Wollensak Velostigmat 90/4,5 Ser. II

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I have a Wollensak Velostigmat 90/4,5 Ser. II lens in L39 mount with the E. Leitz New York engraved in the base of the lens. I tried to find out more about its optical construction, but could not find any info. The lens has the focusing scale in meters, so presumably it was made for us Europeans. Any information about it would be most welcome.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Mark C]

A wartime substitute while German lenses weren't available in the US. Lager says 1945 and still available into 1950. I assume it is a straight tessar long focus lens, and my old Leica Manual says same design as the 90 Elmar, which would confirm that. The distance scale in meters is odd. Lager doesn't mention that, or show one, so your idea of European sale makes senses. Any idea where yours came from.

I think I had one quite a while back (or maybe the longer one). How does it do?

 

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Here it is, the uncommon (to us) Wollensak lens.

 

[Mark C]

I recall now that the "series" number should indicate the optical design. I'll look it up later, but feel certain it is a tessar. This must be right around the changing point from the Velostigmat to Raptar name.

I had forgotten to mention that Lager says these were coated (implying all of them, I assume). Yours is and also has the circled W in purple to indicate that. I was a little surprised that 1945 lenses had coating. I would have thought that started in the state just a little later. I do seem to recall that at least some wartime optics were coated, so maybe that pushed the technology.