Puyo. Also has marks for focus adjustment, so somewhere here is wrong info, and FL might be wrong as well).

What I understood about this design, is that if you change distance between front and rear elements, you change focal length. And it looks, like some of them have this feature (to change distance)? (smth like first zoom lenses? or I've got wrong info about this design?) May be that's why same size lens might be stated with different FL?

(I'm very new to LF, and might be I've got wrong information about some lenses. Just in case, sorry if I wrote something stupid :))

[Jim Galli]

No, good information all. They are a confusing breed of lens with very many variations. Rare to see 2 of them just the same.


May be. In last month I've managed to find only 3 of them going for sale. One of them is still in shop for less than 1000EUR, same size, and it is stated 45cm (18") FL. (however it's says petzval in description, but on barrel says Puyo. Also has marks for focus adjustment, so somewhere here is wrong info, and FL might be wrong as well).

What I understood about this design, is that if you change distance between front and rear elements, you change focal length. And it looks, like some of them have this feature (to change distance)? (smth like first zoom lenses? or I've got wrong info about this design?) May be that's why same size lens might be stated with different FL?

(I'm very new to LF, and might be I've got wrong information about some lenses. Just in case, sorry if I wrote something stupid :))

[Emil Schildt]

Crap - outbid with 10$...

8 1/2"-9 1/2" GRAF VARIABLE ANASTIGMAT SOFT FOCUS LENS

US $810.00

Item number: 130534283372

[cdholden]

Crap - outbid with 10$...

8 1/2"-9 1/2" GRAF VARIABLE ANASTIGMAT SOFT FOCUS LENS

US $810.00

Item number: 130534283372

The seller said it covers 5x7. Documentation says 4x5. Were they conservative enough that this could cover 5x7?
I was watching that also, but not willing to bid unless I knew it would work on 5x7.

[Mark Sawyer]

There are currently five different Pinkham and Smith lenses for sale on Ebay. When's the last time that happened?

[eddie]

There are currently five different Pinkham and Smith lenses for sale on Ebay. When's the last time that happened?

Might be a good time to buy. Let's see if it holds the line or gets even more than previous ones.....:)

I am too broke to bid but that #3 looks great.

[Jim Galli]

Might be a good time to buy. Let's see if it holds the line or gets even more than previous ones.....:)

I am too broke to bid but that #3 looks great.


Noteworthy that the Series IV No. 3 made it's opening bid of $4400. I was thinking of putting my Series IV #2 up for sale here for $3650. Will have to re-think that. That's too big a gap for the difference of a #2 (12" fine on 8X10) to a #3 14". I think I'll offer it here for $4050.

[Jon Wilson]

Rodenstock Bistigmat Soft Focus, item 120738659072, went for $439 on that site. It appears as if it had a 10 inch focal length.

[CCHarrison]

The Bistigmat is actually not a soft focus lens as was advertised. The adjustment on the lens adjusts between visual and chemical focus via moving an element.

Dan

see some good pics here http://cgi.ebay.com/Rodenstock-Bistigmat-13x18-brass-antique-lens_W0QQitemZ220757186374QQcategoryZ98923QQvarZQQcmdZViewItem?clk_rvr_id=244133068064

[Steven Tribe]

This is not a soft lens. It is comparitively cheap standard lens from Rodenstock. The very visable adjustment lever is to switch the lens from visual to chemical focus (viewing to negative).

It was a strange, long term, product from Rodenstock. It became useless when plates/film became panchromatic. Can only form a sharp (in focus) image with orthochromatic film.

This data was give to the lister well before the end of the auction, by me - and probably others, too! The "winner" has grounds for a cancellation/refund.

[Emil Schildt]

"cheap"?

VTG KORONA VIEW CAMERA PINKHAM & SMITH LENS WOLLENSAK

US $1,924.00

Item number: 250841030226

[Jim Galli]

"cheap"?

VTG KORONA VIEW CAMERA PINKHAM & SMITH LENS WOLLENSAK

US $1,924.00

Item number: 250841030226

That was a hell of a good buy.

[Petzval Paul]

I was also really surprised by that sale. That was a very nice example of a synthetic, which is a difficult to find lens. After that $4,400 Series IV, I was expecting ~$2,500 - $3,000.

[Tim Deming]

Not sure why, but buying a lens+camera+etc combo seems to always be cheaper than buying individually.

cheers

Tim

[eddie]

That was a hell of a good buy.

Amazing! I guess I will be getting to keep my pinkhams now.....:)

[cdholden]

16" Cooke Series II, $1,125

[eddie]

16" Cooke Series II, $1,125

Pictures? Where? Sf?

[Steven Tribe]

150623100813.
Apart from the Hood, this looked well cared for!

Eddie, I suggest you get a GPS APPs - with a updating link to here. I get rather nervous when your European location becomes "on the run"!

