No way. Not with a Heligon. Definitely a capitalist lens, that. Like all Rodenstocks.
Somewhere in the depths of my archives at home I have some 1950s German mail order catalogues from Photo (or Foto) Post. When I can, I will dig them out and look for details. These books have been invaluable resources to me in the past, to trace otherwise vague items produced in postwar Germany, often sold by post well into the '50s and even '60s as manufacturers cleaned out their warehouses.
Meantimes, to ease the tension, a few thoughts. To me, this isn't, as someone has posted, 'scratch built'. It's too well made for a home job. But then it doesn't look like an expensive camera, altho' if it has a reasonable lens. Many cheapies were made in Germany in the 1950s to satisfy the growing consumer market. Some were exported, at times under a different brand name. Many such examples in North America, especially the USA, where European brands were re-branded for American consumers. Leitz US and the Honeywell Rollei TLR come to mind here...
Does the top rangefinder come off? Some of those were accessory slip-ons.
Also check the bottom plate for data. Surely there has to be a name somewhere. Or is the camera so worn that these have faded??
Anyway, just my top of head ideas. Others may have more definite thoughts to contribute. Please do!!
Thanks for looking D.U. Paper ephemera - just so valuable in answering questions that keep cropping up !
To me if a camera works it works - its eclectic origins can only add to the fun but yes I agree 'scratch built' does not do this little camera justice .
I have owned and photographed with some right dogs in my day but this is in a word just ' different '.
There has simply been too much work gone into this - specifically at the design stage.
The rangefinder is a work of art , albeit at the cost of not having a flash shoe .
Then the post-design execution - the machining overall , but particularly the rounded mirror housing by the advance wheel is superbly done ( with many small crafted parts / glass etc etc ). Sure , some edges are a little 'heavy ' and pre-market ready , some the smaller camera parts a little workmanlike , but overall ...
As for the finishing ?
The addition of the inscribed data to the raw unfinished ally bodywork -distance scale to the rangefinder , DoF scale to the body , f- stops to the lens cradle would be unnecessary in a scratchbuilt unit ie a camera made simply for fun as a project .
I also cannot see any amateur engineer taking the time to hand apply lettering and numbers.
It could be reasonable to suggest that this camera was built and then 'finished' in such manner to test out an idea ?
The lack of any manufacturing data ie a name or brand anywhere ( and yes I have looked ) would tie in with this .
A little task will be to ascertain under a microscope if the lettering has been stamped ( doubtful as no surface deformation to the surrounding material is evident ) , or applied by acid etching .
