Help with Portrait lens!

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Well, sometimes I can't resist a nice brassie on e-bay! I picked this lens up for $61.00. The picture showed the glass in poor shape. It cleaned up very nicely. Ok, I'm no expert by any means, and just because my name is Jim don't go thinking Iknow as much as the Jim we all know and love. But I must get back on track! This is a Hawkeye Rapid Portrait & Group Lens. F-6 10x12. Zimmerman Brothers Sioux City Iowa. The F- stop scale goes from 2.2- 64. Please let me know how I can tell the type of lens this is. I'm trying to learn and I know there are posts that may explain this but I'm a slow learner so any help would be appreciated. How do I make sense of the F-stop scale? I have this lens' big brother which is the Hawkeye Portrait 11x14 with waterhouse stops and it is a great performer. I have attached some pic's for your viewing pleasure.

Jim

 

[Ole]

That's a US ("Uniform System") aperture scale.

US 16 is f/16, US 8 is f/11, US 4 is f/8, US 32 is f/22, and so on.

Except for that, I have no idea what kind of lens it is.

 

[Roger Hicks]

That's a US ("Uniform System") aperture scale.

US 16 is f/16, US 8 is f/11, US 4 is f/8, US 32 is f/22, and so on.

Except for that, I have no idea what kind of lens it is.

The fact that it's portrait and group argues that it isn't a Petzval. Maybe an undercorrected anastigmat (to give slightly soft focus at full aperture, sharpening up when stopped down fir groups)? It should be possible to form a good guess by counting the reflections, bright for air/glass, weaker for cemented. (You know that already Ole but the OP may not).

 

[noseoil]

Jim, no idea what it is, but would like to see what it does! Please take a shot or two wide open and then stopped down a bit and post it for us. Looks like a nice hunk of glass. Better make a new, strong lens board for this one. Best, tim

 

[Jim Fitzgerald]

The lenses look to be cemented. When I shine my flashlight in it it has 4 distinct reflections. Each reflection looks about the same with the exception of the first which is brighter. Ole, thanks for the info on the f-stop scale. That makes sense. The 2.2 is got to be the f-6 that is marked on the barrel. Tim and Roger looks like I need to get this on the 8x10 and give it a go. I will post my results. Thanks for all of the help.

Jim

 

[Ole]

I still don't know anything, but i've had time to think while digging a ditch in my garden...

My guess that it's an "Extra Rapid Aplanat" or "Portrait Symmetrical" or whatever - they had as many names as makers. In short it's an extra fast "Rapid Rectilinear" or "Aplanat", which at f:6 is fast enough for portraits yet has coverage enough for a group portrait. From that a lens to cover 10x12" would be about 16", but an optimistic lensmaker could well have made a 14" for 10x12" (and most likely received complaints from the buyers).

And BTW - US 2.2 should be pretty close to f:6, since US 2 is f:5.6.

 

[Anscojohn]

Yup, the fourth picture, with all that beautiful hand engraving, says it is a Rapid Rectilinear. a

 

[Ole]

Ah - but that is a Hawkeye 11x14" Portrait Rapid Rectilinear, which is not necessarily the same construction as a Hawkeye 10x12" "Rapid Portrait and Group".

Only one thing is certain with old lenses, and that is that you can't assume two lenses with similar names are of the same type.

 

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Ah - but that is a Hawkeye 11x14" Portrait Rapid Rectilinear, which is not necessarily the same construction as a Hawkeye 10x12" "Rapid Portrait and Group".

Only one thing is certain with old lenses, and that is that you can't assume two lenses with similar names are of the same type.

Ole, you are right. The 4th lens in the picture is my 11x14 RR Hawkeye. The 10x12 looks to be about a 15" lens. You are right again, thanks. Now if I can find the lens board i had already made some time ago I can mount this thing and shoot some film so i can show you what it is like. I really need to clean my apartment!!!!

Jim

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I was watching that auction! Nice lens, show use a pic in action!

 

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I was watching that auction! Nice lens, show use a pic in action!

Phillip, I'm going to try to get a shot or two done this weekend and I will post my results.

Jim