An odd Petzval

[Ian Grant]

I've been given a 1920s Lantern slide projector, it's pre-1926 as the main lens is a 12" Aldis-Butcher Projector lens. Butcher finally fully merged with Houghton in 1926, also I have the original owner's Lantern slides and title slides indicate lectures in 1926. This is not a home projector it's designed for large halls, and the photographer was a member of a large photographic society in Birmingham (UK) and lecturing at others. It's a 1920s projector.

Now to the enigma, the second lens is very much older (50-60 years) and a 6" Petzval. It's missing the focus pinion and has a slot for Waterhouse stops and the internals for the stops in the barrel, but the focus sleeve doesn't have the cut-out to allow focus with a stop in place. There are some clues.

It's in need of a clean, but clearly says Carte De Visite, Squire & Co, Sheffield, so it was not a Projection lens.

When J.H. Dallmeyer introduced the Rapid Rectilinear lens in 1866 many companies were left with large unsold stocks of Petzval taking lens. I have a few Petzval lenses, this isn't particularly swirly compared to others.

Ian

 

[lobitar]

Wasn't early Petzval lenses often refittet with a slot for stops? If so, this might explain the missing cut-out. Charming little fellow, by the way.

 

[Vaidotas]

It says Shepherd.
It might be quite early petzval.
There are some references to Squire (retailer) and Shepherd (lens maker) on the web.

 

[Ian Grant]

You are right I misread it as Sheffield, it is Sheperd which could date it to the 1850s, Waterhouse stops were introduced in 1858. So @lobitar is probably right that the slot for the stops was added later.

Ian

 

[Ian Grant]

Now I've been able to decipher the address which is 53 King William Street, London, this dates the lens to 1856-67, by that point Squire were the manufacturers of Shepherd lenses.

It has none of the usual Petzval swirl which is unusual.

Ian

 

[Duboscq159]

Now I've been able to decipher the address which is 53 King William Street, London, this dates the lens to 1856-67, by that point Squire were the manufacturers of Shepherd lenses.

It has none of the usual Petzval swirl which is unusual.

Ian

Hi Ian

I have the extra rapid version and have a stop I'll add some pics in a day or two and may trouble you for the lens hood dimensions as my example is missing said lens hood

Regards
Sven

 

[Ian Grant]

Hi Ian

I have the extra rapid version and have a stop I'll add some pics in a day or two and may trouble you for the lens hood dimensions as my example is missing said lens hood

Regards
Sven

Of the same lens ?

I have a friend who's an engineer who is getting some Waterhouse stops cut for me for my Dallmeyer Petzval, I can't believe how cheap he can get them for.

Ian