Charles C. Harrison NY Huge Wet Plate Lens Petzval 1862 MUSEUM QUALITY

Description

Charles C. Harrison NY Huge Wet Plate Lens Petzval 1862
MUSEUM QUALITY
Late production Charles C. Harrison Wet Plate lens, serial number 9563. This lens was made in 1862. This is a very large wet plate lens, weighing nearly 9 lbs, and having a height of 11 inches, with the original lens hood. This is a museum quality lens and shows the genius of a premier 19
th
century lens maker. The lens features radial drive, original lens flange and lens hood. The lens is mounted on 8x8 inch wood lens board for a studio camera. The radial drive is a much more expensive and a highly engineered method for focusing a lens. It was only used in the best quality Wet Plate lenses.
It is known that photographer Mathew Brady owned and used at least one Charles C. Harrison camera and lens.
This lens, serial number 9563, was made in the later part of Harrison's production, since that ended in 1864.
Charles C. Harrison is listed as being at 142 Chatham St. and 85 Duane St. Both of these addresses are in lower Manhattan, New York City.
In 1853 Harrison was awarded a bronze medal for his camera at N.Y. Crystal Palace Exhibition.
Harrison's birthplace and year of birth are not recorded. Charles C. Harrison died in November 1864, and is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn New York.
ESTIMATED SPECIFICATIONS: Glass measures 93mm. Focal length approximately 380mm. This would make the lens f4.1 maximum aperture. There is an aperture restriction inside the barrel, effectively stopping the lens down 1-2 stops. There is a slot for waterhouse lens stops.
TECHNICAL NOTES CONDITION: This lens was made for portraits with a studio camera. The lens flange is integral to the lens barrel, and was not removable. We were not able to test this lens. With a modern camera, it should be suitable for 8x10 format. Petzval lenses are an excellent choice for portraits, since they are sharp in the middle, and the focus fall off is dramatic towards the edges. Because of the size of this lens, it probably was not used often, saving it from the condition issues that usually afflict lenses of this age. There is minimal wear to the glass surfaces, and no major damage noted. We have owned several Charles C. Harrison lenses in the past, and this is by far the best made. The fittings are single threaded, which is typical of 19
th
century construction, and very carefully fitted. The lens is all high quality brass construction, except for the glass surfaces. The radial drive focus is very smooth. We hope this lens ends up with a serious photographer, or a in museum collection where it will be appreciated.
Descriptions and specifications given are made with the best knowledge and intent of the seller through much research, but they may not be perfectly accurate. Buyer understands and acknowledges this when purchasing the item and understands the item is sold "as is."