Fontenelle archives 26 : "Mountain" Elmar and Thambar

[Pecole]

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We had a total eleven "Mountain" Elmar 105 mm f6.3 passing through the Fontenelle collection, the earliest one serialled 107292 (the one illustrated with reversible hood FIZEN, cap and original red box) and the highest number 300302 (19336). Less than 4,000 lenses of that type were manufactured, and it has always been a sought after item by collectors. It seems that some are uncoupled - but standardised - and numbered below 100,000. Our first one was coupled, but belongs to one of the earliest batches (1932). It is black and nickel, like all samples we had up to nº 136993. From nº 162938 (1933), they were all black and chrome.

The Thambar 90 mm f2.2 "soft focus" is another "must" for serious collectors; less than 3,000 have been manufactured from 1935. We had nine, ranging from nº 283188 (first production year, it had an engraving error : "Thamba") to 540114 (1940). The one we illustrate with its reversible hood SHADE, its special spot filter, cap and original red box was numbered 283415 and, following the Leitz records, had been first delivered in Lisbon as TOODY on June 11, 1936, We came across a very close serial : 283865 on a 90 mm Elmar. All Thambars are finished black and chrome and had a twin aperture scale, engraved in red (used when spot filter in place) and white.

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Pecole,

 

Nice photos.

 

As previously: Interesting & informative.

 

It's very nice you are doing this.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[sabears]

Thank you as usual, Pecole! I think we have some friends in common...

 

Cheers.

[Pecole]

Thank you as usual, Pecole! I think we have some friends in common...

 

Cheers.

 

Thank you, "sabears". Tell me more about our common friends!

Pierre (Pecole)