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| Holmes,
Booth & Haydens was incorporated in 1853 in
Waterbury, Connecticut. Founded by Israel Holmes
(1800-1874), John C. Booth (1808-1886) and brothers
Henry W. Hayden and Hiram W. Hayden (b. 1820). Hiram
W. Hayden was a daguerreotypist, and likely convinced
the other partners to produce lenses. The company
announced opening a New York office at 63 Reade Street
in March 1854. They produced Daguerreotype plates, and
cameras from 1/4 plate to Mammoth sizes. Unfortunately
the world of photography and daguerreotypes changed
quickly, and by 1857 HB&H had largely failed
(Image Vol. III No. 3 March 1954), though lens
production continued. In A Guide to the Whole Art of
Photography
(1858) it was indicated that a lens (or tube in
terminology of the time) cost $75, of which HB&H
were one of the choices. Research indicates a Captain
A.J. Russell (USMRR) ordering a lens and camera
(supposedly 14" by 11") from HB&H in New York in
early 1863, probably the latest evidence of
manufacture, still speculative on exact production
figures. It is likely that lens for Captain A.J.
Russell was not a Petzval type design, though most
Holmes, Booth, & Haydens lenses were Petzval type;
No. 9033 is one such example of a different design
still in existence. Further research indicates the
company enjoyed more success in their earlier
production than the later production of lenses and
cameras, so some estimated dates have been adjusted to
better reflect early production (higher volume prior
to 1857); short of actual company records, or patent
cross references, it is difficult to precisely date
these lenses. A copy of an ad from 1867 indicates that they
would continue making cameras and lenses, though a
later letter to one of their customers indicated they
had sold their remaining New York inventory on 1 January 1869 to Richard Walzl of
Baltimore. This is from an account published in
1872 in a photographic journal of the time. We could
safely assume no more lenses made after that point in
time. Waterhouse stops were invented
near 1858, though similar devices were in use in 1857,
so it is unlikely earlier lenses had those, unless
they were modified later. No. 6022 is of note in this
regard, using a device invented by Felix Miller and
Alois Wirsching, and patented by Holmes, Booth &
Haydens in 1859. It seems that most of these lenses
were made to cover 1/4 plate, 1/2 plate, or Whole
plate at portrait distances, though there may be
several other variations, which is why approx. Focal
Length is listed, instead of coverage, though that
should be measured for infinity focus, and not more
usual portrait distances. So far it seems that the
earliest lenses had more elaborate machining,
including curved barrel surfaces and angled knurling
finish work. Where Original lens hood is indicated, it
is very likely that straight sided lens hoods
represent one half of a stereo pair of lenses, as
indicated in A Manual Of Photographic
Manipulation
(1858), and the patenting of stereoscopes in 1853 by Jean Francois Antoine Claudet.
Bell shaped curved lens hoods very likely were not
used as stereo pairs. No. 5217 appears to be half of a
stereo pair of lenses. The non-serial number four lens
group listed last is an example of a multi-shot
camera. Very little information exists about these
lenses, so the purpose of this list is an attempt to
re-create a production history and time-line. You may
contact Gordon Moat, if you
own/use one of these lenses or have information to
contribute to this listing. You may also remain
anonymous, or provide a link to your website. Please
feel free to make suggestions about this listing, or
provide more historical information of that era in
photography. Notes: Whole Plate - 6.5" by 8.5", 1/2 Plate - 4.5" by 5.5", 1/4 Plate - 3.25" by 4.25", 1/6 Plate 2.75" by 3.25" inches, 1/9 Plate - 2" by 2.5" |
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|
Serial # |
Stamped or |
Waterhouse Stops |
Modified |
Focal Length |
Name |
Website |
Notes |
|
80 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
EBAY |
Original lens hood and lens cap. Square base on radial drive mount. 1/6 plate or smaller? Estimated 1854 |
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|
172 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
||||
|
268 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
5.3" |
EBAY |
Original lens hood. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1854 |
|
|
278 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
EBAY |
Original lens hood. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1854 |
||
|
409 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
Greg Martin |
Engraving on rear edge New York and 409. Whole plate. Estimated 1854 | ||
|
632 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
No |
Original flange. Estimated 1854 |
||
|
664 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
EBAY |
1/2 plate. Original lens hood and leather cap. Estimated 1854 |
||
|
807 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
|
Geoffrey Berliner |
Original flange. Four fastener radial drive. Estimated 1854 | |
|
