Here's a link, plus some items I copied from sites I no longer recall, with serial numbers to help determine the age of a Voigtlander.
Serial numbers for Voigtlander lenses:
www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/voigtlaender_SN.jpg
Start quote:
i have the compur shutter list--written in the back of one of my books by my own hand..not sure where i got it from...let me know if it matches with your own or how it may differ
1920-- 450 000
1922-- 500 000
1925-- 600 000
1926-- 750 000
1927-- 850 000
1928-- 950 000
1929--1000 000
1930--1150 000
1931--1500 000
1932--1800 000
1933--2250 000
1934--2700 000
1935--3200 000
1939--5400 000
Another quote:
This section is based on the lens section of the Voigtländer Verein's 'Checklist of Voigtländer Cameras
and Equipment' with thanks, and especial acknowledgment to their Secretary Dr C. Haupt for permission to
quote from his Table of Lens serial number dates, which extend the official ones in the Gravierungs Buchen.
The original Checklist was produced about 1975, and has been successively extended, especially after a very
valuable visit to Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen in 1977, to whom thanks are due. Since then almost uniquely, a
second listing of Voigtländer lenses has appeared in Udo Afalter's excellently illustrated book, 'Voigtländer
Kameras und Objektive' publ. Lindemanns Verlag, 1998, ISBN 3-89506-137-9 so that a comparison is
possible of what seem to be independant studies. The information on the serial numbers has been extended
with data supplied to the Voigtländer Verein by Mr J. Halfweg, with information on an intermediate period
partly from Verein experience and partly from dating using Compur shutter numbers to date lenses. This last
is obviously less definite than the other data, although there were some key figures in the original registers
held in Oberkochen.
Voigtländer SERIAL NUMBERS
This data is based on the 'Objektiv Gravierungs Buchen' in the archive at Carl Zeiss Oberkochen, for 1885 to
1929. Some additional notes are included, and those in italics are from other sources of unknown validity.
Eder gives a useful list of the introduction dates of new big sizes in Voigtländer Petzvals. Note that while the
metal camera began with low serial numbers, the very early part of the engraved number series is uncertain
and the lenses sold separately may possibly not be in sequence with those sold fixed to the 'metal camera'.
The numbers subsequently are in one series with few exceptions, and initially represent lenses made as
singles or in very small groups of items, and were listed virtually day by day.
Year Lens serial no. Notes
05/1840 First Petzval Portrait produced. In the first lenses it was accepted
practice to unscrew the front cell, fit a stop and replace the cell (Eder). Later
loose or curtain stops were used.
184? 1796 Marked 'Voigtländer & Sohn in Wien'
1849 A request was made to Braunschweig for permission to open a factory, and
purchase of a site, and permission granted in 02/09/1852. This was initiated
by P.W.Voigtländer. The management there was by his son, Friedrich
Voigtländer. The optical trade in Vienna began to shrink from then on.
1852/1853 Production of lenses at Braunschweig begins. It has been suggested that at
No 4,000 production switched to Braunschweig and ended at Vienna.
(1852) (4033)
1854 4 - 5000 From about 1852-62 they are engraved 'aus Wien und Braunschweig'
1856 Introduction of the 5in dia. Portrait lens at 450 talers. (Dietzler, competitor,
offered a 6in version).
1859 All portrait lenses are now fitted with the Waterhouse type stops.(Eder)
1860 Introduction of two versions of a 6in portrait lens, differing as long and
short focal lengths.(14.3kg weight, 420 talers.)(Eder)
1861 Eder gives 22/02/1862 as the day of a special holiday to celebrate the
10,000th lens being produced, at Brunswick. Eder gives production as roughly 2,000 per year to then.
1862 10,000 Now 'aus Braunschweig' but still mainly Petzvals.To here, they made some
10,000/22years=454 lenses in an average year. Actually the engraving
'Wien/ Braunswcheig' continued at least up to No30,46x, and it was the 'und' which was omitted.
This was the occasion for P.W.Voigtländer being knighted.(Eder gives 1866)
1864 Introduction of an 8in dia. portrait lens in answer to a lens of 7in by Busch
of Rathenow. Anton Friedrich was manager of the Vienna branch and it was
sold (normal price 1,000 talers) to Ludwig Angerer, but used for display on a
Voigtländer stand in Berlin in 1865. It was Serial No16,000.