[eddie]

Thanks steven. I updated my location.

They will never find me here.....:)

[Jim Galli]

Any Series II 16 would be soft focus correct? It is confusing that Aviar's are Series II as well as the portrait lenses.

[Steven Tribe]

This one, which has been sold, was shown with the usual soft adjustment.

[vitality]

Dallmayer 3A just left owner for 1010EUR.

[cdholden]

Any Series II 16 would be soft focus correct? It is confusing that Aviar's are Series II as well as the portrait lenses.

I've got a Series II Aviar (~14" ?) that has a max aperture of 5.6. I don't think it would make for a bad portrait lens based on what I've seen of the smaller versions. I never got around to using it, so I can't say for certain. It's no soft focus though.

[eddie]

Any Series II 16 would be soft focus correct? It is confusing that Aviar's are Series II as well as the portrait lenses.

Not a 100% sure. The smaller series II do not have the adjustment. I think the letters play a part.

[Mark Sawyer]

Any Series II 16 would be soft focus correct? It is confusing that Aviar's are Series II as well as the portrait lenses.

And don't forget, the Pressics were also Series II. I think Taylor Hobson & Cooke may not have been the only THC involved when those boys figured out those series numbers...

[Steven Tribe]

The Dallmeyer 3A seller is really a surprise! For years he has sold sportswear, sportswear and sportswear - and then suddenly he has produced a whole range of quite exquisite lenses in good condition at a slow but steady rate! I would love to know the story behind this cache. Perhaps an aged relative should check his storeroom!

[vitality]

The Dallmeyer 3A seller is really a surprise! For years he has sold sportswear, sportswear and sportswear - and then suddenly he has produced a whole range of quite exquisite lenses in good condition at a slow but steady rate! I would love to know the story behind this cache. Perhaps an aged relative should check his storeroom!

I've been speaking to him, looks like his grandpa's collection. He is just selling it now.
He has quite big amount of lenses, almost all of them are in good shape, and quite popular lenses.
I bought petzval 16" from him, good price (at least I think so :)), good condition. He sent me pics of his lenses (if I want some more): Cooke II, few Darlots, 3 Voigtlanders and other "brands". Well I would love to have this collection, but no luck.

[cdholden]

And don't forget, the Pressics were also Series II. I think Taylor Hobson & Cooke may not have been the only THC involved when those boys figured out those series numbers...

What's a Pressic? It sounds Cooke-ish, but as I recall, the Series II Cookes were Portric.

[Jim Galli]

Series IIC Home Portrait should be the only Cooke Portrait lens ever offered without some softness control. Lot's of iterations of the softness, but if it says Portrait it should be there.

If it says Series II f4.5 and it does not say portrait, and it is smaller than 10 1/2 inch, that's where I get confused. These can be either triplet or Aviar which is 4 air spaced.

[Mark Sawyer]

The Series IIa was Portric, or Pressic. The culprits, from Seth's site:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g139/Owen21k/cooke_2_07.jpg
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g139/Owen21k/cooke_2_13.jpg
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g139/Owen21k/cooke_2_07.jpg

There was also the Series IIb and IIc Portronic, but for some reason, the Portrellic is a Series VI.

[Ramiro Elena]

Those names are starting to give me the giggles.

[Mark Sawyer]

Those names are starting to give me the giggles.

The Pressic, Portric, Portrellic, and Portronic?

Next time I put a lens together, I think I'll call it the Pathetic...

[cdholden]

It looks like the only difference in Pressic/Portric was lens size. Both from Series IIA, but the Pressics were 7.5" and shorter focal length. Possibly even making the distinction between hand camera for portability and larger for studio work.
Thanks for posting, Mark.

Chris

[Mark Sawyer]

The Pressic was a short, light, fast "general use" lens that was, according to the catalog, "suitable for use on cameras equipped with high speed shutters", ie, SLR and press cameras like the Graflex, Speed Graphic, etc. The Portric was a longer, heavier (!) studio portrait lens with the soft focus adjustment. Both were Cooke triplets, so related, but with different intentions, so it could very well be argued either way.

I'd say there's a difference because the Portric was labled as a "Cooke Portrait Lens", where the Pressic was a "Cooke Anastigmat", and they were meant for different purposes and listed separately in the Cooke catalogue. People should be aware of the differences, as I've seen Pressics sold on ebay, sometimes even as "Series IIa Cooke Portrait Lenses", for fairly steep prices that I don't think were justified.

[eddie]

But are the pressic soft focus?

[Mark Sawyer]

Hah! Beat you to it, Eddie! :D

[vitality]

Dallmeyer 1A sold for 227GBP
170660476813

[Mark Sawyer]

"Taylor & Hobson Cooke Soft Focus 12 1/2" Portrait Lens", (ebay 330583135897), the Series I f/3.1, went for $1,352.78. A very good deal on a fairly nice example of this lens. The Series I is rare; this was the first f/3.1 I've seen offered in years. (I was sorely tempted, but already have a very nice 12 1/2" f/3.5 Cooke Knuckler...)

