[LargeFormat] Roman numerals on Zeiss barrel lenses

[Les Newcomer]

On Tuesday, June 24, 2003, at 10:59  PM, Richard Knoppow wrote:

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Les Newcomer" <LNPhoto@twmi.rr.com>
> To: "f32" <largeformat@f32.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 7:21 PM
> Subject: [LargeFormat] Roman numerals on Zeiss barrel lenses
>
>
>> http://home.twmi.rr.com/lnphoto/zeissbarrel.jpg
>>
>> The above link shows two  Zeiss lenses,  the top is a 25cm
> Tessar with
>> the Roman numeral "X" and in subscript "2"
>>
>> The lower lens is a Protar VIIa  with the roman numeral
> "IV" and in
>> subscript  "1"
>>
>> The owner of the Tessar also owns  two other lenses all
> marked "Ic"  so
>> I assume they are Tessars.
>>
>> He has an 18cm  marked  BVI  (sub 2)   and  a 21 Marked
> VII (no sub)
>>
>> Any ideas what these alien markings mean?
>>
>> the only pattern I see is that the roman numerals increase
> in size as
>> the barrel dia increases.
>>
>> My Protar, at f7.7 is the smalles and is marked #4
>> The 18cm  f4.5 is marked #6  with an odd B in there
>> The 21 cm  also 4.5 has to be larger than the 180 and is
> marked VII
>> and the 25cm is marked "10"
>>
>> Not sure if there really were three different sizes of
> barrels between
>> a 210 and a 250mm, but it's a theory.
>>
>
>   I don't know what the X2 means.
>
>   I have a feeling these were added by some owner and not
> Zeiss.

The markings are too good for an owner to add it, and besides mine came 
from Ohio and the other guy is in California.  What are the odds one 
man owned all of these lenses at one time?

>   FWIW the No.4 Series VII Protar is 35cm or 14 inches FL.

Interestingly enough, the largest lens in my C-set is the above 35cm 
lens and this is the barrel to it.  Fluke?


> Some of these numbers have an a or b subscript. The numbers
> for the Series 1c and 2b Tessars do not overlap. Series 1c
> (f/4.5) run from No.10, at 4cm to No.20 at 50cm (must be
> huge).
>   The 2b (f/6.3) runs from No.0 at 4cm to No.11 at 60cm.
>   This is all from a 1926 catalogue and 1928 price list.


Well that's the right time frame.


> Richard Knoppow
> Los Angeles, CA, USA
> dickburk@ix.netcom.com
>
>   I don't have a listing for the Series VI but I think it
> may have been the "Triple Protar" a Dagor type but with
> reversed order of powers of the cemented elements.
>   Paul Rudolf was working on this design at the time the
> Dagor was patented by von Hoegh. I suspect this is why Zeiss
> refused to hire von Hoegh when he applied there before going
> to Goerz.

Interesting snippit.  I was falling into the numbers following lens 
series numbers, but all three of the other guy's lenses say "IC" and/or 
Tessar.  Also  my C set is a series VIIa  even though it sports an IV 
barrel engraving.   Ahhhh yet more to research...


>
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