The scientific lens co.

[FM2N]

Hello All,
I purchased this wonderful little lens today and would like to learn more about it.
On the brass rim it says-
The Scientific Lens Co.
Extr W.A. Anastigmat No.5
With front and rear glass in place it measures about a 8-9 inch focal length and with either the rear or front element removed it has an amazing 22 inch focal length.
How can I tell what size film the lens will cover?
I assume that if it is an extra W.A. lens and the focal length is 8-9 inches it is made for at least an 8x10 camera?
Any info would be a great help.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

There seem to be no end to the variety of brands these little wide-angle lenses appear under. I have 2, different brands, essentially the same thing. This should be an extreme-wide-angle for 8x10.

 

[FM2N]

Phototone,
Can you give me an idea of what the lens should cost?
Thanks

 

[PHOTOTONE]

Phototone,
Can you give me an idea of what the lens should cost?
Thanks

Haven't a clue. Really a special purpose lens, and not very adaptable to a shutter, except a packard.

I can't even remember what I paid for my copies about 30 years ago.

 

[luvcameras]

As I posted here: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=49023 looks like the 10*12 inch model.

Value is fairly low if it has no flange, perhaps $ 75... circa 1905

Dan

 

[Jim Jones]

My "The Scientific Lens Co. , New York extreme w.a. anastigmat" is marked for 11x14 and has a focal length of about 10 inches. Your lens will probably cover 8x10.

 

[FM2N]

Thank you all for the info. This is why I love APUG.
Arthur

 

[nikonsofCNY]

Hi everyone,
I recently acquired a No. 2 Portrait Lens made by the Scientific Lens Co. of New York. It's a brass lens with an internal bladed aperture. There's a slot on the side where you can place a small object (pin) to rotate the aperture to stop down. It doesn't appear that is ever had a rotating aperture ring over this slot. There is a readout along the slot for the aperture. Does anyone have any knowledge of this lens and what type it would have been (Anastigmat, Petzval, etc.)? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Whiteymorange]

This company had an interesting history, with various owners and names. I think it was started by a man named I have two or three of their lenses. The Extreme Wide Angle I have is quite small and covers 8x10 with no problem. I measured its FL as about 120mm.

From the Vade Mecum:

Scientific Lens Co., 24, E 21 St, New York, USA.
For an account, see B.J.A. 1905, as the lenses change focus during exposure to give increased depth of field. This was patented as Patent 02/02/1904; 12/04/1904; 31/05/1904; 18/10/1904. (?USPats.) This has been a recurring theme and see Dieterich for a later application.
Ocular f5.0 This lens can be used with and without focus change.
Stigmar f6.2 A high grade anastigmat of 4+4 symmetric layout. This was made in 7.25, 12, 17in.
Retinar f7.7 This was an RR for use with and without focus change.
Cosmos Wide angle This was noted as an 6in lens, with rotating aperture plate ('wheel stops') but there is no further data. (A conjecture is WAR.)

The Extreme Wide Angle is not mentioned here, butI have seen more of them around than any other of the lenses.

Here is another bit about their lenses.

 

[eclarke]

Imhave an SLC "artistic" which has no iris or Waterhouse slot. It's very soft and nibody has really been able to pin down the story on it..Some thought an enlarging lens but it's so soft I can't buy that.

 

[ntenny]

This company had an interesting history, with various owners and names. I think it was started by a man named I have two or three of their lenses.

You can see why he didn't just name the company after himself, with a name like that.

(OK, that was a cheap shot, but it was fun to say.)

-NT

 

[Whiteymorange]

Cheap shot but warranted. First day with the new brain and I can't do a thing with it.

This is what happens when I stop a post in the middle while trying to look up info in files on my computer. The man's name escapes me yet, but the lenses were sold under his name, then Scientific Lens Co. and later Koehler Optical Co., all in NYC.

 

[nikonsofCNY]

I'd be interested in determining the focal length of mine and what size camera it would have covered or been intended for. Unfortunately I don't have a large format camera to mount it to at this time.

 

[Whiteymorange]

Found it! The ma is U. Nehring, and the attached is from the Magazine Camera Craft, from 1910:

 

[Whiteymorange]

and more. This is from a post on a Yahoo group for lovers of wood and brass cameras. The author is Milan Zahorcak:

The story starts with Ulrich Nehring, the maker of many lens accessories in the 1890s and early 1900s, and involves the Scientific Lens Company (New York) which no one knows much about. Apparently, around 1900 Nehring buys out Scientific, keeps the name, sells off the remaining stock, and spins off U.S. Optical. However, there is some sort sort lawsuit against US Optical – I don’t know what or why, but US Optical loses the appeal – and then US Optical and maybe U. Nehring both disappear

.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

I have a set of U. Nehring lens cells in a small padded box. These have no barrel and no shutter but about ten years ago I found a shutter they screwed directly into. Unfortunately, I can't remember what shutter. Come to think of it, I don't know where the lens cells are either. Anyone know anything about these?

 

[Dan Fromm]

I have a set of U. Nehring lens cells in a small padded box. These have no barrel and no shutter but about ten years ago I found a shutter they screwed directly into. Unfortunately, I can't remember what shutter. Come to think of it, I don't know where the lens cells are either. Anyone know anything about these?

Are we allowed to guess, or do we have to know?

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Are we allowed to guess, or do we have to know?

Sorry... I'll try to find them and post a pick.

Found it... no markings on the outside of the box nor on the cells.