Pinkham and Smith aka P&S Visual Quality #1 Series IV B Soft Focus Lens
American made from the early 1900's to about 1930, Pinkham and Smith aka P&S lenses are among the most famous and prized large format soft focus lenses.
This particular lens is unusual and so far has its own mysteries.
Probably 95% or more P&S lenses were large format produced for 8x10 or larger film formats -- which made for very large lenses.
In P&S terminology this is a comparatively small #1 lens for 4x5 with 9" focal length (as opposed to the larger format #2, #3 and
#4 Visual Quality lenses). The diameter at both ends is 2 1/8," with a length of 3 1/2" including the mounted shutter.
# 3000 is a very high P&S serial number, perhaps the highest number known.
The meaning of the B classification is unknown in my Google research.
You can find out more about Soft Focus P&S lenses here at Antique & Classic Cameras.
Here is a list of P&S lenses and serial numbers.
It will be fun shooting this lens. Please let me know if you can help solve its mysteries.
American made from the early 1900's to about 1930, Pinkham and Smith aka P&S lenses are among the most famous and prized large format soft focus lenses.
This particular lens is unusual and so far has its own mysteries.
Probably 95% or more P&S lenses were large format produced for 8x10 or larger film formats -- which made for very large lenses.
In P&S terminology this is a comparatively small #1 lens for 4x5 with 9" focal length (as opposed to the larger format #2, #3 and
#4 Visual Quality lenses). The diameter at both ends is 2 1/8," with a length of 3 1/2" including the mounted shutter.
# 3000 is a very high P&S serial number, perhaps the highest number known.
The meaning of the B classification is unknown in my Google research.
You can find out more about Soft Focus P&S lenses here at Antique & Classic Cameras.
Here is a list of P&S lenses and serial numbers.
It will be fun shooting this lens. Please let me know if you can help solve its mysteries.