[Emil Schildt]

Voigtländer Universal-Heliar 1:4,5 F=30 cm

$874.02

item 140572035453

(I was the lucky buyer - please tell me that it was a good price....)

[imagedowser]

Very good price.. Looks real clean... AND it has both handles!!

[Emil Schildt]

Very good price.. Looks real clean... AND it has both handles!!

yes I noticed...

Didn't think for a moment that I'd get this lens... even though my max bid was much higher than the end price...

Maybe all the potential buyers was out on holyday? :)

[Steven Tribe]

A very good price, Emil, but much more than I paid for mine, which I presume will be coming back from you soon!

The two handles and the mechanism service will be waiting for it when it returns home!

Good it has no "luckles" in the iris! Looks like a reliable seller - even though his ebay identity could be read as "Skrotberg" ,meaning "Mountain of Junk" in Danish!

[Emil Schildt]

A very good price, Emil, but much more than I paid for mine, which I presume will be coming back from you soon!

The two handles and the mechanism service will be waiting for it when it returns home!

Good it has no "luckles" in the iris! Looks like a reliable seller - even though his ebay identity could be read as "Skrotberg" ,meaning "Mountain of Junk" in Danish!

:D
Mountain of junk.... thought about that, but gave him the benefit of the doubt..

Yours will be travelling home soon. With lots of thanks.

[cyberjunkie]

Won an Hawkeye Portrait f/4 "Diffusing Focus"
About 316 USD + shipment.
The barrel reads as such:
Portrait Hawkeye f-4
Diffusing Focus
Series A
No.1
5x8
Robert Dempster Sole Agency, Omaha, Neb

This forum was offline, so i posted an inquiry on APUG. I refrained from posting an identical question on this forum, but i was given a catalog image that shows it's the same thing as an "Eastman Portrait Series A".
The catalog page bears no reference to any soft focus adjustment, but the pictures post on the auction site reveal two thin notches on the back of the lens, so perhaps the separation between the two back glasses is adjustable.
The diaphragm ring looks like some B&L lenses, so maybe the original maker was B&L.
Any reliable information about this lens?

have fun

CJ

[DanK]

Won an Hawkeye Portrait f/4 "Diffusing Focus"
About 316 USD + shipment.
The barrel reads as such:
Portrait Hawkeye f-4
Diffusing Focus
Series A
No.1
5x8
Robert Dempster Sole Agency, Omaha, Neb

CJ

Congrats...I was bidding on this one...

Sure was hoping the 'buyer' didn't pay, so I'd get the 'Second Chance Offer'... :D

I don't know anything about it, but it looked to me like the diffusion was from varying those elements as you mentioned...

Should be a fun one to experiment with.

Cheers,
Dan

[Dan Dozer]

"5 x 7 Eoscope Portrait" lens from G.Gennert (made by Montauk Camera Co.). Not one of the more widely known portrait lenses. The focal length is about 9". This is a slight enlargement from an 8 x 10 negative. This lens gives full coverage on the 8 x 10 at this distance, but the "petzval" efffect get's a little squirlly at the far corners.

Got this from Richard Rankin for $175. Thanks a million Richard - I think I'm going to like this lens.

[cyberjunkie]

I don't know anything about it, but it looked to me like the diffusion was from varying those elements as you mentioned...


I had the same impression, but the JPG posted on APUG (http://www.apug.org/forums/forum44/93576-hawkeye-portrait-f-4-diffusing-focus.html) has no reference to a diffusion adjustment.
I'd like to know from somebody owning one of the three sizes of the series.
BTW, a No.2 (16", for full plate) got sold on the bay for 600 USD. The No.1 is only a 12", but i payed a lot less... :)

have fun

CJ

[CCHarrison]

CJ,

You state there is no diffusion adjustment on the lenses in the ad - I am confused. The ad is highlighted with the diffusion (via rear cell) feature listed... The rear cell has 4 notches (1-4) marking degress of diffusion. I am fairly certain Your lens is the same as the Eastman Portrait, diffusion is added the same way as the older Dallmeyer Patent Portraits - rotation of rear group/cell. Please verify when you get the lens.

Thanks

Dan (who posted this on APUG)

[CCHarrison]

Here is another pic of your lens type.

[CCHarrison]

And an ad from 1900

[goamules]

Thanks for all your information and research, as always Dan. And nice blog!

[Steven Tribe]

A Busch Perscheid (minus the Nicola). F.4.5 and 480mm.

Item 200626573890 from Spain.

I know that VM warns against the "Perscheid" but I think that earlier threads have shown quite clearly that Nicola Perscheids can be double achromats or triplets.

