I never heard about my Helvetia Extra Rapid before I bought a 24x30 cm camera some years ago.
I grabbed the lens off the camera, and forgot it; but thisadays I was in the mood to give it a try on my 30x40 cm /12x16" Reisekamera.
Some separations,yes, no further informations onto the barrel, and it came with one whaterhouse stop f/8 which means wide open; the FL has something around 500mm, and the lens covers well, at least with ratio 1:1.
It feels that the Helvetia may become my favourite lens, especially after re-arranging the lens groups.
Sorry for nonretouching the contact print at this time:
How can you rearrange the cells of an aplanat! I have heard the name before and thought they might be an alternative brand from Suter, who were also specialist in magnificant big aplanats.
Yes, Steve, the Helvetia seems to be an Aplanat, and it was possible to flip the lens groups.
So I would call it a new arrangement, and now I have to study the given effects.
I like your idea about the Suter brand; is there a way to find out some more, maybe by observing the Hieroglyphs on the glass edges ?
The other Helvetia I found was also a large aplanat.
Without other data on the lens, I would suggest that this a company name rather than a lens making organisation. The lens being originally part of a specialised copying/reproduction/printing camera made by the firm of Helvetia. This is probably based in Switzerland and likely got their lens from Suter - from the Aplanat B production line!
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