THE RAPID RECTIGRAPHIC LENS

Gundlach Optical Company, Rochester, New York 1887-1932

Per Dr. Rudolf Kingslake, the Rapid Rectigraphic lens was a variant of the Rapid Rectilinear design, having three cemented elements in each half, instead of the Rapid Rectilinear's two element configuration.

Ernst Gundlach of Rochester, New York was granted Patent No. 442,251 dated December 9, 1890 for the design, which corrected for spherical and chromatic aberration to an imperceptible minimum:

Source: Google Patents

The 4x5 example shown here is marked "Equivalent 6-1/4", Back Lens 10 ", Front Lens 13-1/3 " with a Serial Number of 4221 and "R.C.M. Co." (for Rochester Camera Manufacturing Company).

Despite the patent application being filed February 28, 1890, the Rapid Rectigraphic was already being manufactured almost three years earlier, evidenced by its appearance in Scovill's (C.H. Codman & Co.) How to Make Photographs, April, 1887. Marketed for use in early detective cameras, the Rapid Rectigraphic would continue to be offered in various forms, as late as 1932. The lens shown here is marked "R.C.M. Co." This dates this particular example to no later than 1895, as Rochester Camera Manufacturing Company became Rochester Camera Company by 1896.

Ad from Scovill's (C.T. Shape) How to Make Photographs, March, 1889

Ad from Scovill's (C.T. Shape) How to Make Photographs, March, 1889