The Ross Rapid Symmetrical lens has a rich history dating back to the 19th century. Founded by Andrew Ross in 1830, the company became one of the leading lens manufacturers, producing lenses under the “A. Ross” signature from 1840. They developed a wide range of products including the Ross Symmetrical Anastigmats and collaborated with companies like Zeiss and Goerz. Notably, they produced telescopes for the Royal Navy during both World Wars and expanded their production to cameras and other optical devices. Eventually, the company merged with Barnet Ensign and later became part of Thales Optic.
The Ross Rapid Symmetrical features a similar layout as Dallmeyers well known Rapid Rectilinear lenses. They offer a great combination of being compact, lightweight, and overall well-corrected.
This lens has a focal length of 300 mm or roughly 11.75 inches at a speed of F8 wide open. The front element of this lens has a diameter of about 38mm, and this confirms the aperture of f/8 (298mm / 38mm = f/7.9 or effectively f/8).
According to the Ross catalogs, this lens was made in the mid-1870s, with 1874 being the most likely time optical engineers in London made it.
I have mounted this lens on my 8×10 view camera, and it has full coverage with endless opportunities for movements on front and rear standards. I suspect this lens will cover up to 10×12 at least and possibly 11×14 with some vignetting.
This is a small lens and only weighs 370g. It is one of the reasons I selected it for my historic bridges and mill project.
Ross Rapid Symmetrical DETAILS
The Rapid Symmetrical was a general purpose lens of the rapid rectilinear type produced in sizes from 3 – 34″. It replaced the Actinic Doublet and was in turn replaced by the Symmetrical Anastigmat around 1900.
The rear half could be used separately, having a focal length about twice that of the complete lens. This is a little-known fact about these lenses, making them even more valuable and versatile.
J.H. Dallmeyer’s original patent for the rapid rectilinear (BP 2502/1866) describes a lens of “two positive achromats of which the higher refracting denser material or flint glass occupies the external position of each combination”.
The inner pair of glasses were of crown glass. The diameter of the back combination was half that of the front. In production, both lens groups were of the same diameter, and an extra light flint glass was used for the inner pair of glasses.
The Rapid Symmetrical lens was designed for universal use. The symmetrical design does not affect distance work and was commonly used for copying and enlarging, and as the lens is stopped down, the coverage power increases.
Andrew Ross (1798–1859) founded his company in 1830; from 1840 he began producing camera lenses signed “A. Ross”. During his lifetime, the company was one of the foremost lens manufacturers. The year after his death in 1859, his son-in-law John Henry Dallmeyer left the firm to establish his own optical company. The company was run by Ross’s son, Thomas, and became known as Ross & Co.
By the 1890s it was also making Zeiss and Goerz lenses under license for sale in the UK and the British Empire. Ross patented a wide-angle lens design, and Zeiss took this further to produce their EWA Protars. Before World War 1, Ross and Zeiss worked quite closely together, but at the outbreak of War, the British Government put Ross in control of the newly opened Carl Zeiss binocular and optical factory in Mill Hill, London.
Ross also made some cameras from about 1855 to the late 1930s. A range of Ross Standard Reflex cameras is listed with an illustration in the 1935 British Journal Photographic Almanac, and the sizes ranged from 3+1⁄2 by 2+1⁄2 inches (89 mm × 64 mm) up to half plate.
During WWI and WWII Ross Limited produced pattern 373 and 373B “Officer of the Watch” telescopes for the Royal Navy.
In the mid-20th century, Ross continued to produce lenses, as well as binoculars, epidiascopes, etc. They had begun supplying lenses for Ensign cameras in the 1930s. After World War II, Ross merged with Barnet Ensign, and the company later became Ross Ensign, lenses were also made for other companies, such as MPP.
References & Notes: BJA 1877, p. xxvi. BJA 1890, p.39. BJA 1892, p. 40. BJA 1900, p. 52. Eder, Modern Dry Plates, advert. Abney, Instruction, p. 90. Copeland Cat., p. 11.
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