860 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
5.3" |
Matthew R. Isenburg |
1/4 plate. Original lens hood. Estimated 1854 |
|
|
878 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
7.5" |
Mike Robinson |
Lens hood,engraved J.G.Turner, Toronto March 17th 1859. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1854 |
|
|
957 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Mark Henderson |
|
Original lens hood. Missing rear lens group. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1854 |
|
1058 |
Engraved |
Yes |
??? |
|
John W. Briggs |
Magdalena Astronomical Society |
Large body lens. Original flange. No radial drive focus mechanism. May have been later used as an astronomical lens. Estimated 1854 |
|
1131 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
5.3" |
Andrew Richmond |
Original lens hood. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1854 | |
|
1240 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
5.3" |
Adam Ogden |
|
Original lens hood, flange, and brass lens cap. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1854 |
|
1249 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
5.3" |
EBAY |
Original lens hood. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1854 |
|
|
1277 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
Original lens hood and brass lens cap. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1854 | |||
|
1294 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
5.3" |
EBAY |
Original lens hood and brass lens cap. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1854 | |
|
1328 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
5.3" |
EBAY |
Missing focus knob. Original lens hood. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1854 | |
|
1431 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
8" |
Milan Zahorcak |
Original lens hood. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1854 | |
|
1475 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
4" |
Steve Wilson |
Missing radial drive. 1/6 plate. Estimated 1854 | |
|
1552 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
EBAY |
Missing radial drive. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1854 | ||
|
1623 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
8.75" |
Jim Galli |
Original lens hood. Estimated 1854 | |
|
1703 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
Matt Larkin |
Original lens hood. Missing radial drive. Whole plate. Estimated 1855 | ||
|
1811 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
5.3" |
Ray Morgenweck |
Partial barrel assembly, modified for stops. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1855 | |
|
1868 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
EBAY |
1/4 plate. Rear optics group only. Estimated 1855 |
||
|
1875 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
5.3" |
Gordon Moat |
Original lens hood and flange. 1/4 plate. Modern 4x5 films. Estimated 1855 |
|
|
2072 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
EBAY |
Original lens hood. 1/6 plate. Estimated 1855 | ||
|
2087 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
EBAY |
Original bell lens hood and flange. 1/4 plate. Missing radial drive. Estimated 1855 | ||
|
2135 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
EBAY |
Original lens hood. Mounted to partial box camera. Estimated 1855 | ||
|
2368 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
5.3" |
EBAY |
1/4 plate. Estimated 1855 |
|
|
2481 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
5.3" |
Brad W. Townsend |
Original lens hood and lens hood brass cap. Original flange. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1855 |
|
|
2508 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
11" |
Garrett Allen |
Original lens hood. 1/2 Plate. Estimated 1855 | |
|
2553 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
Original lens hood and brass lens cap. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1855 | |||
|
2575 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
|
|
Original lens hood. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1855 | |
|
2586 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
|
Sergey Kuznetsov |
|
Original lens hood. Missing flange. Estimated 1855 |
|
2609 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
EBAY |
1/4 plate. Estimated 1855 | ||
|
2844 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
16" |
Eric Locke |
Original flange. Whole plate. Includes Waterhouse Stops. Estimated 1855 | |
|
2901 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
EBAY |
1/6 plate. Estimated 1855 | ||
|
2970 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
EBAY |
Original lens hood with brass cap. Original flange. estimated 1/4 plate. Estimated 1855 | ||
|
3025 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
EBAY |
Original lens hood. Estimated 1856 | ||
|
3458 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
John Sage |
|
Original lens hood. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1857 | |
|
3514 |
Engraved |
NOTE* |
No |
George H. Berkhofer |
Original lens hood. *Internal aperture cone, but noWaterhouse stops. Estimated 1857 | ||
|