I didn't have the heart to push it any higher to disappoint someone else!

416 Euros

[cyberjunkie]

CJ,

You state there is no diffusion adjustment on the lenses in the ad - I am confused. The ad is highlighted with the diffusion (via rear cell) feature listed...

Dan (who posted this on APUG)

You're absolutely right, and i was dead wrong!
It was middle of the night, and my brain probably decided to switch off on its own, so what my eyes were seeing, was not registered!
I goofed (one more time..), but i am happy about that. I'll see if the diaphragm leaves are still present, and if the diffusion adjustment isn't stuck. I think i'll have to find the way to remove the back cell for cleaning: the seller says that it's not coming out, probably there is small screw. At least, that's what i am hoping for, it would make everything easier... Did you clean the lens in the picture?
Thanks again (once more!) for your very informative feedback.

cheers

CJ

[Emil Schildt]

A Busch Perscheid (minus the Nicola). F.4.5 and 480mm.

Item 200626573890 from Spain.

I know that VM warns against the "Perscheid" but I think that earlier threads have shown quite clearly that Nicola Perscheids can be double achromats or triplets.

I didn't have the heart to push it any higher to disappoint someone else!

416 Euros

:eek:

[daytona]

VINTAGE TAYLOR-HOBSON COOKE PORTRAIT ANASTIGMAT SOFT FOCUS LENS

SERIES VI, 18 INCH f/5.6, No. 123490
Item number: 110713704268
Starting bid: US $999.99

expensive!

[eddie]

VINTAGE TAYLOR-HOBSON COOKE PORTRAIT ANASTIGMAT SOFT FOCUS LENS

SERIES VI, 18 INCH f/5.6, No. 123490
Item number: 110713704268
Starting bid: US $999.99

expensive!

not yet....lets see how it finishes....

[Emil Schildt]

forgot to add this:

som-berthiot eidoscope n°3 275mm f:4.5
490$

here on LLF

[daytona]

Voigtländer Euryscop IV N°3
Item number: 120748386768
EUR 356.55
I was outbid at last one second！

[Emil Schildt]

Voigtländer Euryscop IV N°3
Item number: 120748386768
EUR 356.55
I was outbid at last one second！

soft focus?

[cdholden]

soft focus?

No.

[eddie]

a pulligny...right here in the classifieds! quick go get it! :)

[Hugo Zhang]

350477563719

You don't see this lens often and I was bidding and am eating the dust.

[Stephane]

A Busch Perscheid (minus the Nicola). F.4.5 and 480mm.

Item 200626573890 from Spain.

I know that VM warns against the "Perscheid" but I think that earlier threads have shown quite clearly that Nicola Perscheids can be double achromats or triplets.

I didn't have the heart to push it any higher to disappoint someone else!

416 Euros

I think that one was a triplet. Reason?
Position of the aperture way back, just like the Heliar.

Mine (same FL) have the aperture in the middle of the barrel, and is clearly a doublet.
Check Eddie's 300mm Perscheid in the classified: it is also a doublet with the aperture in the middle.

[cyberjunkie]

Won an Hawkeye Portrait f/4 "Diffusing Focus"
About 316 USD + shipment.
The barrel reads as such:
Portrait Hawkeye f-4
Diffusing Focus
Series A
No.1
5x8
Robert Dempster Sole Agency, Omaha, Neb

This forum was offline, so i posted an inquiry on APUG. I refrained from posting an identical question on this forum, but i was given a catalog image that shows it's the same thing as an "Eastman Portrait Series A".


As mentioned in my own quote, i started a thread on APUG, and on this forum i only mentioned it on this thread.
Some more infos, and a request for help (for restoration) are on this follow-up:
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum44/93576-hawkeye-portrait-f-4-diffusing-focus.html#post1216402

If somebody wants to help, please PM me about it. I don't want to hijack this thread :)

have fun

CJ

[Steven Tribe]

Clean 13" Cooke VI A at 2000USD.
150618434713

[daytona]

Item number: 250860611202
Large Petzval Design Portrait Lens by Emil Busch
Approximately US $1,428.11

[goamules]

Item number: 250860611202
Large Petzval Design Portrait Lens by Emil Busch
Approximately US $1,428.11

This isn't a soft focus lens.

[Steven Tribe]

On a Danish based online auction - but this time in Malmo, Sweden.

The following set today.

Continental double extension Studio set in very good condition.
With a 12 3/4" Cooke series 2 E from the middle 50's in, as new, condition.
And a Series I Cooke, from the middle 20's. This is soft focus with F3.1! About the same focal length. This had a nasty glass flake in the inner surface of the rear glass.

Translated into USD with my own judgement of the alloted values.

Total (including auction house's commision). 1843USD.

