Some Soft Focus Lens Sales Information

[mhayashi]

That’s a really good deal and rare, Mark.

[peter brooks]

Great find Mark. If it's too small for you please send it my way - I'll give you 15 bucks for it...

[Mark Sawyer]

Thanks, guys! Sorry Peter, but I think I can get $20 for it if I hold out...

It was a "Buy It Now" of course, and I never hit "Buy" and paid for something so fast before. I felt a bit guilty, but I paid the seller's price, and if I didn't buy it, someone else would have.

Now I have to figure out if the optics are glass or fused quartz.

[mhayashi]

Oh my Oh….. P&S collection release from someone to Igor’s shop….
I don’t have any relation to Igor’s shop, other than as a customer….
http://www.igorcamera.com/new_arrivals.htm

Sadly no 16” Visual Quality IV for me….

[cuypers1807]

Anyone seen a Bi-Quality with a serial number over 150?

[peter brooks]

Dallmeyer Stigmatic no.3 (about 10"?). 350772859414 and £316.
Or is it a standard 2B or something similar lurking in a Stigmatic sleeve?
It has the traditional 4 notch turning final rear cell.
I can't locate mention of a soft Stigmatic series I version, but it is possible as the rear cells (quite complex) have two air separated cells. I am inclined to believe that this is the case.
I hope the winner will enlighten us and describe what "soft" means in this case!

[the above from 2013...]

Is this the same lens re-surfaced in a Flints auction here in the UK? (I've no connection with the lens, or the auction).

[mhayashi]

Anyone seen a Bi-Quality with a serial number over 150?

Not yet for me. But Bi-quality samples show up from time to time.

[russyoung]

Anyone seen a Bi-Quality with a serial number over 150?

FWIW, mine is #126.

[DDrake]

Haven't posted on these forums for some time. My interest has mostly been DIY cameras and Polaroid 110 conversations, but over the weekend I bought a large lot of mostly LF stuff at an estate auction. Cameras included a Century 7 camera and stand with multiple backs, a Kodak Master View 8x10, Agfa 5x7 (with 4x5 reducing back only), and Noba 5x7, also with multiple backs. The lot also included 3 barrel lenses and two portrait lenses with shutters: A Taylor Hobson & Cooke Series II 15" w/ knuckle, A Taylor Hobson & Cooke Series II 13", A Pinkham Bi-Quality 14" (serial # 109), a 305mm Kodak Portrait lens in universal synchro shutter No. 5 (shutter not working) and a Wollensak 14" Velostigmat Series II 12" in Betax No. 5 (also not working).

All the lenses cleaned up okay, but none are exactly pristine. The Pinkham and the Cooke 15" have pretty good dents in the filter ring, and the Cooke also has a couple 2mm chips on the front element, as well as (4 or 5) 1-3mm scratches, also on front element. The Cooke 13" has (3) 2mm spot of fungus on the inside surface of the rear element.

Frankly, I didn't realize until after the purchase what I'd bought. I am NOT looking for a valuation, and am not going to sell any of the stuff before I use it at least a little, but I am wondering how likely the condition issues are to affect use (I know; I should try them and see—8x10 is just a little beyond my capabilities right now).

I'm also wondering if there's some one you all would recommend to put the Universal no. 5 shutter back in order, or if it's worth it. I've fixed other stuck shutters (much smaller), but have always been lucky enough they only needed a good clean.

I'm a little overwhelmed with what I bought, but also kind of excited to try something a lot bigger than a Polaroid 110. Any advice would be welcome.

[mhayashi]

I recommend you to buy the Sinar Copal shutter.
The shutter hole diameter is 75mm.
The Bi-quality and Cooke 12” wouldn’t be interfered with the shutter,
but Cooke 15” would be, but mostly not interfered.
Note that Sinar shutter requires the designated shutter release for very
long reach.