Spencer Portland 18in lens

[Chuck Martin]

Can anybody tell me anything about this lens? I got it with a 8x10 field camera I bought. All I was able to find out about it was that it was made sometime in the early 1900's. I've seen a few other "Port-land" Spencer lenses but this does not look like the other ones i've seen.

 

[shutterfinger]

A Lens Collector's Vade Mecum, which deals with lens that were/are available in the UK, lists it from 1912 and as a simple achromat soft wide open without loss of detail and sharper stopped down.
It might produce nice portrait shots.
Spencer Portland was an American Company.

 

[Dan Fromm]

A soft focus lens, potentially quite valuable.

For marketing fluff, see Dead Link Removed

For a discussion of soft focus lenses including yours, http://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/handle/10023/505 and click to download. A doctoral dissertation on soft-focus lenses and pictorialism, not a lens catalog. People interested in pictorialism or soft-focus lenses might find it an interesting read.

 

[Chuck Martin]

A soft focus lens, potentially quite valuable.

For marketing fluff, see Dead Link Removed

For a discussion of soft focus lenses including yours, http://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/handle/10023/505 and click to download. A doctoral dissertation on soft-focus lenses and pictorialism, not a lens catalog. People interested in pictorialism or soft-focus lenses might find it an interesting read.

Thank you Dan. It is something I would ever use so I think i'm going to sell it or trade it for a lens I would use. This is the only thing close I can find on Ebay. Should it be worth more/less/or about the same? The condition of the one I have is nice. Aputure works perfectelly, glass is in great condition, the metal parts of it look great.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/11-5-F-5-6-...607570?hash=item2ca3704f52:g:D0wAAOSwYHxWJxTv

 

[Dan Fromm]

That's an asking price. Asking isn't getting. I just took a look on eBay, found three Spencer Portlands for sale and one sold listing. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spencer-Por...rtrait-shutter-wet-plate-flange-/231984221840

In short, there's no good way of estimating how much yours will bring. If I were you I'd look deep into my soul or navel or somewhere, decide the least I'd accept for it and put it up for auction (auction, not Buy It Now) with the least I'd take as the opening bid. And then reality will come a-visitin'. If it gets no bids, reconsider and perhaps relist with a lower opening bid. Repeat until sold.

 

[Alan Gales]

Dan is right. That is an asking price. Click on "add to watch list" and see if it sells for that.

I'm a small time Ebay Seller and have sold tons of used camera equipment. Items do vary in what they go for due to who is looking when. I have lost on a few items and made way more than I should on a few items. It balances out in the end if you sell a lot of things.

I fully agree with Dan. I never use Buy It Now. I would do as he suggests and list it at the least I would accept as the opening bid. If it doesn't sell you can always relist at a lower price.