Cooke 2 E very good condition 1000USD
Cooke 1, F3.1 poor 400USD
Studio Set with stand and pneumatic flap shutter very good condition. 443USD.

I was looking forward to rescueing the Cooke series 1. But decided to stop - hope I haven't trodden on anyones toes?

[Steven Tribe]

This is the set. By the way. My son, who was also over to Sweden to look at the set, says the Cooke 2E "is only very good".
This is the studio camera type called Universal Salon Apparat D. It was adapted to a sliding back and 5x7 (13x18?) format.

[Fred Heming]

Item number: 270786947567
Dallmeyer 4A
Sold at $2650

[Pat Hilander]

A Verito 5” f/6 Diffused Focus Enlarging Lens went for$568.88. At first I thought that seemed high but I've never seen a Verito enlarging lens for sale before, so maybe not?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wollensak-Verito-5-f-6-Diffused-Focus-Enlarging-Lens-/120748195538?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1d273ed2#ht_669wt_1341

[Mark Sawyer]

Verito's were advertised as being useful for both taking and enlarging. This is just a short Verito. Verito's under 8-3/4 inches are relatively rare, so I'm surprised it didn't go for a little more.

[Jim Galli]

$68.67 for an 8 page book about Pinkham Smith Semi Achromatic lenses. Sure hope whoever got it will share the pages on the net somewhere. 150638739528

[Petzval Paul]

I had exactly the same thought. I hope to see it uploaded to cameraecentric or somewhere soon :)

[daytona]

TAYLOR-HOBSON COOKE ANASTIGMAT LENS 13 INCH f/5.6
Item number: 160608064701
US $1,400.00

[daytona]

Nicola Perscheid Portrait Objectiv f4.5 30cm Lens
Item number: 290597289072
US $2,426.00

[Steven Tribe]

Some days ago now - 320738414878.
Verito f4, 9 inches.
What looks like a Verito front and rear cell in a plane barrel (no iris) marked Wollensak. Perhaps this is how Wollensak sold their plain cells?
Probably as good a buy as the usual in a defunct Studio shutter?

[Jon Wilson]

Some days ago now - 320738414878.
Verito f4, 9 inches.
What looks like a Verito front and rear cell in a plane barrel (no iris) marked Wollensak. Perhaps this is how Wollensak sold their plain cells?
Probably as good a buy as the usual in a defunct Studio shutter?

I could not tell for certain from the pictures, but the barrel looked too short IMO. I have a 9 inch f4 Verito in a studio shutter and it has an overall length of approximately 8 to 9 inches (I will have to measure it when I get home if anyone is interested in the measurements).

Jon

[Jim Galli]

I could not tell for certain from the pictures, but the barrel looked too short IMO. I have a 9 inch f4 Verito in a studio shutter and it has an overall length of approximately 8 to 9 inches (I will have to measure it when I get home if anyone is interested in the measurements).

Jon

That was absolutely just a front or rear barrel from something with cells. Shutter or aperture section and rear barrel were gone. Who knows what the cells even are? Might or might not actually be the verito cells.

[cdholden]

16" Vitax, $976.00
Ebay # 330599432330

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Going all the way back to post #386 and the Unars :eek:

"i would be curious to see several photos of the various different styles"

NEW computer so I have to hook-up the digicam to see if it's recognized, I'll do that later. Now Dan's ad shows a fourth variation.

"I am not aware of optical variations.... how do you know which element its moving? Is there any connection to the focal length of the lens ?...ie...perhaps the smaller versions moved one element and on the larger sizes it moved another?"

The #8 has the SF adjustment in front of the iris, moves #2 element. The #10 has the SF adjustment behind the iris, moves #3 element. The one in the auction link has a turning front cell like a Velostigmat, looks to move #1 element. Your ad shows one with a focus knob, a fourth variation. I don't know if it has to do with size OR production date but it does look like they were have fun at B&L playing with this. It also looks like they were only made from 1906 - 1915, before WWI. Have not seen any with serial number #1,xxx,xxx or higher.

[CCHarrison]

Paul

Here are 3 ads.... seems like around 1910 the early version lost the wings / tabs...

Dan

PS - introduced in 1904

more on Portrait Unars on my Soft Focus page http://antiquecameras.net/softfocuslenses.html

[Emil Schildt]

Cooke 10 1/2" Portrait Lens Series llB f/4.5

US $1,614.00

number: 130561403043

[Mark Sawyer]

Cookes have about doubled in the past 2-3 years. They're one of the lens groups that really deserved the appreciation, and I'm glad I got a few when I did!

[cdholden]

Cooke 10 1/2" Portrait Lens Series llB f/4.5

US $1,614.00

number: 130561403043

I picked up a 16" Series II (pre-knuckler) for considerably less than this. I'm eager to get it back from its CLA and custom mount so I can put it to good use.

