A question for the brass lens experts

[Ray Bidegain]

I have come across an old brass portrait lens and wonder if any of you would know about it. The markings say it is a Vallantin it has water house slot and a focus drive. I think it must be 16" or maybe 18". The plastic item is a homemade water house stop shutter combo.

Any ideas or information would be greatly appreciated.

Ray Bidegain

[Toyon]

From: The Lens Vade Mecum.

Vallantin, Op(ticie)n, Paris.
This was noted on a substantial (c.80mm front glass) Petzval lens also marked Mon Cle de N. B. Delahaye
where the latter may be the owner or vendor. It is fitted with Waterhouse stops, just possibly after sale, since
when bought the rack drive overlapped the engraving making it hard to read. The lacquer layer was very thin on
this item. It was not numbered.
Another was noted at auction on a 7.5x7.5in wet plate camera. This was engraved as No308x, "Vallantin
Opn., de 1840 a 1856, Ctre des ateliers de Mr. Lerebours, Paris."
He also made a pair of small brass meniscus stereo lenses at No2,231 on a 8x5in Ross camera noted at
auction.

[Jim Galli]

Ray, I don't have first hand knowledge of this lens but dimensionally it looks like it is very likely a petzval type. I've never had a french antique lens I didn't like. Let us know how it goes.

[Ray Bidegain]

Thanks guys that helped.

Ray

[Tri Tran]

Hi Ray,
Great found! Please show us some pictures taken with it.