Odd Writing on a B+W Filter

[jon w.]

<p>Hi Photo.net people,<br>

<br />I recently bought a second-hand B+W yellow 8 filter from a reputable seller in Germany. However, because it is second-hand, it obviously comes with no supporting documentation (or even a case). It also lacks any of the usual text printed on the mount: recent examples usually have one or more of 'F-Pro', 'Made in Germany' and the B+W logo. Moreover, the writing inside the mount is in a peculiar typeface, almost as if handwritten (I attach a jpeg), whereas recent B+W filters use a different, and quite distinctive, Sans Serif. I have found one other example of this 'handwritten' typeface on ebay, but it is also second-hand, from a private seller, so doesn't prove much either way.<br>

<img src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathanwalkervenice/22613932855/in/dateposted-public/" alt="" /><br>

I don't have the facilities to test the optical qualities of the filter within the relevant timeframe, so I have to make a decision on whether or not to return it based on what evidence I have available.<br>

Has anyone seen this kind of text on a B+W filter before? I am wondering if it is perhaps an older style no longer in use.<br>

If anyone can confirm this was an older style of filter marking, hopefully that information might come in useful for others in future.<br>

<br />Thanks for you help.</p><div></div>

[GerrySiegel]

Mine say Made in Germany. You must draw your own conclusion.

[jon w.]

<p>Indeed. I think I had drawn my own conclusion before posting, but one lives in hope. Thanks anyway.</p>

[Jochen_S]

<p>I have a probablyly uncoated 49mm orange filter with silver rim uninscribed and the black mounting ring inside reading "B+W 49 ES 4x" apparently silkscreened whatever and not perfectly centered. I suppose I fished it out of some garbain bin.<br>

FTR: B+W must have been around for ages. I am not sure what took 77mm filters back in the 1950s, but am suspecting Super Angulons to be in need of them. Product labeling technology might have improved drastically since those days. <br>

I guess folks are unlikely to counterfy B+W filters and sell them used on ebay, but if you expected something multicoated and made during the last couple of years maybe re-read the add and act accordingly. <br>

I've been fine with lenses and filters my ancestors bought in the 50s and usually don't fuzz about filter quality. I only buy coated modern premium stuff when my local dealers have nothing else in stock or more likely reach. </p>

[jon w.]

<p>Thanks for the info Jochen. Does the writing on your old filter look like the writing in the photo?</p>

[Matthew Currie]

<p>I have one B+W filter in my pile, a 62 mm. warming filter, which was pretty old when I got it a dozen years ago. The writing quite resembles that shown above. I don't know about age or multi coating, but it seems to work just fine.</p>

<p>If you look closely (probably not in my 700 pixel reduction of a picture taken with a Fuji S1 camera!) you'll see that it looks as if it was engraved with a rotating tool, probably using a template like a pantograph. </p><div></div>

[jon w.]

<p>Thanks Matthew. The writing on mine is engraved too, although the template is perhaps slightly different. It does sound like it might be a genuine B+W - but pretty old.</p>

[erwin_schaefer]

<p>The lettering looks exactly like it was done using a pantograph. The electronics firm I retired from used this process for small custom lots of instrument dials years ago. That is way before any computer assisted methods were available.</p>