[Geoffrey_5995]

Don't know if anyone noticed this item# 130565894101, Cooke Portrait Anastigmat Series 11C 12 3/4" f4.5. It originally sold for $800 to $900 or there abouts but the winning bidder never paid so it was re-listed. It then sold for $1225. What makes this interesting is it does not have the soft focus adjustment and is not one of the early Cookes with the soft focus adjustment in the back like a Dallmeyer Patent Portrait. The Vade describes this lens as: "Series 11C Portrellic. This still was made in 10.5, 12.75, 15 in. and later in 18 in. (1924). It had no soft focus adjustment and may be the same optics as the last but in rigid mount." The "last" I'm assuming refers to the Series II to Series vi which had the soft focus adjustment by turning the front mount of the lens but not the knuckles. $1225 seems like a lot to pay for a non-soft focus Cooke but perhaps its rarity explains the realized price.

[CCHarrison]

Hi GB

See attached. According to one source, came out in 1930 and was very short lived...

Dan

[Geoffrey_5995]

Hi GB

See attached. According to one source, came out in 1930 and was very short lived...

Dan

Hi Dan, Great info. Would be a great lens for the Graflex Home Portrait. Thanks, GB

[CCHarrison]

Funny, the ad above doesnt really explain if this has some soft focus "dialed in" or not; and if so, how much softness......I naturally assumed this is a soft lens....you?

[Jim Galli]

Hi GB

See attached. According to one source, came out in 1930 and was very short lived...

Dan

They should be rare. They are rather pedestrian looking. Same case as the Series IV. All that and the same $$$ as the pretty brass one with the diffusion. ??? I've had one before. Just a sharp triplett. A very Cooke none the less.

[Geoffrey_5995]

They should be rare. They are rather pedestrian looking. Same case as the Series IV. All that and the same $$$ as the pretty brass one with the diffusion. ??? I've had one before. Just a sharp triplett. A very Cooke none the less.

My guess was sharp. Can't see why they would they design in soft focus without it being adjustable.

[Hugo Zhang]

Funny, the ad above doesnt really explain if this has some soft focus "dialed in" or not; and if so, how much softness......I naturally assumed this is a soft lens....you?


Dan,

I have two, 10" f/4.5 and 12" f/3.5, Dallmeyer Portrait Anastigmat lenses. Not Cooke, but they have a soft glow with a sharp center wide open and very sharp closed down. The 10" f/4.5 lens looks identical as the Cooke one.

Hugo

[cdholden]

My guess was sharp. Can't see why they would they design in soft focus without it being adjustable.

To make it accessible to those working with smaller cameras. As it states, "brings the size down to the minimum - thus enabling Home Portrait Workers to use the Portrellic on View and Home Portrait cameras."

[Steven Tribe]

There have been a few since last but the clean Zwierzina Plasticca 400mm (200648434097) may have been missed by some!
USD 1250

[cdholden]

There have been a few since last but the clean Zwierzina Plasticca 400mm (200648434097) may have been missed by some!
USD 1250

The seller is a forum member here. I'm happy to see that he at least got close to his original asking price for it.
I don't care for the traits of this lens but others have made good use of it. (Yes Emil, I'm talking about you!)

[cdholden]

Taylor Hobson Cooke IIA Portrait Soft Focus 10.5" F3.5
Item # 310341166699
GBP 368.88 / US 597.77

[Emil Schildt]

The seller is a forum member here. I'm happy to see that he at least got close to his original asking price for it.
I don't care for the traits of this lens but others have made good use of it. (Yes Emil, I'm talking about you!)

thanks - I did miss the relisting.. not the first offer...

So unfortunately I didn't get it.

the Cooke is the same as mine - that was a fair price, I'd say....

[daytona]

TAYLOR HOBSON COOKE SOFT FOCUS PORTRAIT LENS (Cooke 13 inch f4.5 Series II )
Item number: 360391593596
GBP 499/ US 808.63

[Joe Smigiel]

I just sold a 10" f/6 Veritar in working Alphax shutter for $350. In nice condition except for the mottled coating which I am beginning to think is representative of this vintage.

[cdholden]

I just sold a 10" f/6 Veritar in working Alphax shutter for $350. In nice condition except for the mottled coating which I am beginning to think is representative of this vintage.

Was it ok for occasional use or was it all needy and high maintenance, requiring that long term relationship I recently read about?

[goamules]

Was it ok for occasional use or was it all needy and high maintenance, requiring that long term relationship I recently read about?

Ha! Just take it to the park for long walks, and you'll develop a deep relationship with it.

[cyberjunkie]

It's quite strange that nobody reported these two auctions:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250886445249

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WOLLENSAK-VERITO-DIFFUSED-9-INCH-KODAK-COMMERCIAL-14-/250886872594

The first one is a stock of three SF lenses: Varium 19", Verito 18" and 405mm Kodak Portrait. Sold for 1000 USD.
The latter is another stock: Verito 9", Commercial Ektar 14" and hermagis Hellor 310mm. Sold for 900 USD.

