-40%
Large Antique Very Old, Rare1853-54 Palmer & Longking Radial Drive Brass Lens
Large Antique Very Old, Rare1853-54 Palmer & Longking Radial Drive Brass Lens
Large Antique Very Old, Rare1853-54 Palmer & Longking Radial Drive Brass Lens
Large Antique Very Old, Rare1853-54 Palmer & Longking Radial Drive Brass Lens
Large Antique Very Old, Rare1853-54 Palmer & Longking Radial Drive Brass Lens
Large Antique Very Old, Rare1853-54 Palmer & Longking Radial Drive Brass Lens
Large Antique Very Old, Rare1853-54 Palmer & Longking Radial Drive Brass Lens
Large Antique Very Old, Rare1853-54 Palmer & Longking Radial Drive Brass Lens
Large Antique Very Old, Rare1853-54 Palmer & Longking Radial Drive Brass Lens
Large Antique Very Old, Rare1853-54 Palmer & Longking Radial Drive Brass Lens
Large Antique Very Old, Rare1853-54 Palmer & Longking Radial Drive Brass Lens
Large Antique Very Old, Rare1853-54 Palmer & Longking Radial Drive Brass Lens

Large Antique Very Old, Rare1853-54 Palmer & Longking Radial Drive Brass Lens

$ 2904

Availability: 94 in stock
  • Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
  • Item must be returned within: 14 Days
  • Type: Large Format Lens
  • Restocking Fee: No
  • Model: Palmer Rare1853-54
  • Lens Barrel Material: Brass
  • Condition: Beautiful Brass Lens. Very Old. Barrel shows some wear from age and tarnish but could be removed with careful cleaning and polishing. No dents. Glass is dirty and needs cleaning. No breaks or scratches in glass. There is a couple hazy grey spots on edge of front lens. see photos. Also the Focusing Knob is missing.
  • Brand: Palmer Longking
  • All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
  • Focal Length: 15" / 375mm
  • Refund will be given as: Money Back
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States

    Description

    This auction is for a Large, Antique Very Old and Rare Palmer Longking Radial Drive Brass Camera Lens. It is marked in cursive on the base "Palmer & Longking New York" and above it Serial Number "No 288". According to my research, this Lens was made in 1853-54 and was the original lens on the very first commercial cameras, the Daguerreotype Lewis Style Wooden Bellows Camera. The 1st reference to Palmer & Longking is found in Humphrey's Journal Jan. 1, 1853. It is unknown when they went out of business.* Ref. from Collectors Weekly (Google Search).*
    The Lens is in good, used condition for it's age. The optics are intact and the lens is functioning. The Brass Barrel is not dented. It shows some wear from age and is tarnished in places, but some of that can be removed with a little careful cleaning and polishing. The glass is unbroken with no scratches but is dirty, has some dust particles, and also a couple light greyish spots around the edge of the front lens. See photo. FYI Photos #6 & 7 are of the Rear Lens and #8 is the Front Lens. The Focusing Knob is missing along with it's bracket. By turning the knob, you were able to move the gears in the vertical slot and focus the lens. I added 3 phots of the lens attached to the lens board of the big Century Camera it came on so you can see the extension.
    ***THE LAST PHOTO, #12 IS NOT OF THE LENS FOR SALE. I SAW IT ON A CAMERA WEB SITE AND WANTED TO SHOW WHAT THE FOCUSING KNOB AND BRACKET WOULD LOOK LIKE ON THIS LENS***
    Dimensions are:    DIAMETER (front & rear lens) 3 1/8".   DIAMETER (Shade) 4".   LENGTH (Lens Barrel) 6" Tall.  LENGTH (Lens W/ Shade) 7 3/4" Tall.  LENGTH (Base & Flange) 3 1/2" Tall.   FOCAL LENGTH approximately 15” - 375mm. (Focus Length was checked from Clear Image.) This Lens is a full plate and covers an 8x10 field.
    I purchased this lens from an estate auction in New York. It was on a large Studio Century Wood Camera. The Palmer & Longking brass lenses are super rare and hardly ever found today. I haven't seen any listed or sold on Ebay or any other Auction Sites. The Lens is over 100 years old and is a Collector's Item. I would put it's value in the same category as Dallmeyer, Daguerreotype, Petzval, Holmes Booth & Hayden, CC Harrison..
    Shipping is priority with insurance included.  I pack my boxes well to avoid breakage and ship only with USPS.
    Please see photos for more condition detail and ask questions if you have any.
    DOMESTIC SHIPPING ONLY. NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING AT THIS TIME.