Date my Dagor?

[Chester McCheeserton]

Recently picked up a very clean 9 1/2 Dagor F6.8

It's labeled C.P. GOERZ AM. OPT. CO.
serial # 809243

it does not have a gold dot, but the back of the mounting flange is gold or brass covered. It's not mounted in a shutter. The F-stops seem smooth but don't have click stops.

Anyone know what date this would be from? I've done a brief comb thru of links and couldn't see something that pointed to this high of a serial number.

The person I got it from said they they had used as an enlarging lens for 5x7 B&W printing in the 80s. Any idea how this would compare to a modern 240 as an enlarging lens?

I'm more tempted to have S.K Grimes mount it in a shutter and use it on my 5x7. I think someone said it was less sharp then a modern Fuji 240 when movements are used? It's also pretty heavy for such a small lens...

[Luis-F-S]

Recently picked up a very clean 9 1/2 Dagor F6.8

It's labeled C.P. GOERZ AM. OPT. CO.
serial # 809243
I'm more tempted to have S.K Grimes mount it in a shutter and use it on my 5x7. I think someone said it was less sharp then a modern Fuji 240 when movements are used? It's also pretty heavy for such a small lens...

+1, what I would do in a Copal 1. Did it on mine 25 years ago.

[angusparker]

Your title threw me for a second. Was wondering if I should suggest your inquiry was better placed on Match.com.

[Chester McCheeserton]

+1, what I would do in a Copal 1. Did it on mine 25 years ago.

Looks $$$ tho. at least 300 for the install plus the shutter....which looks like at least 200 gambling on a used lens from ebay to just pull the shutter out...

You think yours is as sharp as a modern fuji?

[Mark Sampson]

Dagors have been 'cult' lenses since long before I began shooting LF in 1981. There are many threads here about their image qualities... a controversial subject. I have not used one enough to have an opinion about that. But the design was in production from the 1890s until at least 1982, by many manufacturers, which suggests a quality design. A look at the front page of this site suggests that Goerz lens #791500 dates from 1955, so yours may be from the late '50s. I'd try the lens out as-is; it may very well be worth putting into a shutter.

[Chester McCheeserton]

Thanks Mark. I saw that about the 791# being from 55, just wasn't sure what that meant about my 809#.

You're probably right, it's just going to be expensive to do properly, and not sure it's worth it versus just selling this and getting a modern fujinon 240 A or something similar.

[Luis-F-S]

Don’t have any Fujis-not interested!

[David Lindquist]

I wish we had more complete serial number information for C.P. Goerz A.O.C./ Goerz Optical Co. Recently on ebay there was a collection of G.O.C. ephemera which included a packing list for a lens ordered by a man in Michigan. The packing list clearly shows the invoice date of May 31, 1968. The lens is a "6" Goerz Dagor lens in MX/O Syn Shutter" and the lens serial number is 830782.

In October 1969 I bought a new 6" Dagor (Gold Dot), serial number 823566, so evidently these did not get sold in order of production. In the past I've probably cited this on various forums as a more precise data point regarding production date than it now appears to be. BTW not relying on a nearly 50 year old memory here. Made a written record of the purchase at the time and still have it.

David

[Louis Pacilla]

Not sure if this was mentioned but why not have an adapter made for front mounting your 8 1/2" Dagor to a Copal 3 or a Alphax #4? this way you do not lose much if any image circle (larger shutter then if in the traditional mount probably being a Copal 1 or Alphax #3. The cost will be at a minimum as there is no need to make aperture scale for shutter or the expense of having your dagor mounted w/ a in between shutter.

[Chester McCheeserton]

I wish we had more complete serial number information for C.P. Goerz A.O.C./ Goerz Optical Co....In October 1969 I bought a new 6" Dagor (Gold Dot), serial number 823566..

David

Thanks David, those dates and that info is good to know