Stewartry Trinol Anastigmat 105mm f/3.5

Stewartry Trinol Anastigmat 105mm f/3.5 LTM

The Stewartry Trinol Anastigmat 105mm f/3.5 LTM is a rare British Leica screw-mount rangefinder lens associated with National Optical Co. and Stewartry. Documented Leica L examples show optics made by National Optical in England and a barrel made by Stewartry in Scotland [1]. It belongs to the small group of postwar British lenses made or mounted for Leica-compatible screw-mount cameras, making it a collector-relevant lens for LTM and L39 rangefinder systems.

The lens uses a simple 3-element, 3-group triplet optical construction and is documented with 12 aperture blades [1]. Auction and dealer records confirm that Leica L39 examples were made in rangefinder-coupled mounts, including examples described as Stewartry Trinol 3.5/105mm, made in Scotland, and Trinol Anastigmat f/3.5 105mm in Leica L39 rangefinder-coupled mount [2][3]. Flashback Camera describes one Leica L example as uncoated, while Photrio discussion notes that early serial-number examples appear to be uncoated and that coating status may vary between copies [1][4].

For LeicaLensList, this entry should be kept separate from Trinol lenses in Exakta, bayonet, or other non-LTM mounts. The key collector point is the combination of National Optical Co. lens head, Stewartry-made Scottish barrel, Leica L / L39 screw mount, and rangefinder coupling. Because factory specifications are sparse, fields such as length, diameter, filter size, minimum focus distance, weight, and production totals should remain Unknown unless verified from a specific documented copy.

History

Development and Launch

The Trinol Anastigmat 105mm f/3.5 appears in postwar Leica screw-mount form around 1947. Leitz Auction records a National Optical Co. Trinol Anastigmat 3.5/105mm with manufacture year listed as circa 1947 [2]. Photrio cites the lens as a triplet carrying Taylor, Taylor & Hobson patent details, sold to Stewartry of Glasgow for mounting on cameras such as M39x26 and Exakta [4].

Production Evolution

Known examples appear with National Optical Co., Trinol Anastigmat, and Stewartry markings. Flashback Camera describes the Leica screw-mount version as having National Optical optics from England and a Stewartry barrel from Scotland [1]. Leitz Auction records serial number 35118 as a rangefinder-coupled Trinol Anastigmat made in Scotland, while another Leitz Auction record lists serial number 35283 and manufacture year circa 1947 [2][5]. Flints Auctions records a black/chrome Leica L39 rangefinder-coupled example with serial number 036175 [3].

Special Editions/Variants

Known variants appear to include Leica L / L39 rangefinder-coupled lenses, Exakta versions, and other non-LTM mounts [4]. Within Leica screw mount, finish differences are documented, including black/chrome examples and examples with differing barrel styles. No formal factory special-edition code or official model-number system is confirmed from the available sources.

Collector Notes

Collectors should verify that the lens is a true Leica L / L39 rangefinder-coupled version rather than an Exakta or other mount variant. Important checks include the Trinol Anastigmat engraving, National Optical Co. marking, Stewartry Made in Scotland barrel marking, L39 screw mount, rangefinder coupling, serial number, aperture blade count, coating status, haze, rear-element marks, stiffness in the focusing mount, and signs of later adaptation. Some documented examples show uncoated optics, while coating status may differ by serial number or production batch [1][4].

Special editions

• No confirmed factory special editions or official model numbers are documented.
• Known collector variants include Leica L / L39 rangefinder-coupled examples, Exakta versions, and finish variations such as black/chrome.
• Serial examples documented in auction and dealer records include 35118, 35283, 036175, and 034103, but these should be treated as observed examples rather than official serial-number ranges.

Sources

• [1] Flashback Camera. Trinol 105mm f3.5 (L). https://flashbackcamera.jp/en/products/013584_trinol_105mm_f3-5_l
• [2] Leitz Auction. National Optical Co. Trinol Anastigmat 3.5/105mm. https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/National-Optical-Co.-Trinol-Anastigmat-3.5-105mm/AI-15-18954
• [3] Invaluable / Flints Auctions. A Stewartry Trinol Anastigmat f/3.5 105mm Lens. https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-stewartry-trinol-anastigmat-f-3-5-105mm-lens-137-c-1b14e27be3
• [4] Photrio. Details of Trinol Lens. https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/details-of-trinol-lens.143685/
• [5] Leitz Auction. Stewartry Trinol 3.5/105mm. https://www.leitz-auction.com/de/Stewartry-Trinol-3.5-105mm/AI-10-15133