3715 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
Pierre Chow |
Original flange. Whole plate. Estimated 1857 | ||
|
3737 |
Engraved |
Yes |
?? |
11" |
Eric Lowe |
Original flared lens hood and flange. Whole plate. Estimated 1857 | |
|
3889 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
12.5" |
Ken Nelson |
Original lens hood and flange. First confirmed Waterhouse Stops.Whole plate. Estimated 1857 | |
|
3937 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
EBAY |
Original lens hood and brass lens cap. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1857 | ||
|
4014 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
11" |
College of Optical Sciences |
Original lens hood. Missing radial drive. Whole Plate. Estimated 1857 | |
|
4090 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
Original lens hood and flange. Missing radial drive. Waterhouse stop slot cut through engraving. Whole Plate. Factory engraved "Made expressly for John Sawyer & Co. Boston, Mass." Estimated 1857 or 1858 | |||
|
4224 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
5.25" |
Russ Young |
|
Original straight lens hood and flange. 1/4 Plate. Estimated 1858 |
|
4227 |
Engraved |
Yes |
?? |
EBAY |
Original lens hood. 1/4 Plate. Estimated 1858 | ||
|
4275 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
Mike Robinson |
Partial barrel assembly, missing optics. Whole plate. Estimated 1858 | ||
|
4277 |
Engraved |
Yes |
?? |
Anthony Schiller |
|
Original flange, straight lens hood, and mounting flange. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1858 | |
|
4365 |
Engraved |
?? |
?? |
|
EBAY |
Original lens hood. Missing information, due to poor image. Estimated 1858 | |
|
4463 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
Trent Wray |
|
Whole Plate. Original lens hood and flange. Estimated 1858 | |
|
4505 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
7.5" |
Eric Lowe |
|
Whole Plate. Straight lens hood and original flange. Estimated 1859 |
|
4628 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
Tristan Galloway |
1/4 Plate. Estimated 1859 | ||
|
4648 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
EBAY |
1/2 Plate. Estimated 1859 | ||
|
4658 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No* |
EBAY |
Original lens hood and brass lens cap. *Radial drive and barrel modifications. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1859 | ||
|
4669 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
8" |
John Sage |
|
Original lens hood. Whole plate. Estimated 1859 |
|
4735 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
EBAY |
Original lens hood. Original flange on lens board. Original style Waterhouse Stop. Appears to be larger than whole plate. Estimated 1859 | ||
|
4737 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
12" |
EBAY |
Original lens hood. Original flange. Whole plate. Estimated 1859 | |
|
4822 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
8" |
Ray Morgenweck |
Original lens hood. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1859 | |
|
4855 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
EBAY |
Original lens hood. Estimated 1859 |
|
4886 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
5.3" |
Milan Zahorcak |
EBAY |
Original lens hood. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1859 |
|
4893 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
5.3" |
EBAY |
Original lens hood. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1859 | |
|
4903 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
5.3" |
EBAY |
Original flange. Original straight lens hood. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1859 | |
|
4915 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
Matt Larkin |
Original lens hood. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1859 | ||
|
4958 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
EBAY |
Original lens hood and lens cap. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1859 | ||
|
5052 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
Gale Aleksander |
Original flange. Radial drive repair. Estimated 1859 | ||
|
5080 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
Garrett Allen |
Original lens hood and lens cap. Whole plate. Estimated 1859 | ||
|
5105 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
Missing radial drive. Missing optics. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1859 | |||
|
5120 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
Original lens hood and brass lens cap. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1859 | |||
|
5167 |
Engraved |
Ray Morgenweck |
Whole plate. Estimated 1859 | ||||
|
5217 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
E.A. (Tony) Camacho |
Original straight lens hood, brass lens cap, and flange. Smooth finish suggests variation. May be part of stereo pair. Radial drive on bottom opposite engraving. Includes factory Waterhouse stop plates. Estimated 1859 | ||
|
5265 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
Jon Elling |
Original straight lens hood. Half Plate. Estimated 1859 | ||
|
5283 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
