[LargeFormat] Roman numerals on Zeiss barrel lenses

[Les Newcomer]

On Tuesday, June 24, 2003, at 11:42  PM, Stuart Phillips wrote:

> Marc James Small may know something about Zeiss lenses but as he's busy
> defending Bob Shell in Virginia on what may be a murder charge;  I'd

>  He's already blown the bail hearing.

YIKES! I've read what links came through.  What a mess!


>
>
>>>
>>> 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.
>>   1c is a series number both Zeiss and Bausch & Lomb made
>> Tessars with series numbers. Series 1c is the f/4.5 version;
>> Series 2b is the f/6.3 version.
>>   Protar lenses came in several series.
>> Series I  = f/4.5, original design
>> Series II = f/6.3  "
>> Series III= f/7.2
>> Series IIIa = f/9
>> Series IV = f/12.5 medium wide angle
>> Series V = f/18 extreme wide angle
>> Series VII = f/12.5 Single cells of convertible Protars
>> Series VIIa = f/6.3, f/7, f/7.7 Combined convertible
>> Protars.
>>   Protars and Tessars also had catalogue numbers. Some
>> lenses show these and some don't. They are NOT the numbers
>> on the sides of the barrel.
>>   I have a feeling these were added by some owner and not
>> Zeiss.
>>   FWIW the No.4 Series VII Protar is 35cm or 14 inches FL.
>> 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.
>> There may have been other numbers or series at other times.
>> In general, B&L follows approximately Zeiss practice but the
>> focal lengths of the various lenses are somewhat different.
>>
>> ---
>> 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.
>>
>>
>>
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