John Henry Dallmeyer (London, England)

 

Dallmeyer's Rapid Rectilinear Lens,  1866-c.1910's

 

 

Illustrated Catalogue Issued Annually by Thos. H. McCollin, Thos. H. McCollin (Philadelphia, PA), January 1, 1876, pp. 22-23

 

Engraved: "J.H. Dallmeyer / 6½x4¾ London / Rapid Rectilinear / Patent"

 

 

 

 

Notes: 

The original rapid rectilinear-type lens, The Dallmeyer Rapid Rectilinear Lens was invented by John Henry Dallmeyer, a master optician from Germany who married into the London optical Ross family, and, after the death of his father-in-law, Andrew Ross, eventually setting up in competition to his brother-in-law Thomas Ross. 

Almost every optical company operating the the U.S. in the late 1880's to 1910's made their own version of the rapid rectilinear lens, either ignoring the English patent, or waiting until the patent expired.  It was eventually phased due to the popularity of anastigmat lenses. 

In the U.S., Dallmeyer lenses were a fixture in E. & H.T. Anthony catalogs, although always more expensive than Anthony's house brand, E.A lenses.

References:
Illustrated Catalogue Issued Annually by Thos. H. McCollin, Thos. H. McCollin (Philadelphia, PA), January 1, 1876, pp. 22-23
The Photographer's Friend, Richard Walsl (Baltimore, MD), 7th edition, 1882, p. 38
Anthony's Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Photographic Equipments, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), May 1883, p. 20
Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Photographic Equipments & Materials, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY),  May 1885, p. 20
Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Photographic Equipments & Materials, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY),  September 1885, p. 20
Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Equipments and Materials, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), September 1886, p. 28
Photographic Apparatus Manufactured by The Blair Camera Company, Blair Camera Co. (Boston, MA), distributed by C.R. Selee (56 Bromfield St., Boston, MA), dated 1886, p. 19
Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Photographic Equipments & Materials, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY),  August 1887, p. 28
Illustrated Catalogue of Amateur Photographic Equipments & Materials, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY),  January 1889, p. 28
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments and Materials for Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), January 1890, pp.45-46
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments and Materials for Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony &Co., May 1891, page 53-54
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments and Materials for Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), February, 1898, p. 58
Descriptive Catalogue and Price List of Photographic Apparatus, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), November 1893, p.12
Illustrated Catalogue of Photographic Equipments and Materials for Amateurs, E. & H.T. Anthony & Co. (New York, NY), November, 1898, p. 52
Illustrated Catalogue No. 18, L.M. Prince & Bros. (Cincinnati, OH), c. 1899, p. 62
Photographic Goods 1842-1904, The Anthony and Scovill Co., (New York, NY), 1904, Catalog A, pp.15-16

 

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