Zentmayer lenses

[Milan Zahorcak*]

 

My, we are a quiet group.

 

Who runs this thing these days?  Dan?  Shouldn't we take a poll every now and then to make sure that we still have a living quorum, or at least proxies from beyond?

 

OK, I know the majority of us are still in hibernation, or stasis - or worse - but I thought I'd ask because I so enjoy the frustration of pinging the unknown.  My computer runs SETI@... so I'm used to disappointment . . . oh, and I'm pissy tonight as well.

 

OK, OK, back on topic . . . other than me and the guys who I visited last year who know I know that they have at least one . . . do any of the rest of us have any Zentmayer lenses?

 

If you do, could I get you to contact me - on-line if you're willing to admit it, or off-line otherwise.

 

For those of you who are still alive and contemplating whether you should start collecting Zentmayer lenses, the answer is "no."

 

For those of you who have never heard of Zentmayer lenses . . . ummm, never mind, no matter what I say next, it would be a lie.

 

mz

 

 

 

[Mark Baltor]

Some parts of this message have been removed. Learn more about Nabble's security policy.

I think that prune juice "runs things"; at least it produces very "moving" experiences, encouraging both introspection and objectivity (back on topic). . .

 

What is "seti"?

The old @Home ISP went bankrupt years ago.

 

Mark Baltor

----- Original Message -----

From: milan.zahorcak@...

To: woodandbrass@...

Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 5:43 PM

Subject: [W&B] Zentmayer lenses

 

My, we are a quiet group.

 

Who runs this thing these days?  Dan?  Shouldn't we take a poll every now and then to make sure that we still have a living quorum, or at least proxies from beyond?

 

OK, I know the majority of us are still in hibernation, or stasis - or worse - but I thought I'd ask because I so enjoy the frustration of pinging the unknown.  My computer runs SETI@... so I'm used to disappointment . . . oh, and I'm pissy tonight as well.

 

OK, OK, back on topic . . . other than me and the guys who I visited last year who know I know that they have at least one . . . do any of the rest of us have any Zentmayer lenses?

 

If you do, could I get you to contact me - on-line if you're willing to admit it, or off-line otherwise.

 

For those of you who are still alive and contemplating whether you should start collecting Zentmayer lenses, the answer is "no."

 

For those of you who have never heard of Zentmayer lenses . . . ummm, never mind, no matter what I say next, it would be a lie.

 

mz

 

 

 

[kitsfolks]

Milan & group

 

Has anyone ever seen a wet plate vintage American Optical, or any other camera, stamped "second quality" on the bed rail? I have an American Optical two lens camera that is marked this way.

 

Greg Hillan

[Rob Niederman]

Some parts of this message have been removed. Learn more about Nabble's security policy.

Greg:

 

I’ve heard of the marking but never seen it. You’re now obligated to share images.

 

Long time since we last spoke … what’s new?

 

- Rob

 

-----Original Message-----
From: woodandbrass-bounces@... [mailto:woodandbrass-bounces@...] On Behalf Of Greg/Jayne Hillan
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 8:14 PM
To: Collectors of 19th Century Cameras & Photographica
Subject: [W&B] American Optical camera

 

Milan & group

 

Has anyone ever seen a wet plate vintage American Optical, or any other camera, stamped "second quality" on the bed rail? I have an American Optical two lens camera that is marked this way.

 

Greg Hillan

[Marenfred]

I too would love to see an image, Greg. Please provide same. If these are rare and costly, does anyone have a "second quality" stamp?

Cheers,

Fred

 

In a message dated 3/14/2008 10:18:40 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, rniederman@... writes:

Greg:

 

I’ve heard of the marking but never seen it. You’re now obligated to share images.

 

Long time since we last spoke … what’s new?

 

- Rob

 

-----Original Message-----
From: woodandbrass-bounces@... [mailto:woodandbrass-bounces@...] On Behalf Of Greg/Jayne Hillan
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 8:14 PM
To: Collectors of 19th Century Cameras & Photographica
Subject: [W&B] American Optical camera

 

Milan & group

 

Has anyone ever seen a wet plate vintage American Optical, or any other camera, stamped "second quality" on the bed rail? I have an American Optical two lens camera that is marked this way.

 

Greg Hillan

---

It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money & Finance.

[kitsfolks]

Hello Group

 

I am attaching a picture of the camera and the 2nd Quality marking. The camera was part of the Naylor auction. It was listed as an Anthony. It is stamped on the bed American Optical and the hardware is John Stock patent date 1864.

 

Since they didn't mass produce these wet plate cameras I wonder what went so wrong with this camera that the decided to mark this way instead of correcting the flaw? I don't suppose you could request a second quality item. Do you think American Optical sent out list to retailers noting that various cameras like this were available?

 

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a139/JayneH/March08119.jpg

 

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a139/JayneH/March08117.jpg

 

Best

Greg

[Milan Zahorcak*]

Greg et al,

 

I don't think "2nd Quality" was meant to be interpreted in the same way that we tend think of it today, as in outlet malls and discount stores.  I think it simply referred to the quality of materials and finish used, and not to any sort of defect or flaw or shoddy construction.

 

1st quality meant "finest materials and finish available."  For many photographers, and especially most working photographers, a field camera made of Circassian Walnut with a hand-rubbed oil finish and ermine-skin bellows wasn't worth the 100% premium when an essentially identical camera made of less expensive materials (like mahogany !?) with a varnish finish would do the job.

 

Early catalogs routinely make the distinction between equipment grades - in fairly obvious terms - and it took a while before we became either sophisticated enough, or jaded enough, or cynical enough, to market EVERYTHING  as being the BEST THAT EVER WAS . . . etc.

 

Simpler times back then, and most folks recognized that some things simply cost more - or less - than others. 

 

"2nd Quality" was just the (now) naive catch-phrase used to describe something that did the job just as well and cost a helluva lot less.

 

Nowadays, all of our crap is Premium, or Professional, or Ford-tough and we are willing pay more for "Super-Premium" crap because we simply know we are being lied to, and hope that the additional 100% will buy us something that wouldn't fall apart tomorrow.

 

Yikes!  I guess I'm still in a pissy mood.

 

So?  What?  There are only three of us on the planet who have Zentmayer lenses?

 

mz

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: woodandbrass-bounces@... [mailto:woodandbrass-bounces@...] On Behalf Of Greg/Jayne Hillan
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 1:33 PM
To: Collectors of 19th Century Cameras & Photographica
Subject: Re: RE: [W&B] American Optical camera

Hello Group

 

I am attaching a picture of the camera and the 2nd Quality marking. The camera was part of the Naylor auction. It was listed as an Anthony. It is stamped on the bed American Optical and the hardware is John Stock patent date 1864.

 

Since they didn't mass produce these wet plate cameras I wonder what went so wrong with this camera that the decided to mark this way instead of correcting the flaw? I don't suppose you could request a second quality item. Do you think American Optical sent out list to retailers noting that various cameras like this were available?

 

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a139/JayneH/March08119.jpg

 

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a139/JayneH/March08117.jpg

 

Best

Greg