The fabled Pretzel lens?

[John Kasaian]

So I was doing some photo gear housekeeping this evening and I came across a large brass lens---5-1/4'' long x 4-3/4'' wide and about 12'' focal length marked
McIntosh Stereopticon Co.
Chicago
H-15
Could this be one of them fandangled swirly lens thangs?:confused:
Does anyone here shoot with a "McIntosh?"

 

[andrew.roos]

I guess it might be a stereopticon (projector) lens?

 

[ChristopherCoy]

I wonder if I clean house, if I'll find a swirly lens?!?

 

[bsdunek]

Nothing like a Pretzel lens. I like the salted kind, and add a bit of mustard. Makes swirly yellow tones if you use color film.
Of course at first I thought you meant a Petzval lens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petzval_lens), but I was mistaken.

 

[lxdude]

Pretzel lens- there's a twist.

 

[Barry S]

It's a Bausch & Lomb 15" lantern Petzval lens. Excellent quality, I have an H-8. Yours should be perfect on an 8x10.

 

[John Kasaian]

It's a Bausch & Lomb 15" lantern Petzval lens. Excellent quality, I have an H-8. Yours should be perfect on an 8x10.

Thanks Barry! Thats just what I needed to know

 

[bsdunek]

Pretzel lens- there's a twist.

:w00t::w00t::w00t:

 

[jon koss]

If you clean my house, yes!

J

I wonder if I clean house, if I'll find a swirly lens?!?

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I wonder if I clean house, if I'll find a swirly lens?!?

Not in my house, no swirlys here.

 

[TimFox]

A "stereopticon" is a viewer for stereo pairs of opaque prints.
This was a very popular product at the turn of the previous century, but the viewer itself had very simple optics.
Perhaps your lens was used for taking the images.