1868 Death of the head (?Friedrich?) of the old factory in Vienna, after 120 years
production. Production there ends.Note also the timing of the Waldstein glass plant history.
1876 Voigtländer dies and Friedrich R. von Voigtländer takes over.
1878 Sale of an improved Petzval design (Frerk). This may be the f2.3.
1884 27449 Portrait, landscape, Euryscope and Wide Angle
1885 30,000 Note that 29,000/45years= only some 645 lenses in an average year.
1886 31,000 Eder reports the first nameless Euryscop was brought to him in Vienna then.
1887 32,000 Now the major production was of the Euryscope
33,704 Marked 'Voigtländer & Sohn Braunschweig' so Wien finally is
omitted at about Serial Number 30-33,000
1888 34,000 Also Daguerre (Petzval?) and Landscape, Jena glass introduced.
1889 36,000 Note that 'Victorias' were separately numbered - ?Possibly these
were especially large items e.g. for 10x12in plates as some very large Pertvals have been reported.
One account mentions one at a serial number below 1,000 from Braunschweig rather than Vienna.
1890 38,000 - 39496 In the 1880's production seems to be about 1,750 lenses per year. B. Coe lists a
Voigtländer 4-blade shutter from that year.
1891 40,000 Dr. Rudolph of Zeiss calculated the Anastigmat, and Voigtländer were
licencees for the new designs.
1892 41,911
1893 43,685 Collinear design patented
1894 45,431 Production now includes Collinear and Anastigmat
1895 46,454 (Anastigmat production will end here)
1896 47,771 There was now major Collinear production
1897 49,084
1898 54,168 New items were the TeleObjektiv and Cooke triplet
It was in 1898 that F.W.Voigtländer concluded that as he had no direct successor (he had 4 daughters), he
must turn the sole-owner concern into a limited liability company under the name Voigtländer & Sohn AG
with himself as Managing Director and Dr Kaempher and Dr Miethe as Directors. Dr Miethe left in 1899 to
work in Berlin, leaving Dr Hans Harting to lead the firm until he retired in 1909. He lead the firm to new
products such as microscopes, binoculars, and telescopes as well as rifle and gun sights.
1899 54,896 Collinear sort lens ('omitted 55-61,000') [Some of the omitted lenses in fact
occur in the Voigtländer Collection, so possibly this block was reserved for prototypes. But it does include
the Triple Anastigmat below and just could be used for these lenses made under license. Others seem to
occur from Voigtländer New York as explained above.]
About 1900 the business became a limited company.
1900 65,691 Triple Anastigmat (Cooke ??) Heliar lens produced.
1901 68,193
1902 70,682
1903 72,638 Lenses now include the Heliar and Apo Collinear
1904 75,479 Lenses now include the Dynar By now the employees numbered some 300 workers
+35 seniors and sales staff.1905 79,288 The manufacture of popular cameras was begun here.1906 83,477 The firm now moved to Campestrasse to a new 4 storey building.
1907 88,057 (The list omits 90,000 - 95,000)
1908 97,999 100,000 is a Heliar. This was held in the museum at Brunswick for many
years, and was later offered for sale in the UK.
'Cameras' listed inc. Karpf, Kodak, Koilos, Delta, Compound, and Polyscop.
1909 101,649 Retirement of Dr Harting.
1910 105,778 Heliar/ Unicum also Radiar, Collinear, Stereo
1911 110,347
1912 113,569 Inc. Helomar
1913 118,634 - 125,975 (Numbers 122,001 - 123,000 were for America in 1913.
1914 126,001
1915 132,726 The firm now moved production to a new site and buildings at Braunschweig-
Gliesmarode, the offices staying at Campestrasse. The plant was very busy during the War and employees
increased to 1,000 + 150 office staff.1916 137,682
1917 139,108
1918 142,853
1919 144,419
1920 154,426
1921 160,008 (It is interesting that No166,57x was fitted in a 1918 dialset Compur No337,26x.)1922 172,136
1923 194,086 The employees had decreased to 600 + 100 by now and business
was very difficult, and the firms finances in a poor state.1924 216,948
1925 227,929 f3.5 Heliar,Trinastigmat, Avus, Triare, Fokars, Vorsatz Linsen These were ssued
over the years 1923- Death of F.R. von Voigtländer, aged 79. He had no male heir, and was the last of 4
generations of Voigtländers in the firm. Two sons predeceased him. He made a great reputation soon after
he took over with the launch of the more rapid Euryscope lenses and later the Kollinears. In 1925 he sold the
firm to Schering and in 1925 they ended all production of non-photographic items. By 01/01/1927, Schering
had obtained 99% of the shares, and they amalgamated the interests they had in Wubben (albums, of Berlin)
and Dresdener Trockenplattefabfrik Richard Jahr AG to produce Voigtländer & Sohn AG. There was a
steady switch to mass production of all items to assist film sales with cheap cameras.
