Graflex.org

BA McCall · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1 Location: DFW area

I have come across a R.B. Auto Graflex with a Spencer F: 4.5 lens. I can not find any information on this website, or any other for that matter, about this particular lens. Can anyone tell me anything about this lens? Any help would be appreciated.

Bryan

[ This Message was edited by: BA McCall on 2005-09-27 19:48 ]

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

The Spencer Lens Company started in 1895 but has roots back to the 1830s as the first sucessful American microscope manufacturer. In the 20s, like most firms, tried to make lenses for just about anything, including photographic applications. There's more here
http://humboldt.edu/~scimus/Manufac/AmOptCo.htm

The lens is probably a tessar design, which would put in in with the Ektars and Optars of the Speed Graphics and the B&L Zeiss Tessars as well. To check unscrew the front half of the lens and look through it, it should be neutral, neither magnify nor reduce. The back have will magnify and probably shows evidence that in can separate. If so, it's a tessar design.

Now what's the link between the title of the thread and a ?Spencer lens?

[ This Message was edited by: Les on 2005-09-27 20:41 ]