----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter J Nebergall" <iusar4s@xxxxxxxx>
To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2006 6:35 AM
Subject: [rollei_list] Re: INFO REQUEST
Any way of running the numbers to see what is on my NGII? Peter Nebergall
Do you mean B&L serial numbers? If so, I have a partial solution to the old (pre 1941) serial numbers, which were multi-digit numbers like Zeiss. What I think is that each type of lens had its own serial number series. That is, Micro lenses, photographic lenses, projection lenses, etc. I have a list of dates for micro lenses. The person who sent these to me thought they covered all B&L lenses but they are way out of line for my lenses. Also, the post 1941 B&L numbering system catagorized lenses. These are the serial numbers beginning with a two letter prefix. Unlike Kodak serial numbers the prefix is not a direct date code with a key word. Rather, the first letter indicates the year of manufacture and the second letter the category of lens. The year letters are not in order. I suspect that the earlier, all numeral, serials may also have reflected in some way the lens categories.
First Letter
Letter Year
A 1941 G 1963 N 1962 V 1944
B 1945 H 1959 P 1958 W 1948
C 1949 J 1955 R 1954 X 1952
D 1953 K 1951 S 1950 Y 1956
E 1957 L 1947 T 1946 Z 1960
F 1961 M 1943 U 1942
Second Letter
Letter Class
A 51 & 53
G 61 & 91
P 31 & 33 - Objectives only (3/17/53)
W 61 & 91
B 31 & 33
H 71
R 41 & 42
Y 41 & 42
C 21
K 31 & 33
S 51 & 53
Z 51 & 53
D 31 & 33
L 31 & 33
T 61 & 91
E 41 & 42
M 31 & 33 - Gratings only (1/2/53)
U 61 & 91
F 51 & 53
N 31 & 33 - Micro
V 61 & 91
Class Designation
21 ??
31 Microscopes, microtomes, accessories
33 Colorimeters, refractometers, saccharimeters, spectroscopes, spectrometers
41 Balopticons (projectors)
42 Photomicrographic equipment, micro-projectors, accessories
51 Photographic lenses
53 ??
61 Binoculars, spotting telescopes
71 ??
81 Magnifiers
91 ??
For example I have a small motion picture objective made for gun cameras. B&L Balter, 35mm, f/2.3 Serial No. KF 8427
K = 1951, F = Photographic lenses.
Many WW-2 and later B&L lenses also have colored dots on them. For instance, this lens has a yellow dot and a purple dot. I have no idea what these signify although its likely that one of them means the lens is coated.
--- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles, CA, USA dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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