C. P. Goerz Lens 75mm Question

NYCV

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Does anybody know what this lens is ? mount ? approx value ?
 

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MattKing

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Welcome to Photrio.
Here is a guess: a lens designed for an aerial camera - one that would be used in a plane.
 

David Lindquist

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The Goerz Aerogor was, as I understand it, made under license from Carl Zeiss. Its design is that of the 75 mm Biogon. They also made the 38 mm version of this lens, in both cases for sale to the U.S. government. As Matt suggests, these were used for aerial reconnaissance. Originally these were not available to the general public. I'd be curious to know what their price was back then.

Goerz wasn't the only company that made these for the government, Pacific Optical was another player.

And one of Harmut Thiele's books shows that Carl Zeiss themselves made some 75 mm Biogons for Fairchild Camera. I think these, like the example shown here, were not mounted in shutters. This was after Zeiss ceased making the shutter mounted version for Linhof.

David
 
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NYCV

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David , thanks for that information , that is incredible [ your knowledge ] I listed the lens on EBAY and I will add that to description..

Thanks again

Frank
 

David Lindquist

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You're very welcome. I'm something of a "Goerz American" freak, always happy to share what I've picked up over the years.

A few other bits: Sometimes these are marked with the U.S. patent number for the Biogon. I've seen examples of this lens marked "Hycon" rather than "Aerogor." "Hycon" is not an alternate lens name, it refers to the Hycon Manufacturing Co. who made cameras these were used on.

I think Perkin Elmer also made these under license and for the same market.

David
 
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