Taylor, Taylor, & Hobson Filmo Special · 25.4mm f/1.8

{"overview":"The Taylor, Taylor & Hobson 1 Inch f\/1.8 Filmo Special is a fast standard cine lens with a 1-inch (approximately 25mm) focal length and an f\/1.8 maximum aperture. It was produced by the British optical maker Taylor, Taylor & Hobson (Cooke) for use on Bell & Howell Filmo 16mm cine cameras, where the 1-inch focal length served as the normal lens.","market_narrative":"At UK saleroom level this is a low-value collectable: the only documented hammer result we hold is £81 from March 2023, which sets the available reference point for what the lens sells for at auction today. With a single data point there is no meaningful range or median, and condition will swing the price materially either side of that figure.","buying_guide":"Inspect the glass carefully for fungus, internal haze and cleaning marks on the front and rear elements, as fast vintage cine lenses of this era frequently show coating wear and bloom. Check the iris for oil on the aperture blades, confirm the focus ring turns smoothly without grinding or stiffness, and look for any signs of element separation or balsam discolouration around the cemented groups. Verify the mount is the correct Filmo (Bell & Howell C-mount style) fitting and that the locking key and depth-of-field scale are intact.","specs":"Key specifications from the available data: 1-inch (~25mm) focal length, f\/1.8 maximum aperture, designated \"Filmo Special\" for Bell & Howell Filmo 16mm cine cameras.","faq":[{"q":"What is a Taylor, Taylor & Hobson 1 Inch f\/1.8 Filmo Special worth?","a":"Based on the single UK auction record we hold, the price was £81 hammer in March 2023; with only one data point this should be treated as indicative rather than a firm market value."},{"q":"How much does a 1 Inch f\/1.8 Filmo Special sell for at auction?","a":"The one verified UK hammer result sits at £81, so clean working examples currently change hands in the modest two-figure range, with condition and completeness driving most of the variation."},{"q":"What camera was this lens made for?","a":"The \"Filmo Special\" designation indicates it was produced for Bell & Howell Filmo 16mm cine cameras, with the 1-inch focal length acting as the standard lens on that format."},{"q":"Is the price quoted a retail figure?","a":"No — the £81 figure is a UK auction hammer price, meaning the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom before buyer's premium, not a dealer or retail asking price."}],"confidence":30,"reasoning":"Only one sales record and no SPECS or variant data provided, so confidence is capped well below 50."}