PDA

View Full Version : help identify first Petztval



IanG
29-Jul-2012, 09:24
If anyone can shed some light on the origins of this lens it would be appreciated.

Picked up this lens today at a Flea market, it looked terrible but has cleaned up fine, optics are excellent. It has a slot for Waterhouse stops, is 5" overall lenght (ex hood) elements 2.5" diameter, FL approx 11" just covers 5"x4". It was sold as a projection lens but the seller hadn't spotted the slot for the stops which slot in the side and between two round disks inside the barrel.

http://lostlabours.co.uk/photography/cameras/images/petzval01sm.jpg

http://lostlabours.co.uk/photography/cameras/images/petzval02sm.jpg

http://lostlabours.co.uk/photography/cameras/images/petzval03sm.jpg

http://lostlabours.co.uk/photography/cameras/images/petzval04sm.jpg

All the mud and grime washed off the lens elements and the spiders that lived in the barrel now have a new home.

Ian

Louis Pacilla
29-Jul-2012, 11:20
Did the rare /front glass have any writing on them? I'm guessing not or you would have mentioned that. More than likely it was manufactured by Darlot as they where prolific it providing many camera manufacturers and Supply houses with lenses with the barrels with out engravings. Leaving it up to the other merchants to engrave or in some cases like yours, not engrave the lenses barrel at all.



BTW -I would think The hood is not original to the lens but cool and OVER sized a little:eek:.

IanG
29-Jul-2012, 12:29
Thanks Louis, your right there's no lettering at all anywhere on the lens, also the oversized lens hood is at the wrong end of the lens :confused: The seller thought the "lens hood" part was possibly part of a projector but I doubt it. The hood is quite well made but I'd agree probably made later, it fits the lens flange and may incorporate the original retaining ring.

I'll use the lens with a Thornton Pickard or similar shutter fitted on the front anyway, I've a few that'll fit.

Ian

goamules
29-Jul-2012, 14:36
The large brass part you are calling a hood is most likely part of the magic lantern projector it was on. Look around on the web and you'll see some have this. Often the companies would use whatever lenses they could get for their projectors, and I've seen several mounted with waterhouse stop cut lenses. I'm sure the seller just disassembled the parts that looked interesting or seemed to go together. It's not a hood. But if you cut it down and drill some screw holes, you'll have a flange.

Steven Tribe
29-Jul-2012, 16:45
Garrett is absolutely right.
This will fit in the russian iron casing of a scrapped magic lantern.

IanG
30-Jul-2012, 01:05
Thanks Garrett, I was showing the lens to an engineer friend last night and his instant comment was the "hood" didn't match the lens - he meant in terms of build quality. That would match what you're saying, that the magic lantern manufacturer used what lenses they could find available..

The retaining ring is possibly soldered into the "hood" but I'll try to find another ring first as it isn't very wide and may not be original, I know someone with a few that may fit. I'd also like to keep the lens as I bought it with the hood, adding some Waterhouse stops.

Ateven, I've never really looked closely at how early magic lantern projectors are made so maybe it's time I did :D The seller has had them occasionally at camera fairs.

Now to find some Waterhouse stops.

Ian

Jim Galli
30-Jul-2012, 06:15
I concur that the machining and style looks like a Darlot. Just like this one (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?93277-No-Name-%28Darlot%29-250MM-f4-Projection-Petzval!-5X7-Swirlies-8X10-Fine-Art) I have in the classifieds right now.

IanG
9-Sep-2012, 10:36
Just to update, the lens is finally ready for use :)

80189

80190

80191

80192

Ian

Amedeus
9-Sep-2012, 12:45
Nice ... have fun with this !