Original lens hood and flange. Estimated 1859 |
|||
|
5386 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
James Dieffenwierth |
|
Whole plate. Estimated 1859 | |
|
5586 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
EBAY |
Missing radial drive. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1860 | ||
|
5623 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
EBAY |
Original lens hood. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1860 |
||
|
5634 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
Alberto Perales |
Original straight lens hood. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1860 |
||
|
5664 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
8" |
Robert Puckett |
Original lens hood. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1860 |
|
|
5690 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
Eric Joffrion |
1/2 plate. Estimated 1860 |
||
|
5709 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
8.25" |
Quinn Jacobson |
Original lens hood. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1860 |
|
|
5732 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
6.5" |
Jim Collum |
Original lens hood. Internal aperture cone.1/4 plate. Estimated 1860 |
|
|
5802 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
Matt Larkin |
Missing radial drive. Full plate. Estimated 1860 | ||
|
5890 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
7" |
Ty Guillory |
Original lens hood and flange. Missing radial drive. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1860 | |
|
5940 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
|
EBAY |
Original straight lens hood. Estimated 1/4 plate. Estimated 1860 |
|
|
5977 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
6" |
EBAY |
1/4 plate. Estimated 1860 |
|
|
6022 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
22.5" |
Original lens hood. Engraved: Patented June 7th, 1859. Estimated 1861 | ||
|
6029 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
EBAY |
Attached to unmarked chamfered design box camera. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1861 | ||
|
6109 |
Engraved |
Yes |
?? |
EBAY |
Original lens hood and flange. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1861 |
||
|
6160 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
EBAY |
Missing radial drive. Estimated 1861 | ||
|
6175 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
12" |
Whole Plate. Estimated 1861 | ||
|
6184 |
Engraved |
12" |
Garrett Allen |
Whole Plate. Estimated 1861 | |||
|
6251 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
8" |
Igor Reznik |
Original lens hood. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1861 |
|
|
6470 |
Engraved |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
EBAY |
Original flange. Estimated 1861 |
|
6500 |
Engraved |
None |
No |
5.3" |
Arthur Gottschalk |
Original lens hood and brass lens cap. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1862 |
|
|
6567 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
11.5" |
Craig Tuffin |
Original lens hood and flange. Additional later engraving on front 11.5" f4.6. Whole Plate. Estimated 1862 | |
|
9033 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
15" |
Geoffrey Berliner |
Original lens hood. Similar to Ross Doublet design.11x14. Estimated 1866 | |
|
10006 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
Michael Cleveland |
Original lens hood. Whole plate. Estimated 1867 | ||
|
10008 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
10" |
David John Lotto |
Original lens hood and flange. Slight variation in rear optics design from other samples. Whole plate. Estimated 1867 | |
|
10012 |
Engraved |
Yes |
No |
Jon Wilson |
Original lens hood and flange. Estimated 1867 | ||
|
10093 |
Engraved |
Yes |
?? |
EBAY |
Original lens hood and flange. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1867 | ||
|
10151 |
Stamped |
Yes |
No |
Greg Martin |
Original lens hood. 1/4 plate. Estimated 1867 | ||
|
10216 |
Stamped |
Yes |
No |
10" |
Whole Plate. Estimated 1867 | ||
|
10245 |
Stamped |
Yes |
Yes |
7" |
EBAY |
Original lens hood and flange. 1/2 plate. Estimated 1867 | |
|
10283 |
Stamped |
Yes |
No |
12" |
EBAY |
Whole Plate. Estimated 1867 | |
|
10293 |
Stamped |
Yes |
No |
|
Mark Henderson |
|
Original lens hood and flange. 1/2 Plate. Estimated 1867 |
|
10403 |
Stamped |
Yes |
No |
EBAY |
Original lens hood and lens cap. Whole Plate. Estimated 1867 | ||
|
10468 |
Stamped |
Yes |
No |
EBAY |
Original lens hood and lens cap. Estimated 1867 | ||
|
10566 |
Stamped |
Yes |
No |
9" |
Bill Boas |
Original lens hood. Whole Plate. Estimated 1867 | |
|
10614 |
Stamped |
Yes |
No |
12" |
Louis Pacilla |
|
Whole plate. Original lens hood and flange. Estimated 1867 |
|
Special |
Stamped |
None |
No |
4" |
Geoffrey Berliner |
Penumbra
Foundation |
Unusual four lens plate with plunger friction focus. No visible serial numbers. Stamped company name on mount plate and lenses. May be a John Stock Camera, or designed to compete with John Stock. Possible Gem sized image coverage, or 1/9 plate each lens. Estimated 1864 thru 1866 |
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