ross xpress lenses

I saw a compact graflex on ebay with lot's of holders and a Ross express 8.5" lense I went ahead and got it as a buy it now deal as it was a great price. It was labeled 4x5, so I figured it was a 3.25 x 5.5 though it looked too big in the photos Well. to my pleasant surprise it was a 5x7 with lots of holders that will work well with my press graflex and the compact if I can restore it. Two holders are single plate and were marked autochrome and resemble old time wet plate holders that load in the back.I haven't seen holders from this time like that before.
Anyway, The Lense is a Ross Xpress 8.5", and I haven't heard much about them. Anyone know about them?
Thanks, Jamie

At the period they were produced they had a reputation of being a lens of good quality.

Jamie,

The Xpres is more or less a tessar-type lens, with the rear element air-spaced instead of cemented. Should be a decent lens, although perhaps a bit prone to flair in uncoated.

JG Motamedi said:

The Xpres is more or less a tessar-type lens, with the rear element air-spaced instead of cemented. Should be a decent lens, although perhaps a bit prone to flair in uncoated.

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Originally the Xpres design is like a Tessar with one rear group of three cemented elements, somewhere along the line it was made to be Tessar-type with a cemented doublet instead. I do not know of any Xpres (not WA Xpres) with a rear group with air-space.

mea culpa

Seele said:

Originally the Xpres design is like a Tessar with one rear group of three cemented elements, somewhere along the line it was made to be Tessar-type with a cemented doublet instead. I do not know of any Xpres (not WA Xpres) with a rear group with air-space.

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Ugg, my mistake. I misread the illustration I had. Seele is indeed correct, rear element is three cemented elements rather than two.

Um, er, ah, Jason, the 105/3.8 Xpres in my Selfix 820 is a tessar type. Two singlets in front of the diaphragm, a cemented doublet behind.

Another example of a trade name that covers more than one design.

Cheers,

Dan