[LargeFormat] Why are some Wollensak lenses printed backwards?

[largeformat@f32.net]

If you search eBay for "process cameras" you'll very often find these lenses 
still attached to very nice 5 lb. 3" to 4" 45 degree glass prism mounted to the 
front of the lens.

This kept the front of these lenses emaculate and scratch free, and the rear 
somewhat more banged up by the time you find them. 

Because they were mounted (by three set screws)in the prism, if you looked into 
the prism, the lens description would be reversed unless it was scribed in 
reverse (mirror style) - so If you see a Wolly or other lens scribed in 
reverse, you know it was intended for a process camera and for about 1:10 to 
1:20 conjugate usage...
> Okay, a trivia question (to which I do not know that answer...).
> 
> Why do some Wollensak lenses apparently have the writing around the front of
> the lens barrel printed in reverse - that is, a mirror image, so the writing
> is all back to front?
> 
> I just bought one of these off ebay - a 15" f10 Apo Raptar. And no, it's not
> a Photoshop accident - check out the second image. I vaguely remembered
> seeing this before - I think it is in Steve Simmons LF book - 4 lenses in
> one photo, and the Wollensak has the writing on the front (nowhere else on
> it) mirrored... weird huh?
> 
> http://tinyurl.com/a8hq
> 
> http://tinyurl.com/a8hm
> 
> 
> tim
> 
> 
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