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03-JUL-2010

Memories...
My father was a passionate photographer. When he passed away exactly 6 years ago, he transmitted to me most of his old cameras.
I'm thinking of him today as I open some of the boxes.
This one I never opened before.
Maybe one of you can help me to classify it? I would be grateful!

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
1/50s f/5.6 at 50.0mm iso800 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Colin Clarke08-Jul-2010 14:39
It was great fun to chase this one down, Lisa. I hope I got it right. :-) The trick was that although it may have had an Agfa marking on the leather, in the era of its production, Agfa was still basically a photo chemicals production company. When it bought/merged the Rietzschel camera works in Munich (from Bayer) in 1925, Agfa promptly became a camera 'manufacturer' too. In 1926 it made its first truly Agfa camera, but it took until 1927 for the Rietzschel name to disappear. So, for a little while your camera model was both a Rietzschel and an Agfa. !! A similar thing occurred when later, Agfa licensed ANSCO to manufacture its products in the US. Fortunately, for you, the Compur Shutter serial number on your camera helped a great deal. BTW, if any readers are using Agfa Rodinal for B&W film developing (I do !) it was first introduced by Agfa in 1892 - yes, 1892. I guess that Rodinal longevity suggests: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
lisamidi08-Jul-2010 07:39
Colin Clarke has given me the identifaction. He writes:
"...So, I am thinking now that you have a (Agfa) Heli-Clack 10x15cm,
probably made by Rietzschel but assembled by Agfa and sold by Agfa
maybe in 1926 or a little later."

I'm completely overwhelmed by his fantastic knowledge about cameras and the friendliness for helping me by the great research work he did for me!

I'm so grateful, Colin, thanks again a thousand times! It's such a pleasure for me to meet you here!
Lisa
slhoornstra06-Jul-2010 18:53
How beautiful it is, as are your memories of your father. V
Colin Clarke04-Jul-2010 20:50
PS.
After a little more information from Lisa, we know the camera is an Agfa produced Plate camera, and the research continues regarding actual model, and approx. year of manufacture. Agfa was another company, which in the very early production of these Plate cameras, did not 'brand' the Compur face with their Agfa logo. (Watch this space for more developments.).
12304-Jul-2010 18:37
Wow, this beauty appears really is in great shape. I seldom see one of these in such a shape. Colin did a great a great write up on it. Enjoy, hope you get to use it. V
Colin Clarke04-Jul-2010 11:32
This is a lovely image of a lovely early camera. Lisa. What memories. And what fragments of time has that lens transmitted to the sensitized plate? Those fractions of a second will never ever be repeated. :-)
Seeing only the camera face in shallow focus is akin to being shown part of an engine and guessing what model of automobile ... :-) But without knowing the plate/film size, wood or metal construction, et al, I'm thinking this may be a Zeca Folding Plate camera (Zeh Camera Fabrik, Paul Zeh, Dresden) - perhaps a Duplo (wood body) c1925-28 or metal body (1928-1930), or maybe a Certo (Certotrop) of the same era. I say this, rather than a Zeiss, because the lens faceplate is only showing the shutter name (Compur) wheras almost all the Zeiss models having this similar Compur faceplate design had the Zeiss name and model type engraved on the upper plate either side of the shutter dial (the center top large dial). I'm guess it has 'pull out spoons' for the bed extension - the Zeiss Compur 100 has, I think, release knobs rather than 'spoons'. So, this reply has merely added to the confusion I expect. If you send the camera to me, then over the course of the next decade, I would be able to make a better guess. ;-)
Mairéad04-Jul-2010 09:42
It looks beautiful whatever it is.
borisalex04-Jul-2010 06:08
Looks like to be in good shape and wonder too what modell it might be! Great find after all that years!
Don Mottershead04-Jul-2010 05:03
If I had a Stutz Bearcat to drive around I would want to take this camera on my trips. Cool!
Ken McColl04-Jul-2010 01:33
Hi Lisa, I can't help you with the camera other than to say if you dont want it I will send you my address !!! :-)))
Colin Clark and Kaden Kratzer know heaps and heaps about old cameras and may be able to help...
Here are their urls
http://www.pbase.com/agripix/profile

http://www.pbase.com/dehl/profile

Cheers
Kmc
lou_rozensteins03-Jul-2010 23:49
Looks very complicated, whatever it is . Great shot.
PauloCGama03-Jul-2010 22:18
I can't help you, Lisa but it is a gem for sure. Wonderful details. Love it. vv
marie-jose wolff03-Jul-2010 21:13
un bel appareil! ... avec un retardateur! V
Apostolos Tikopoulos03-Jul-2010 20:39
great composition and camera. v.
Patricia Kay03-Jul-2010 20:14
Such a beautiful camera Lisa...wonderful memories for you as you look at each one...BV
zyziza03-Jul-2010 16:55
Magic world of old cameras!
v
regi olbrechts03-Jul-2010 16:32
Don't know this beautiful camera but it sure makes a great (quite graphical) composition!!
Vote.
globalgadabout03-Jul-2010 16:27
a gem of an old camera...very well shot image too...V
Phillip Normanton03-Jul-2010 16:02
Hmm - that link didn't work very well. Try...
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeiss_Ikon
...the fourth one pictured :)
Phillip Normanton03-Jul-2010 15:59
It looks to be in great condition! How about a Zeiss Ikon Compur 100?
Blandine Mangin03-Jul-2010 15:26
ça c'était du matériel ! v
franz03-Jul-2010 14:58
Frida und Papa. BV Lisa!
Silvia Roitman03-Jul-2010 14:34
very nice!
Ann...03-Jul-2010 11:44
What wonderful keepsakes you have.
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