Hermagis Serial numbers Need your help with a database

I have an Extra Rapide No.5 (25cm f3) and it matches the catalog dimensions. It's a great lens. I would love to find an Extra Rapide No. 1.

Some member at the German LF site seems to have acquired a nice specimen
and its serial is not in the database yet:

https://grossformatfotografie.de/thr...ektiv-um-1865/

Added.

It would interesting if the lens edges were checked for year dating, as it is close to the guessed serial number when Hermagis introduced this practice?

Hint to Ron - you appear to have excellent Deutsch skills - could you ask?

Picked up a small Hermagis, not convertible, lens diameter 42mm, no serial number. No WHS, restrictor is still in place.

Rear negative has Hermagis written on it, no other marks visible but they may have been there, signs of smudges.

Front achromat had Paris written on it, Hermagis style but a different name I'm still deciphering ... L Wue** or L Wul**, again signs of other previous marks, not legible at all. Achromat doesn't show any separation, so most likely redone a few times.

Cheers

Could this be "Wallet", perhaps? Father or the daughter who married Derogy when he was also working at Hermagis?

The new "no serial number" Hermagis has been added as "WWWW". There are now 4 of these - all regular style Petzvals

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steven Tribe

Could this be "Wallet", perhaps? Father or the daughter who married Derogy when he was also working at Hermagis?

The new "no serial number" Hermagis has been added as "WWWW". There are now 4 of these - all regular style Petzvals

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Looked at it under better light and it appears to be L. Wulff, Paris

Did some checking and found 2 references to L Wulff online with respect to photography ...

Attachment 185328
Attachment 185329

The lens above has an 1860 reference while the camera illustration has a 1863 reference

So did L Wulff work for Hermagis early on and went on his own later ?

Also (edit), no immediate sign of black paper behind the rack, no tell tale exposed brass where the paper was.

Cheers !

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steven Tribe

Added.

It would interesting if the lens edges were checked for year dating, as it is close to the guessed serial number when Hermagis introduced this practice?

Hint to Ron - you appear to have excellent Deutsch skills - could you ask?

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Hi Steven, with regard to your request: I've posted the question on the German forum, however from the last posts there it appears the member in question seems more interested in selling his lens.

Saw this one on a Chinese site, but apparently sold not long ago by the well known German auction site for about 970 Euros - it is not in the database:
http://laoxiangji.com/product-view-id-43378.html

10981 (the lens on the link) is a problem lens - especialy just now!

At the moment it is listed on an auction site until after Christmas. There is quite a range of focal lengths given for this lens at various earlier auctions - from 40cm to the current 35cm. The lens diameter of 75mm suggests it is the size 5 of the series I Petzval - and the focal length should be 240mm! It is also described as "Landscape" lens which suggests there may be something unusual with the optical set-up.

So I won't add to the list just now!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steven Tribe

10981 (the lens on the link) is a problem lens - especialy just now!

At the moment it is listed on an auction site until after Christmas. There is quite a range of focal lengths given for this lens at various earlier auctions - from 40cm to the current 35cm. The lens diameter of 75mm suggests it is the size 5 of the series I Petzval - and the focal length should be 240mm! It is also described as "Landscape" lens which suggests there may be something unusual with the optical set-up.

So I won't add to the list just now!

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Definately not 400mm.
That size is a 300mm lens. I have two with exactly the same size.