The condition of the various lenses is not top notch, but the price (especially the first auction) was very good.
The buyer was quick in taking the chance and offering a price that was acceptable (at least in seller's opinion). My guess about the seller is that it's a professional vendor, more at ease with modern/smaller format gears. The other items on sale are not so cheap.
I found about these auctions via Ebay saved searches (for which i get daily emails). Everything was sold already, so the buyer was lucky to find it soon, and reacted very quick.
I have no regrets tough, my budget is as depleted as it could be... too many acquisitions in recent months, so it's time to let go some old stuff and make some money for a couple of new toys. :)


have fun

CJ

[eddie]

It's quite strange that nobody reported these two auctions:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250886445249

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WOLLENSAK-VERITO-DIFFUSED-9-INCH-KODAK-COMMERCIAL-14-/250886872594

The first one is a stock of three SF lenses: Varium 19", Verito 18" and 405mm Kodak Portrait. Sold for 1000 USD.
The latter is another stock: Verito 9", Commercial Ektar 14" and hermagis Hellor 310mm. Sold for 900 USD.

The condition of the various lenses is not top notch, but the price (especially the first auction) was very good.
The buyer was quick in taking the chance and offering a price that was acceptable (at least in seller's opinion). My guess about the seller is that it's a professional vendor, more at ease with modern/smaller format gears. The other items on sale are not so cheap.
I found about these auctions via Ebay saved searches (for which i get daily emails). Everything was sold already, so the buyer was lucky to find it soon, and reacted very quick.
I have no regrets tough, my budget is as depleted as it could be... too many acquisitions in recent months, so it's time to let go some old stuff and make some money for a couple of new toys. :)


have fun

CJ

based on the seller description:

3 LENS FOR REPAIR ,WOLLENSAK VERITO DIFFUSED 18 INCH F4,WOLLENSAK VARIUM 19 INCH F4,BOTH OF THE LENSES THE [B]SHUTTER IS STUCK SO IS THE APERATURE,FRONT GLASS IS NICE,INSIDE THERE IS DIRT,THESE WERE COVERED IN FOAM THAT REALLY DRIED UP AND GOT INSIDE,THERE IS ANOTHER LENS THAT SCREWS ON THE END OF ONE OF THE LENSES,THEN THERE IS A KODAK 405MM PORTRAIT LENS F4.5,OPTICE LOOK CLEAN,APERATURE WORKS FINE,2ND PIC THE RIM IS OXIDIEZED,FROM THE REMAINS OF THE CAP THAT WAS STUCK ON THERE,THESE ARE BEING SOLD FOR REPAIR AS IS NO REFUNDS,SEND ME YOUR BEST OFFER,I MAY TAKE IT,CAME OUT OF A OLD FOTO STUDIO.

IMO.....

sounds to me like the buyer over paid. i think you are lucky you missed out. i disagree that the 1st auction was a good price. 18 inch verito/verium gets $600 in fair condition. the extension lens on the varium is a nice bonus....looks okay but i would guess it has issues as well. the barrel(?) 405 in unknown condition (so best to figure super ugly like the rest)i would spend 2-250 on a gamble! (they go for 6-700 in user condition)

so for 1200-1500 you could have those same lenses in known good/fair- condition with a working studio shutter.....but this is just me.....

also please note his feed back. two negatives in the last 8 months. 3 in a year. several neutrals as well. the "no refunds" would scare me all day......

eddie

[Geoffrey_5995]

It's quite strange that nobody reported these two auctions:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250886445249

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WOLLENSAK-VERITO-DIFFUSED-9-INCH-KODAK-COMMERCIAL-14-/250886872594

The first one is a stock of three SF lenses: Varium 19", Verito 18" and 405mm Kodak Portrait. Sold for 1000 USD.
The latter is another stock: Verito 9", Commercial Ektar 14" and hermagis Hellor 310mm. Sold for 900 USD.

The condition of the various lenses is not top notch, but the price (especially the first auction) was very good.
The buyer was quick in taking the chance and offering a price that was acceptable (at least in seller's opinion). My guess about the seller is that it's a professional vendor, more at ease with modern/smaller format gears. The other items on sale are not so cheap.
I found about these auctions via Ebay saved searches (for which i get daily emails). Everything was sold already, so the buyer was lucky to find it soon, and reacted very quick.
I have no regrets tough, my budget is as depleted as it could be... too many acquisitions in recent months, so it's time to let go some old stuff and make some money for a couple of new toys. :)


have fun

CJ
Those lenses were up for a couple of days and the first lot with the Varium looked like some rear elements were missing. Several offers were made. I actually made the first offer for $1000 but the seller sold it for $1000 to someone else and don't know why. I emailed him why my offer was not accepted, being the first offer, but he never replied. Geoff

[Jim Galli]

The condition on the Verito Varium Kodak was pretty scary. Plus the guy was as unhelpful as he could possibly be. I'm pretty sure the Varium was non completable, missing a barrel and one of the glasses. What really fried me though was that I had an offer in place on the make offer thingy of $1025 and he sold the stuff for $1000 bucks. Perhaps I frightened him since I was asking intelligent questions.


