LUBIN
CINEOGRAPH LENS
Bausch
& Lomb Optical Company, Rochester, New York for S. Lubin, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 1907 - 1909/1910
Professional cinematography
collectors know motion picture pioneer Siegmund Lubin for his motion picture
cameras and projectors. This primary projection lens with a tangential drive is
for the Cineograph 35mm motion picture projector. Bausch & Lomb Optical Company of Rochester,
New York, manufactured lenses for Lubin, as they did for many other projector
manufacturers of the era such as Nicholas Power and Edison Manufacturing to
name a few.
The Cineograph line of
projectors was manufactured by Siegmund Lubin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
beginning in 1896. Production probably lasted
into the early teens and this particular lens would have fit the later, all
metal Cineograph models that were introduced in December 1907.
The most eye-catching
feature of a metal Cineograph projector, is its lens
with a beautiful flange tag proclaiming "CINEOGRAPH" in bold red letters:
The lens barrel is engraved
"Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., Rochester, N.Y., S. Lubin, Philadelphia,
Long Distance" along with what appears to be a six-digit serial number
(partially readable). The flange tag is marked
"CINEOGRAPH, S. LUBIN, PHILADELPHIA, PA., MFR., Patented in all countries,
U.S. Patent No. 857,697 June 25th, 1907 , No.
5202". This patent was granted to
Orville T. Weiser of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a Life Motion Picture
Projecting Machine", which was assigned to Siegmund Lubin of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. The lens mounting flange is also stamped "5202", which is
believed to be the serial number of the projector it would have been mounted on:
Patent No. 1,027,735, dated May 28, 1912, was granted
to Jesse B. Johnson of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania for a "Moving Picture Machine". This patent was also assigned to Siegmund Lubin
and covered further design improvements in the progression of the Cineograph
series.
Today, motion picture
apparatus made by Lubin, ranges from the very scarce to the extremely
rare. This particular
lens, and the projector it fits, fall toward the upper end of the scale
as they are extremely difficult to locate.
I have seen maybe three or four of these metal Cineographs come to
market over the past twenty years, and realistically, very few survive.