I've often wondered the same thing about mine. I have a (previously) grey B&J Grover 4x5 which I restored. (I say "previously" grey because I removed all the paint, gave it a cherry stain, and then varnished it.)
The lens is a "Zeiss Jena," which I'm told dates it before the close of WWII.
Thanks for the info, David. I was told they dropped the "Jena" during or (more likely) after the war. Something to do with importing into the U.S. goods from a communist country? Dunno.
Not sure what kind of wood it is. It looked a bit dark to be maple, but I wasn't sure. (I'm usually okay with identifying the more popular woods by their grain, but this one eluded me.) Anyway, the cherry stain gives it a "dark honey" color.
Zeiss Jena can be before the war too - it was used on lenses for a while after the relocation to Jena around 1900, I think. And after WWII it means East Germany; the western "branch" was in Oberkochen. Zeiss (West) made a few LF lenses too, like the 135mm Planar. It's all confusing, anyway...
Ole, I thought it was only before the war. Anyway, you're rightit is confusing. But it seems we've gotten away from Corey's (and my) original questionhow old are these bad boys? Is there a way to date the cameras?
well than, that brings up the question of how to date the Anscos with serial number. I would like to date mine, though I'm pretty sure from the photo tag that came with it that its late 50's era. I dont even know where the serial number is on mine, offhand.
"... well than, that brings up the question of how to date the Anscos with serial number. I would like to date mine, though I'm pretty sure from the photo tag that came with it that its late 50's era. I dont even know where the serial number is on mine..."
Same with mine. But I did notice something that may help date these camerasmarkings such as "pat. pending," or "pat. applied." These cameras would have been manufactured before those that have an actual patent number.
I noticed my B&J Grover has "pat. applied" marked on the nameplate. If I weren't so lazy, I could probably research the patent date to determine that mine was manufactured before then. Not as accurate as dating by serial numberassuming the manufacturers kept records and the records are still availablebut it can at least give a hint.
well than, that brings up the question of how to date the Anscos with serial number. I would like to date mine, though I'm pretty sure from the photo tag that came with it that its late 50's era. I dont even know where the serial number is on mine, offhand.