Hermagis Anastigmat HELLOR 500mm F5,7 - Ca.1934 -

Brand : Hermagis
Country : France
Period : Ca. 1934
Type : Plate camera
Condition : Really good and fully functional
Size : 16x11cm. 3,2kg.
Serial Number : 244190 (190 engraved in the mounting plate)
Status : Not available for sale / Private collection

Hermagis is one of the oldest and most prestigious French optical house.
Founded in Paris in 1845 in the early years of photography, the optical and build quality of Hermagis's lenses rapidly earned a name for the brand at the top off the industry.

During the entire life of the company (Over 90 years), Hermagis means quality. To a point where even after the fusion with Berthiot (Another prestigious french optical house) in 1934, the brand Hermagis was kept alive. The last known usage of the name being on a lens signed SOM Hermagis in 1950

The lens you are seeing here is an Hermagis Anastigmat HELLOR 500mm F5,7. One of the last model that appeared on Hermagis's catalogue before the fusion with Berthiot. 
According to Pont & Princelle's catalogue (N°5, Page 24), the 500 5,7 appeared only in 1933, just one year before the fusion, and the serial number (244190) places it late in 1934 or even slightly later. Right somewhere in the middle of the fusion with Berthiot.

The 500 is the biggest lens offered by Hermagis on the Hellor Ligne up. 
With a size of about 16x11cm and a weight of 3,2kg, this lense feels really heavy and dense. 
It will cover 24x30cm at full aperture.



The 1930 catalogue describe it as "Large aperture anastigmat with the highest optical qualities"..."It is the modern anastigmat with all the qualities that we ask of these instruments : extremely advanced correction of aberrations, finesse, clarity, extreme precision of details.
Every time the amateur wants to take large snapshots, he will choose this series."

(Note : The 2 pages in the pictures are from the 1930 catalogue. The F5,7 version of the Hellor was not out yet. P&P have documented 2 references for the 500, the F4,5 that you see on the catalogue and the 5,7 who was available only from 1933)

We are still looking for information to date precisely the production of this lens as it is a very late serial number, running out of the known references. 
If you have any information to complete the story, we will be pleased to hear them.