Dallmeyer Rapid Rectilinear, "13x11"?

My dad went to an estate sale recently and purchased a few boxes of stuff that nobody else would bid on - and this popped up.

JH Dallmeyer
No. 72245 13x11 London
Rapid Rectilinear
PATENT.

It has an aperture iris, ranging from f/8-64. It's in surprisingly good condition without too many creepy crawlies growing inside. I've done a search online but lenses marked "13x11" dont seem to pop up. Can anyone give me a bit more information - coverage, focal length?
I'll assumed the "13x11" was it's intended format size

Well, a bit more research points to this Dead Link Removed, and, in particular, this page:
Dead Link Removed

It looks like it might be a Number 8 Rapid Rectilinear, so a 17" focal length - or 430mm.
Has anyone used one of these before and can comment on performance/coverage?

I've no experience with this big size RR but I know from my own experience of a smaller RR (a no. 2) that they have moderate coverage which may work head on with the next larger size if you stop down a good bit (in my case using the above-mentioned no. 2 on 5x7, stopped down to at least f:32). So, you will be able to use movements using 8x10 up to the 11x13 size and could probably squeeze in a good portrait on 12x15. Also remember, closer than infinity gets you more coverage. Although for this one, you'll need some long bellows.

Ole knows more, without a doubt.

EDIT: Sorry, my lens is actually an Aplanat but it shouldn't change the overall assumptions here (As much as one should trust assumptions vs the cold, hard facts).

I think rectilinear is the lens which Edward Weston used but I heard his one was asymetrical.
If I am not wrong , it gives very characteristic bokeh and there is a group at flickr discusses that.
I will try to find the link and post next.
I googled it and there are many flickr galleries with these lenses
Umut

I have the next size down--a Dallmeyer 10x12 RR. I like it quite a bit as a portrait lens on 8x10. I haven't pushed the coverage, but every RR I've tried softened up in the corners, so I wouldn't count on much extra coverage as a landscape lens. They're very nice high quality lenses.

Go to the Large Format forum and post over there. There are all kinds of folks who use these older lenses and someone will know the exact details on the lens. Also try looking for it on this site:

http://www.allenrumme.com/lensdb/DBIntro-1.html

hi alex

RR lenses ... they are versatile and convertible
i am not familiar with the one that you now own,
but i have 3 or 4 other ones and really like how they render an image ...
you might front focus ( focus in front of your subject )
to see what your DOF is like, and how your out of focus areas look.
you might also consider removing one of the elements, you will probably loose 1.5 fstops
but it will be worth it ...

have fun !
john