Heliar lens question

[Don Ciccone]

I have a Heliar in a brass barrel, focal length 11 3/4 inches, aperture range from f4.5-f50. Manufacturer is The Voigtlander & Son Opt Co. New York. Serial number 58409. Was hoping someone might be able to estimate the year of manufacture. Any other information about the lens would be appreciated as well (lens design?).

Thanks.

Don

[Louis Pacilla]

Hi Brother Don

Long time since last we talked and even longer since we've hung out. Hope all is well and that we catch up some time soon

Now for your answer. Looks like it's a VERY early Heliar made in or around the late 1900. Here's where I gathered my information from http://motamedi.info/serial.htm . Hope this is what you where looking for.

Wanted to add that your Heliar is the early or 1st design before the Patent/design change in 1902.
Peace My friend

BTW I just love my Home Portrait. Thanks again.

[CCHarrison]

Heliar lens page: http://antiquecameras.net/heliarlenses.html

Dan

[Tim Deming]

The New York/US serial numbers dont fall within the dates that correlate with German branded Voigtlander serial numbers. Numbers approx 57000 - 68000 were "set aside" for these New York/US branded lenses. My estimate is that they correlate in time with the German marked lenses made with serial # of approx. 100,000 to 110,000. FWIW, all lenses were made in Germany.

cheers
Tim

[Don Ciccone]

Tim,

As per the CC Harrison website, that would place date of manufacture around 1909-10. What does that mean, if anything, about the lens formula? I've heard that the design of the lens changed at some point but not sure when this occurred. Also, thanks to all who responded, very helpful.

Don

PS Louis, let me know next time you plan a trip to NYC.

[Tim Deming]

Tim,

As per the CC Harrison website, that would place date of manufacture around 1909-10. What does that mean, if anything, about the lens formula? I've heard that the design of the lens changed at some point but not sure when this occurred.

There's another thread on this forum that discusses the construction ("heliar" vs. "dynar - new heliar"). In my experience, it depends on focal length. The larger lenses (approx 300 mm and up) had the old construction up to nearly WW2. The smaller lenses switched much earlier. Best thing to do is check the reflections! The other thread has details on this

Cheers

Tim

[ImSoNegative]

I got my first Heliar last week, its a 15cm 4.5 in a compur shutter. did a few portraits with it the other day to test it out, wow what a lens. love it. would like to find a longer focal length for my 8x10

[Two23]

If the lens was in Compound, you can tell a bit about it by the construction. The Compound started begin made around 1904. If the air release for the shutter is in the 11 o'clock position on the shutter, it was made 1909 & later. The Voigtlander serial numbers that seem to match 1900 but have a U.S. patent seem to be placed in shutters dating to 1909.


Kent in SD

[cowanw]

Does the lens have a patent number on the front ring?

[Don Ciccone]

Does the lens have a patent number on the front ring?

Bill,

No patent number/date on front ring, all information is on the barrel and no mention of patent. What does this mean?

Don