[W&B] Dating Harrison lenses

[Ellen Weiner]

That's interesting. I never really thought about the
fact that the knob was on the other side, I just
figured it was a different design. Because focussing a
lens doesn't really take all that much dexterity, it
never seemed "wrong."

But I've never seen stereo lenses this size. Then lens
is like, 4.5 inches long. Are yours that size, Mark?

--- Mark Baltor <enigma5 at comcast.net> wrote:

> Milan, #6057 could very well be half a stereo pair;
> I have a stereo camera 
> which carries CCH #s 5711 & 5712; one is left-hand
> focus, the other 
> right-hand focus.
> Mark Baltor
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Milan Zahorcak" <milan.zahorcak at comcast.net>
> To: "'Collectors of 19th Century Cameras
> &amp;Photographica'" 
> <woodandbrass at kjsl.com>
> Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 3:17 PM
> Subject: RE: [W&B] Dating Harrison lenses
> 
> 
> Ellen,
> 
> Thanks for the pics.
> 
> As I mentioned, no one is quite sure of the CCH
> numbering system as it
> appears to jump around a bit.
> 
> I haven't done any formal interpolation of known
> Harrison numbers yet, but
> off the top of my head:  6057 is probably early
> 1860s, maybe 1860-1861.
> 
> 11,078 is quite late, one of the highest serial #s
> I've seen for CCH,
> probably mid- to late-1860s, say 1866-1867 or so,
> perhaps while under
> American Optical.
> 
> Just to make a distinction, on both lenses the
> serial is stamped on, the
> name is engraved.  On early Harrison lenses the
> serial # also engraved.
> 
> Other curious things.  For discussion purposes, most
> photographers are right
> handed, and so you'd sort of expect the focusing
> knob to be on the right
> side of the lens as if you standing behind the
> camera, yes?  Given that, you
> would then expect to find the name engraved on the
> "top" of the lens, or if
> slotted for stops, then the slot would be on top."
> 
> Or if you assume the maker wanted their name to
> appear on top if possible,
> on an unslotted lens, you expect to find the knob on
> the right as used.
> With me?
> 
> 11,078 is arranged this way.  Knob on users right
> slot on top, engraving off
> the "other" side.
> 
> But 6057, if the name is on "top" then this a leftie
> lens because the knob
> is on the users left.
> 
> Cool, eh?
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Milan
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 


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