Gundlach Petzval

I just picked up this slightly battered Gundlach lens. A search online didn't turn up anything, nor did a review of the Gundlach catalogs on the camera eccentric website.

Each cell is marked 5 3/4". The upper one is marked front and the lower one is marked rear. So, with the front thread and the marking, I'm guessing this is a CdV lens. From looking at the reflections, and disassembling the rear cell, this appears to be a petzval. It's an odd shaped lens - not quite 2" long and 2 1/2" in diameter. You can see the scratches on the front element - its so curved, and the barrel so short, that it protrudes above the lip. I already put it down on the glass once - obviously not the first time.

From a quick check, it does seem about 5 3/4" FL, so it's around an f2.3 It doesn't cover 8x10, doesn't even illuminate it. It might illuminate full plate. I need to study it some more and try shooting with it.

Anybody ever seen one of these before? Tried shooting with it? Have any info on it? Know its vintage?

Thanks,
Dan

It's a Petzval variant early motion picture projection lens--early 1900's. I have a few and the results can be fairly wild.

Here are pics done with a 4 inch version. Yours will be similar but cover more. It will probably cover 4X5.

Those are some nice shots with yours. It definitely sounds like it'll be fun to play with once I find a board for my Speed that can hold it.

Dan