Just What Do I Have Here? ~ Prewar Contax & Rolleiflex 1945/ WW2 Bringback Cameras

[LeicaTom]

Just What Do I Have Here? ~ Prewar Contax & Rolleiflex 1945/ WW2 Bringback Cameras

I just received today in the mail, the two remaining cameras from the estate of the 9th Armored Division Solider who also owned my 43' Leica IIIC K.

These two cameras also accompanied him home from the war in 1945.....

Both cameras are in amazingly good condition, having spent a very long time in cases, I cleaned them both with some warm soapy water and rubbing alcohol, now they both look respectable, the Contax case is very nice still and has some knife carvings on it stating it`s a 1938?
Also there`s a very neatly embossed number on the outside right front of the case ~ 178712 and the Sonnar f2/50 is #2200347 and is pristine, crystal clear as new.

Whoever knows Contax well, please write me, while I want to check this camera over well but know NOTHING about them.....sorry guys! I`m a Leica nut and this is my first and more than likely my only Contax I`ll own ~ *I tried to open the bottom to check the serial number and I can`t get the camera open? I also haven`t been able to check the shutter either.....I don`t want to muck anything up, so Contax guys write me* @ winkermeister@aol.com

Ohh is there a Self Timer Arm missing on the front, or is that Flash Sync?

The Rollei`s nice, the case has seen better days, but it still has a nice everyday strap and the speeds seem to work, the serial number is #710483, and It`s got a nice little Yellow filter, and twin metal pop-on lens cap.

I plan on keeping both cameras together with a very small photo of Martin with the IIIC K now, I sadly don`t have any photos taken with these three cameras back when they were in Germany, boy! If all three of them could talk what a story they could tell.......

Enjoy!

Tom

 

[ChrisN]

Nice Tom! I have a Rollei that looks a lot like that, excepting the gadget added on the right side (in your pic) of the camera. Mine is serial 6134XX, and I think it is an Automat from about 1939. Mine has a Zeiss Jena Tessar 7.5cm 1:3.5. I had to hand-stitch the case on mine - every stitch was rotten, but the leather was good. I haven't used it much, but I have a roll of FP4 loaded, waiting for the end of Keith's "14-day challenge".

 

[LeicaTom]

Thanks Chris for stopping on by...... 🙂

Yes, I think? It`s a Automat 1 from 1939, I read someplace that they are`nt so common......

I need to find a knowledgeable Rollei Repairman in the USA....anyone know anyone, out there who`s good with Rolleiflex?

Would be kinda kool to build up a small kit of WW2 ERA Rolleiflex stuff, not too many people are using these anymore and the glass on this one seems really crystal clear!

Anyone know about the Contax? Is it a model II?

Tom

 

[manfromh]

Yes, this is a Contax II. I think III is the one with the lightmeter and IIa and IIIa are the post-war models. The self-timer lever is indeed missing. The little button above the hole has an arrow on it, right? After the self-timer is cocked this button must be pushed in the direction shown by the arrow, to "fire" the timer. I think (but not sure) a Kiev self-timer lever would fit, if you want to get it operational.

 

[Ahmed Poltroon]

Turn the two "locks" on the bottom, then put your fingers on the sides of the back of the camera and pull down.

The whole back will come off. Don't try to open by pulling the "bottom plate" off.

 

[Ahmed Poltroon]

PS: Don't lose the take-up spools which will fall out.

 

[ZeissFan]

It looks like the self-timer was removed to add flash synchronization. The Contax II wasn't flash synchronized, and many cameras had this feature added post-production.

The original owner might have had the self-timer arm or perhaps the person who handled the conversion kept it.

Your camera has the collapsible f/2.0 5cm uncoated Sonnar. It's a very nice and common lens. In fact, this seems to be the lens that you'll find attached to most Contax II cameras.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I've been shooting with two Contax II's recently acquired. The shutters are "just different". Being a long-time Nikon RF user, it's easy to get used to EXCEPT covering the RF window with my finger.

One came with a 5cm F1.5, the second with the 5cm F2. The F1.5 lens is unbelievable.

For some reason, the F2 front elements seem to have more cleaning marks than the F1.5. I'm not sure if they just were not handled as carefully, or if the glass on the front element is softer. I've worked with nine 5cm f2 lenses, and eight 5cm F1.5 lenses.

 

[LeicaTom]

Thanks everyone for your responses 🙂

Yes, I figured the Self Timer port was used for the Flash Port, because the original owner did alot of Flash Photography when he worked for Black Star, all the cameras has Flash capabilities including the IIIC K which had a Gleiss add-on Flash shoe.

I guess in the future I`ll find Contax and Rollei repair guys, it would be kool to see what these cameras would do, I just have to get some Medium Format film again for the Rollei, I haven`t used one in like over 15 years!

Tom

 

[ChrisN]

... it would be kool to see what these cameras would do, I just have to get some Medium Format film again for the Rollei, I haven`t used one in like over 15 years!

Tom

Great idea! That uncoated lens on the Rollei and the medium-format shallow depth of focus might be just the ticket for your style.

 

[LeicaTom]

I finally got the back of the Contax off to expose the serial number
E 38657 ~ WHICH I PRESUME IS 1938?

The Shutter and Film Wind do`nt seem to work, the camera does`nt cock and fire, so it`s just a paperweight, does anyone know who`s the best repairman for Contax in the USA?

Ohh and I never heard anything about a Rolleiflex Repairman either, who does these in the states?

Tom