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Thread: "Cooke Lens Compendium" is finally published

  1. #1

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    "Cooke Lens Compendium" is finally published

    It took years of part time work to compile, but the Cooke Compendium is finally published at the Cooke Optics website under tab "About Us," then "Lens History."
    Direct link: https://cookeoptics.com/t/compendium.html

    This labor of love is dedicated to all large format photographers, especially those of you who have reached out to me via email asking for information about your particular lenses. It's because of you (and eBay) that I was able to gather enough serial numbers to provide a time line on a few given series of Cooke lenses to help you determine when your particular lens was made. The Cooke lens serial number books no longer exist before about 1940.

    To my knowledge, this is now the most comprehensive resource for Cooke still lenses made from 1894 through the 1960s.

    So, instead of emailing me and waiting for an answer, you can go direct to our website, locate your lens' series number and have all the information you need.

    I hope you find it useful!

    My Best, Barbara

  2. #2

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    Re: "Cooke Lens Compendium" is finally published

    Well done! Thanks for the effort and info, most appreciated.

  3. #3
    Peter De Smidt's Avatar
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    Re: "Cooke Lens Compendium" is finally published

    Thank you!
    “You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
    ― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know

  4. #4

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    Re: "Cooke Lens Compendium" is finally published

    Interesting. Barbara, I think I found an error. I b'lieve that the Ser. VIIb wide angle is in fact a four element in four groups double Gauss type, not a triplet as you stated.

  5. #5
    Tin Can's Avatar
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    Re: "Cooke Lens Compendium" is finally published

    This is great, I have 2 of these beauties.

    Thank you Barbara

  6. #6

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    El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula
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    Re: "Cooke Lens Compendium" is finally published

    Very nice... a link to save!

  7. #7

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    Re: "Cooke Lens Compendium" is finally published

    Very nice. Dan beat me to the Series VIIB issue. I have an 8" example. I've been tracking Cooke Portrait Anastigmat (and many others) over the last six months. It will be interesting to see how this information matches up to my list.

  8. #8

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    Re: "Cooke Lens Compendium" is finally published

    I will check and see what I can find. What I CAN state is that it was made with 3 elements when it was first came out in 1924. Either that, or the it was a typo in the 1924 catalog.

  9. #9

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    Re: "Cooke Lens Compendium" is finally published

    Series VII was a three element design. It's my understanding that based on the limitations of such a design for a wide angle lens, they switched to a 'double-Gauss" 4 elements in 2 groups type of design with the VIIB.

  10. #10

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    Re: "Cooke Lens Compendium" is finally published

    Also, the "Pleasing Portraiture" brochure includes an insert introducing the Series XIV dated March 8th, 1933. Serial number 220,000ish? My 16.5" XIV is 221722.

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