Suter serial numbers and dates.

[Steven Tribe]

The Suter aplanat which was the F5 version was a very popular alternative Portrait lens in Scandinavian Studios in the post 1890 period. I don't know why it is more common than the Voigtlander Euryscopes - perhaps pricing? I have acquired at least 3 studio camera sets with the same F5 aplanats. By the time the Stella appeared, there was no longer any real growth in the number of established family portrait studios.

[pgk]

If you are still collecting details, a while ago I bought Suter Aplanat B No.5 s/n 2126 (inscribed '13 x 11' which I assume to be coverage in inches?). It has its flange and although they are missing was likely designed for Waterhouse Stops as there is no aperture engravings. [I have a 12" x 8" camera arriving shortly which it should go on quite well, and a Packard which should fit too - will be fun].

[Steven Tribe]

Yes - it has been added now!
It is the earliest B aplanat we have - and the 13x11" means it was made for the UK market. Looking at the catalogue extract for the no.5 - this is the maximum coverage with smaller apertures!

[bpersons]

Not sure this adds to the picture, but my Suter is marked Rapide No 2, No 10,863. I has a lever iris, aperture markings are 2,3,4,8,16,32,100. Which brings up a question - that series doesn't match any pattern i can find, closest is a sequence i found in a table labeled Voightlander Collinier. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

[Steven Tribe]

This is the same series as the Rapid shown in the summary of the 1900's catalogue.
As a small maker, Suter had to engrave F scales to satisfy the demands of very different markets.
Your scale corresponds to F5, 5.6, 8, 11.3, 16, 23, 32 and 45.
The optics are the same as the later Stella series.
I have put your Rapid as the first recorded one in the list on page 1!

[bpersons]

This is the same series as the Rapid shown in the summary of the 1900's catalogue.
As a small maker, Suter had to engrave F scales to satisfy the demands of very different markets.
Your scale corresponds to F5, 5.6, 8, 11.3, 16, 23, 32 and 45.
The optics are the same as the later Stella series.
I have put your Rapid as the first recorded one in the list on page 1!

Ah, fantastic and thanks for decoding those markings. I guessed 16 was 16, but i was off quite a few other guesses.

[Vaidotas]

For your Suter s/n collection.
E.SUTER Basel
ANASTIGMAT Serie I No4
No 20966
US aperture markings 4 - 128
4 + 4 layout

[Steven Tribe]

I believe I have asserted that the Stella series is basically a continuation of the F.5 Rapid Aplanat series.
I am pretty sure this is not the case!
Not only do the sizes of the Stella not match the Rapid Aplanat series, but I have seen a lens cell that shows a very thick cemented glass that looks more like a Steinheil product than a lowly Aplanat.
In order to atone for my misinformation, I have purchased a Stella 29cm complete with a front mounted -ve lens which increases the focal
length a lot. A factory add-on?
Will report back in a week.
I have added the Stella data to the earlier summary posting in this thread.

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Here's one found on a Dutch local market:
#3178 Aplanat A nr. 2 9x7

[arri]

I own a Suter "Stella" 160mm f/5 in a Compur shutter.
It has a special front thread and so I ´am sure that it is the shutter the lens were delivered.
The lens has the serial 46296 and the Compur shutter has the #986078
This dates the lens to the years 1928/29