4009 is a real oddity in that the serial number places it firmly amongst the earlier type lenses originated by Thomas Grubb, but it is clearly marked as being from Howard and is obviously of much later design and it even features an aperture diaphragm. Of the currently tracked and known lenses there are very few lenses of serial number 4000+ and all those from Howard bear serial numbers from 5000-5350 (the highest known serial number). So what does this lens represent? A use of unused serial numbers? But then why start using 5000 serial numbers? Anything is possible. Perhaps the list of used serial numbers was lost and they restarted with a new batch at 5000?
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