Hello,
Does anyone know if I can approxiamte the dates of my Wollensak Optar / Raptars based on the serial Numbers and or any other info. I am primarily concerned with the 101 and 135 Optars and a couple Raptars I have. I have a number of black and silver ring types. My impression is that the silver ring is later production but am not sure. I am curious about my favorite user; a black ring 135 serial number 458867, and perhaps most importantly a couple of the others I would like to set up on similar production period camera bodies.
I can also list all of my Wollensak optics if someone has a serial number date reference. It would be roughly 15 items (sorry make that over twenty I forgot about my 101's).
Otherwise I will have to use best judgement and gues early fifties to early sixties.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: troublemaker on 2006-02-03 08:49 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: troublemaker on 2006-02-03 08:51 ]</font>

Quote:

On 2006-02-03 08:49, troublemaker wrote: Hello, Does anyone know if I can approxiamte the dates of my Wollensak Optar / Raptars based on the serial Numbers and or any other info. I am primarily concerned with the 101 and 135 Optars and a couple Raptars I have. I have a number of black and silver ring types. My impression is that the silver ring is later production but am not sure. I am curious about my favorite user; a black ring 135 serial number 458867, and perhaps most importantly a couple of the others I would like to set up on similar production period camera bodies. I can also list all of my Wollensak optics if someone has a serial number date reference. It would be roughly 15 items (sorry make that over twenty I forgot about my 101's). Otherwise I will have to use best judgement and gues early fifties to early sixties. <font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: troublemaker on 2006-02-03 08:49 ]</font> <font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: troublemaker on 2006-02-03 08:51 ]</font>

Wollensak serial number reference? Holy Grail. As tangible as the Holy Grail, too.

Didn't Wagner write an opera about that?

Wagner is dead.

I meant Herman Wagner, the Dutch farmer who lives up the road from me.

Well that's interesting, I know a little Italian machinist down the street named Puccini.
I doubt either one of them have any reference material relating to Wollensak serial numbers.

As Fats Waller* said, "One never knows, do one?"

*He's dead too, unfortunately.

I say, "You never know unless you ask."