The design of this lens is known as Double-Gauss in reference to the telescope lens consisted of two meniscus proposed in first place by the mathematician Gauss (1777-1855). Much later, Alvan G.Clark took up the idea again by assembling two pairs of Gauss lenses in a symmetrical arrangement. That was not a commercial success but the basic idea was further explored by other lens maker like Ross (Homocentric lens), Meyer (Aristostigmat lens) and Emil Busch from Rathenow and its Busch Omnar. Some of these lenses remained in production till the 1930 s.



Omnar design.

Kingslacke (ref below) says that almost every high-apperture objective used today is of the type known familiarly as the Double-Gauss lens. Cult names like Planar, and also unsymmetrical types like Biotar, Summitar, Summicron... all stem from that same root.

I bought this one in Rome in the Porta Portese flea market. It came along with a wood camera 13x18 that I could not identify. I paid 60 USD for the whole set that included a tripod from the same vintage. A bargain price even in 1998. Now the lens it is mounted in a ICA Exelcior


"A history of the photographic lens" by Rudolf Kingslake, Academic Press Inc. ISBN 0-12-408640-3. I think it is still on sale because it is not that old: 1989. It is an excellent source to understand the genealogy of most of the lens ever produced and the problems associated to lens construction.