It's quite strange that nobody reported these two auctions:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250886445249

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WOLLENSAK-VERITO-DIFFUSED-9-INCH-KODAK-COMMERCIAL-14-/250886872594

The first one is a stock of three SF lenses: Varium 19", Verito 18" and 405mm Kodak Portrait. Sold for 1000 USD.
The latter is another stock: Verito 9", Commercial Ektar 14" and hermagis Hellor 310mm. Sold for 900 USD.

The condition of the various lenses is not top notch, but the price (especially the first auction) was very good.
The buyer was quick in taking the chance and offering a price that was acceptable (at least in seller's opinion). My guess about the seller is that it's a professional vendor, more at ease with modern/smaller format gears. The other items on sale are not so cheap.
I found about these auctions via Ebay saved searches (for which i get daily emails). Everything was sold already, so the buyer was lucky to find it soon, and reacted very quick.
I have no regrets tough, my budget is as depleted as it could be... too many acquisitions in recent months, so it's time to let go some old stuff and make some money for a couple of new toys. :)


have fun

CJ

[Jim Galli]

Seebold Invisible Camera Corp Hyperion (http://www.ebay.com/itm/300596167973?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649) Diffusion 7" 10" 18" $745

[eddie]

I actually made the first offer for $1000 Geoff


The condition on the Verito Varium Kodak was pretty scary. Plus the guy was as unhelpful as he could possibly be. I'm pretty sure the Varium was non completable, missing a barrel and one of the glasses. What really fried me though was that I had an offer in place on the make offer thingy of $1025 and he sold the stuff for $1000 bucks. Perhaps I frightened him since I was asking intelligent questions.

:confused: you guys are crazy. :confused:

lemme go out to the back shed....pump out the water from hurricane irene get some of teh lenses that were stuck in the mud! i am sure i got something for you.....;) :eek:

[eddie]

based on the seller description:

3 LENS FOR REPAIR ,WOLLENSAK VERITO DIFFUSED 18 INCH F4,WOLLENSAK VARIUM 19 INCH F4,BOTH OF THE LENSES THE [B]SHUTTER IS STUCK SO IS THE APERATURE,FRONT GLASS IS NICE,INSIDE THERE IS DIRT,THESE WERE COVERED IN FOAM THAT REALLY DRIED UP AND GOT INSIDE,THERE IS ANOTHER LENS THAT SCREWS ON THE END OF ONE OF THE LENSES,THEN THERE IS A KODAK 405MM PORTRAIT LENS F4.5,OPTICE LOOK CLEAN,APERATURE WORKS FINE,2ND PIC THE RIM IS OXIDIEZED,FROM THE REMAINS OF THE CAP THAT WAS STUCK ON THERE,THESE ARE BEING SOLD FOR REPAIR AS IS NO REFUNDS,SEND ME YOUR BEST OFFER,I MAY TAKE IT,CAME OUT OF A OLD FOTO STUDIO.

IMO.....

sounds to me like the buyer over paid. i think you are lucky you missed out. i disagree that the 1st auction was a good price. 18 inch verito/verium gets $600 in fair condition. the extension lens on the varium is a nice bonus....looks okay but i would guess it has issues as well. the barrel(?) 405 in unknown condition (so best to figure super ugly like the rest)i would spend 2-250 on a gamble! (they go for 6-700 in user condition)

so for 1200-1500 you could have those same lenses in known good/fair- condition with a working studio shutter.....but this is just me.....

also please note his feed back. two negatives in the last 8 months. 3 in a year. several neutrals as well. the "no refunds" would scare me all day......

eddie

[daytona]

Nicola Perscheid 48cm f/4,5
Item number: 110738961541
US $2,358.33

[taulen]

Wollensak Verito 18 Inch
Iten number : 180719016930
US $585.00

[goamules]

This looks like a hacked account for a Pinkham & Smith. Caution advised.
250892862267

[Geoffrey_5995]

This looks like a hacked account for a Pinkham & Smith. Caution advised.
250892862267

Couldn't even pull it up so it must have been taken down. If it was a Bi-Quality, then 99 times out of 100 it's a fake listing!

[Stephane]

Last time I saw this fake listing (text in jpg, asking not to BIN), I BINed it to take it off ebay listings. If I had time, I would BIN all fake adds, and wait for ebay to cancel the sale.