I've run across a 63mm lens marked Peerless that used to be installed on a Century Graphic and I was wondering if anyone knows anything about this lens. I imagine the Peerless name is the house brand of the former New York camera store, but there is no indication of the manufacturer. It's mounted in a self-cocking shutter. Any info would be appreciated. I'm considering it as a wide-angle lens for my 2x3 Crown, but the dealer knows as little as I do.

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I imagine the Peerless name is the house brand of the former New York camera store, but there is no indication of the manufacturer.

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/booklet/peerless_store/peerless_store.htm

The rebranding exercise was very popular in the mid-20th century. Are you sure the lens even covers 2x3" format? If it covered the Century Graphic, then there's no reason why it shouldn't cover the Crown Graphic. Such wide focal lengths aren't that common although it's unlikely to be as razor sharp as the Schneider Super Angulon 65mm f5.6 lens of the similar focal length.

If your local dealer knows nothing about it, then perhaps he would not object to hiring it to you for a week before you decide.

Good luck.

Don't know how the 63 will behave on your Crown, but FWIW here's what I found with my 65 Optar on the Century: covers the full frame 6x7 straight on, but not much leeway with movements before vignetting at the corners. And anyhow, at infinity focus with the 65 the front standard is so far back in the camera that the frame finder bumps into the body if you attempt much front rise. (Of course, it's possible to remove the frame finder, which I have done, but then before long you run into the coverage limitation.) Also, it's devilishly tricky to focus the beast (true of any wide-angle). Nevertheless, under certain conditions it's useful, within its limitations. IMO a wide-angle like this should be part of a complete kit.

Best way to find out, as RJ suggests, is to try it out with a roll of film.

Thanks, RJ and Henry -- I'll give the lens a try.