Goerz 8 1/4 APO red dot question

[cameragearforyou]

I have this lens and cannot find any data on it? Is it any good? what is the coverage? its in a syncro compur shutter if that tells you people anything about its age.

Thanks again!!

 

[T Hoskinson]

I have this lens and cannot find any data on it? Is it any good? what is the coverage? its in a syncro compur shutter if that tells you people anything about its age.

Thanks again!!

Is it a coated 8.25 inch focal length American Optical Co. Red Dot Apochromatic Artar? If so, it was probably made in the 1950s or 1960s. I have a 19 inch Red Dot Apochromatic Artar. It is an Excellent lens which covers 8x10 with movements.

An 8.25 inch focal length Artar should cover a 4x5 format. Best to put it on a camera and measure the coverage circle.

 

[ReallyBigCameras]

It will cover 4x5. I have it's slightly bigger brother, the 9½" Red Dot Artar, also in a Synchro Compur. Since it's a Goerz Red Dot Artar, it was made between late 1953 and 1971. If you post the serial number and/or a photo, I can probably narrow that down a bit. Is it labeled C.P. GOERZ AM. OPT. CO. or GOERZ OPTICAL CO. INC.? That will also help narrow down the date of manufacture.

Kerry Thalmann
Really Big Cameras

 

[cameragearforyou]

it says "C.P. GOERZ AM. OPT. CO." serial is 813277

 

[ReallyBigCameras]

it says "C.P. GOERZ AM. OPT. CO." serial is 813277

Well, that helps narrow it down. Your lens was made around 1963 - give or take a year. I don't have a Goerz serial number list for that time period, but I do have some anecdotal and circumstantial evidence that helps narrow it down.

Sometime between May and December 1964, the company name was changed and they started labeling their lenses GOERZ OPTICAL CO. INC. to reflect this change. I have a price list dated May, 1964 that still lists the company name as C.P. Goerz American Optical Company, and another dated December 1964 that lists the company name as Goerz Oprical Company, Inc. So, that establishes the upward bound as 1964 for your lens.

On the other end, I once had a 4 3/8" WA Dagor with an 803xxx serial number that was part of a 4x5 camera kit that was originally property of the US military. Included in the case with the camera (a 4x5 Burke & James monorail) and lenses (the WA Dagor and a couple of Ilex tessar-types) was a copy of the original purchase order dated July 1, 1961. Of course that date always sticks in my mind as the birth date of such luminaries as the late Princess Diana, track star Carl Lewis and, of course, your truly.

Kerry Thalmann
Really Big Cameras

 

[John Kasaian]

IMHO, Artars are very desireable and all the red dots that I've seen are single coated. I've got two of them, one an APO and the other a Red Dot and they'er both "keepers"

 

[Curt]

I've got the 9 1/2", 10 3/4", 16 1/2", and a new to me 19", I like 'em.

 

[cameragearforyou]

Thanks all! More than answered my questions.

 

[jonw]

Here is link to a shot taken with my equivalent red dot artar:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=3341325
Use yours and enjoy it.

 

[JLP]

Goerz American Optical lenses are great, even those they call Dagor

jan