Taylor-Hobson Anastigmat Series II Cooke Aviar 342 f/4.5

[Tiziano]

A friend of mine brought me today this huge thing:





On the lens you read:
Taylor-Hobson Anastigmat Series II Cooke Aviar 342 f/4.5

Any ideas on this thing?
I have not yet had a chance to try it out, but it focuses on my toyo, and it's looks good through the ground glass.

Thanks!

Tiziano

[Dan Fromm]

Try it out. I've had three Aviars, two coated, one uncoated. Y'r lens' s/n is from the late 1930s, so yours isn't coated.

Many people, e.g., Jim Galli, love their Aviars. I found my two coated ones (5"/4.5, 7"/4.5) a bit soft. The uncoated one (ex MoD 14"/5.6 was very sharp but flary).

Its hard to be sure, but y'r photo makes yours look as if it has many cleaning marks. Flare may be a problem, let us know whether it is.

13 1/2" isn't a standard WWII aerial camera focal length, but who knows? The plate the lens is mounted on smells military.

Cheers,

Dan

[Steven Tribe]

TTH's new dialyt to replace the earlier triplet type aviar. Made for years and years (post WW1). Just covers 8x10 in spite of its length. This is the biggest generally available size.

[Tiziano]

Thanks Dan. The cleaning marks are evident because I flashed straight in the front of the lens. In reality it looks better then that.
I was actually hoping it was one of those soft focus portrait lens! .
Oh well... I'll try it out and I'll know!
Edit: and, about the plate: I mounted it reversed, so to get it closer to the bellow.

[Tiziano]

TTH's new dialyt to replace the earlier triplet type aviar. Made for years and years (post WW1). Just covers 8x10 in spite of its length. This is the biggest generally available size.

Thanks Steven!

[Tiziano]

Found this great link:
http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/cooke_2.html
Do you think is the same lens of page 7?
They do call it a portrait lens.

[Steven Tribe]

Yes - although yours may have directly to th RAF in connection the approach to WWII even though there is no contract mark on the side (14a/XXX).