Strange Ensign Sector II shutter

[Ian Grant]

I bought a job lot of misc items, including 3 lenses. One is a Taylor, Taylor & Hobson Cooke Ltd 6” f6.8 Anastigmat lens in an Ensign Sector II shutter. The SN indicates 1915, but a 6" f6.8 focal length lens is not listed in TT&H catalogues or adverts, so may have been made specifically for Houhtons.

The shutter is faulty, I assumed the lens cells would fit a Dial-set Compur #0 shutter, but no, however they do fit a B&L Unicum shutter. The Ensign shutter reminded me of the Wollensak Velosto/Optimo, except it’s self cocking. On comparing the two shutters the Finger & Cable releases are identical, as including position, as are the aperture and shutter controls.

While looking at the Ross Xpres details in New Goods Section of the 1915 BJP Almanac I noticed “The Sancum Diapragm Shutter” sold by Staley & Co, Grays Inn, London. It’s identical
Knowing the date, these shutters are obviously rebranded Wollensak Auto shutters.

I now have 1915/16/17 copies of the BJP Almanacs, then all from 1920, but the WWI copies are fascinating the 1915 copy runs to 1066 pages. I guess B&L made Compur shutters filled the British some of the need for Compurs after 1914 and the "Trading with the Enemies Act" but there were no Gauthier shutters. Wollensak advertise the Optimo shutter and lenses in the 1915 BJP A.

Ian

 

[Ian Grant]

Copilot says:

Your lens is a Cooke Luxor Anastigmat f/6.8 made by Taylor, Taylor & Hobson Ltd, likely from the 1920s, and it's mounted in an Ensign Sector III shutter.

Here's a detailed breakdown of what you've got:

Lens: Cooke Luxor Anastigmat f/6.8

• Manufacturer: Taylor, Taylor & Hobson Ltd, Leicester, England — a renowned optical firm known for pioneering the Cooke Triplet lens design in 1893.
• Model: Cooke Luxor Anastigmat — part of the Cooke series of anastigmatic lenses, designed to correct astigmatism and deliver sharp images across the field.
• Aperture: f/6.8 — a relatively slow lens, typical for landscape or architectural photography.
• Serial Number: 65432 — based on available records, Cooke lenses with serial numbers in the 60,000 range were likely produced in the early 1920s.
• Focal Length: Often around 5 to 6 inches (127–152 mm) for this model, though exact specs vary slightly by production batch.

Shutter: Ensign Sector III

• Type: Pneumatic leaf shutter — common in British cameras of the early 20th century.
• Speed Range: T, B, 1 to 1/100 sec — offers a versatile range for timed exposures and fast shutter speeds.
• Markings: "45332/16" — likely a production or patent reference number.
• Use Case: Typically found on Ensign cameras, a British brand known for medium-format folding cameras

Historical Context

• This combination of lens and shutter was likely used on large-format or medium-format cameras, especially for studio, architectural, or landscape work.
• The Cooke Luxor series was prized for its optical clarity and flat field performance, making it a favorite among professionals and serious amateurs.

If you're considering restoration, display, or use, this setup is a gem of British photographic engineering. Would you like help estimating its value or finding compatible camera bodies?

I said "Yes"

Your Cooke Luxor Anastigmat f/6.8 lens and Ensign Sector III shutter are vintage British photographic components from the early 20th century, valued primarily by collectors and restoration enthusiasts.

Here’s what we know about their value and compatibility:

Estimated Value

• A similar Taylor Hobson Cooke 5-inch f/6.8 Luxor Anastigmat lens in Ensign Sector shutter recently listed on eBay for £29.99, though it had a faulty shutter and optical haze.
• Another 6-inch version sold for around £21.47, showing signs of age but considered collectible.
• Condition matters: Working shutters and clean optics can raise the value to £50–£100, especially if paired with a compatible camera or restored for use.

Compatibility and Use

• The lens and shutter combo was commonly mounted on Ensign folding cameras, such as:
  • Ensign No. 3 and No. 3A — large-format roll-film cameras from around 1930.
  • Popular Ensign models — used various shutters including Trichro and Sector, often with T.T.H. lenses.
• The Ensign Sector III shutter is a pneumatic leaf shutter with speeds from 1 sec to 1/100 sec, compatible with quarter-plate and roll-film cameras of the era.
• Some users report adapting these lenses to modern large-format cameras using custom lens boards or flange mounts, though this requires careful measurement and machining.

Historical Insight

• The Cooke Luxor Anastigmat was designed for sharpness across the image field, ideal for architectural and landscape photography.
• Taylor, Taylor & Hobson’s lenses were widely respected and often custom-fitted for Houghton’s Ensign cameras.

Would you like help identifying a compatible camera body for restoration or display? Or tips on cleaning and preserving the lens and shutter?

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Initially I had tried with a lower contrast image, it made some mistakes, but identified the age accurately as 1915.

Ian