Wollensak Voltas

[jim_worthington]

Greetings,

I have a Wollensak convertible lens marked "Voltas Three Focus F8 8x10". It's mounted in a Betax No. 4 shutter and is a good lens. The aperture scale says indicates that it serves as a 12.5", 20", and 28.5" lens. It does not have a serial number. Does anybody know the history of this lens? When was it manufactured? I use it for B&W following the rules for convertible lenses, but am curious about its history. Thanks in advance.

Jim Worthington

[c._w._dean]

The 1919 Wollensak catalog describes the Voltas as "an inexpensive

outfit, suitable where rapidity and definition are not essential." It

sold for $23.00 in their "Auto" shutter. For comparison, their top of

the line lens in the same focal length sold for $130! The Betax

shutter came later and may have been an after market job. It was

shown as having fewer corrections than their more expensive line of

Velostigmats most of which were faster and stated as being "fully"

corrected anastigmats. The date of it's origin is not given and

others with access to later catalogs will have to note when it was

discontinued.