balda gloria 6x9 folder

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bukaj

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This is a scale focus not a rangefinder, but I think this is the most appropriate place to ask. Looking for a cheap medium format camera I could bring into some harsh environments without worrying too much about it, I came across this Balda Gloria 6x9 folder. Other than a few light leaks in the bellows that I fixed with some RTV it's in pretty good mechanical condition.

I'd just like to know a bit more about this camera and google has brought up very little. I can find a little information about the manufacturer, but nothing on this particular model. The lens is a Meyer 10.5cm/f4.5 with focus markings in feet (which makes me think it was made for the US/UK market). It's scale focus, has a pop up viewfinder and a small waist level one near the lens (which is functionally pretty useless). Anyone know anything about this camera? What year it could be from? I read Balda became multiple companies, so maybe it wasn't even made in Germany.

Here is a picture. Excuse the ****ty quality. (i.imgur.com/6uEkJ.jpg)

Thanks.
 
bukaj said:
This is a scale focus not a rangefinder, but I think this is the most appropriate place to ask. Looking for a cheap medium format camera I could bring into some harsh environments without worrying too much about it, I came across this Balda Gloria 6x9 folder. Other than a few light leaks in the bellows that I fixed with some RTV it's in pretty good mechanical condition.

I'd just like to know a bit more about this camera and google has brought up very little. I can find a little information about the manufacturer, but nothing on this particular model. The lens is a Meyer 10.5cm/f4.5 with focus markings in feet (which makes me think it was made for the US/UK market). It's scale focus, has a pop up viewfinder and a small waist level one near the lens (which is functionally pretty useless). Anyone know anything about this camera? What year it could be from? I read Balda became multiple companies, so maybe it wasn't even made in Germany.

Here is a picture. Excuse the ****ty quality. (i.imgur.com/6uEkJ.jpg)

Thanks.
Click to expand...
theres no picture?


you are probably having trouble finding much about your "Gloria" because Balda only named it that for one year. Balda cameras can be like that, they changed their names or sold them to or made them specifically for distributors whom named them something else, sometimes no name at all was placed on them, sometimes the leatherette pattern can be different, hence you can find many identical cameras that all came from the Balda factory to begin with but with different or no name.

although Balda made some very nice cameras, only a few would be classed toward the high end to compete with the likes of Voigtlander, Zeiss Ikon or even Welta, though the later were similar companies in many ways (they all knew each other and were friends as were most around Dresden the hub of camera making in germany). Baldas main focus was on low and middle range cameras , many of them for export around the world even if it meant selling them under different names or no mention of Balda Werks at all, they sold huge amounts of cameras this way and were very successful prior to the war, after the war the bloke who founded them in 1908 moved to west germany and continued with Balda cameras and made some very nice units while the factory in dresden changed their name and was eventually swallowed up by the VEB Pentecon conglomerate as was the way of things for all the makers stranded in the east when they divied up the place.

as i mentioned the Gloria was only called that for one year so that should make it a 1934 model, they called it Glorina next and then from about 1936 a Pontina, (also sold as a Roll-Op dual format about then by plaubel), Pontina are quite common if you look around, i wouldn't be surprised if people have info on that around the net, or rather i'd be surprised if they didnt (sorry i havnt checked)

the Trioplan lens is a fine triplet lens, one of the better trips for sure :)


cheers
chippy
 
I can do that. I'll take some nice clean ones with my DSLR, but give me 2-3 weeks as I'm going on a trip next week. If you don't hear from me, feel free to send me a reminder on here.
 
does it have the word 'Gloria' embossed into the leatherette? i can only see Balda

also, whats the serial number of the shutter?

cheers
chippy
 
It does have 'Gloria' embossed on the other side. I think it's 3,065,006. Some of it is behind the fold out arm so it's hard to read. According to this link, it puts it at 1934-1935.

The entire shutter assembly seems to be able to rotate (although it's very tight). Does it matter what the orientation is? I'm guessing the words on the shutter should be line up with the camera horizontally.
 
bukaj said:
It does have 'Gloria' embossed on the other side. I think it's 3,065,006. Some of it is behind the fold out arm so it's hard to read. According to this link, it puts it at 1934-1935.

The entire shutter assembly seems to be able to rotate (although it's very tight). Does it matter what the orientation is? I'm guessing the words on the shutter should be line up with the camera horizontally.
Click to expand...

yeah, that serial works out the same period with my notes as well.

sometimes it does matter the orientation, the levers off the side of the shutter can catch and make it difficult, sometimes dam near impossible to open them again once closed...that camera model isnt that bad but the words should be horizontal, once in place just give the ring nut on the inside a bit of a tighten, preferably with the right lens tool or you run the risk of scratching/marking the the nut (assuming it isnt already, many are nowadays) or worse the lens or poking a hole in the bellows...
 
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