1926 248,505 Skopar, Voigtar, TeleDynar, Heliostigmat
1927 279,710
1928 365,562 Perkeo 6x9cm with Voigtar
1929 537,338 Photar (A Heliar No520,91x was noted in a Compur No475,01x of1922.)
1930 Bessa camera produced.
1933 A Skopar No671174 was noted in a rimset Compur No2,125,57x, of 1933.
1934 Skopars Nos 803,22x and 815,37x were noted in rimset Compurs No2,538,55x and2,565,42x. (c.1934)
1934 A Heliar No88047x was noted in a Rimset Compur No2,659,34x.
1935 A Heliar No1,026,69x was noted in a rimset Compur No3,038,80x (c.1935)
Voigtländer formed a joint company with Gevaert of Antwerp to deal in their
products, especially films. This was to last to 1945.
1934 1,000,000 included. Note a Heliar No1,052,264 was noted in a Compur Rapid No 5,107,90x, which should be a 1938 shutter number which suggests some lenses were held in stock for a while.
There is evidence that there are missing numbers about here as the maker caught up with unnumbered
lenses made earlier. The gap is thought to be at about No1.15-2.03million, corresponding to some 900,000
lens numbers. It seems to be well established as a feature among Voigtländer collectors.1937 2,000,000 included
1939-1940 It seems that No2,500,000 was probably made about the beginning of WW2.
1942 A Heliar No2,718,53x was noted in a rimset Compur No3,038,80x
There seem to be missing numbers here, possibly used on Baby Bessa cameras or wartime productions, at
about 2,600,000. It is assumed that postwar production recommenced at about No2,700,000.
1945 2,700,000
1947 3,000,000 included. Collecting experience suggests that either No3,000,000 was made later, possibly
about 1949, or that old numbers were retained and made up then.1949 Color Skopar produced.
1950 Ultron and Nokton produced. Ultrons are from about No3,16x,xxx for Prominent. Lenses from
June 1951 will be in SynchroCompur shutters. From 1952, most of these will lack serial numbers on the
outside of the shutters.
An Ultron No3,465,25x was noted on a Vitessa at shutter No7,524,xxx c1952, but another at
No3,311,24x was in a Compur Rapid with a much older number, nominally from 1940. There do seem to be
anomalies.1951(Jun)3,220,000
1952(Jan)3,300,500
1953(Jan)3,461,400
1954(Jan)3,600,000
1955(Jan)3,731,000
1956(Jan)4,001,000 Lens No4,000,000 was a Nokton and the parts were made in late 1955, but the lens
was assembled and officially numbered in 06/01/1956 to celebrate the 200th year of the foundation of the firm
in Vienna.
1956 4,000,000 included. It was in 1956 that Schering sold their interest in Voigtländer to Carl Zeiss Oberkochen.
1957(Jan)4,303,000
1958(Jan)4,514,000 Bessamatic produced and in 1959, the Zoomar lens.
1959(Jan)4,802,000
1960(Jan)5,033,000
1960 5,000,000 included
1961(Jan)5,473,000
1962(Jan)5,900,000
1963(jan)6,219,000
1964(Jan)6,423,000
1965(Jan)6,664,222.
1971 9,999,999-10,000,150 These were a special batch of Heliar lenses made in Summer 1971.
Initially production was of very small batches or singles. This changed in the early 20th century and by 1927,
batches of 2,000 Skopars or Voigtars were normal - or 1,000 Stereflektoscops. This is one of the few
occasions when camera names occur in the lens register. Much of the data for the years 1945-1965 was
supplied to the V.V. by Mr J. Halfweg.'

Very cool. Thanks for posting this.

Thanks for this interesting list !

It is interesting... the Bessa 66/46 do not seem to have numbers on the lens, at least I haven't seen any front or rear. With them we have to go with the shutter serial numbers.

Another good page of info about the 46/66
www.schoebels-voigtlaender-archiv.de/Bild0104.html