Help identifying a bellows camera

[Toastno6]

Last pics I promise. This is what came with it and I definitely see your point, sevo, that it's likely to be the same manufacturer as the original plates. Unfortunately I have no way of confirming whether or not they are but I do have a number of the black no-names that you describe. They haven't survived anywhere near as well as the Tropen Ideal ones. I'm sorry about my lack of knowledge when it comes to naming each of these items, I know literally nothing about this type of camera beyond what I've researched over the last two days on the net.

Ron, the sports viewfinder is complete as far as I can tell (there are no empty/filled screw holes in the body that I can find) although it's a far less complex version than the one on the links you posted. It took me a while to figure out what it was. The lens was upside down on the camera when I got it, probably as you say because it's either not original or has been removed before. I removed the lens to give it a light clean and put it back upside down! I'll remedy that right now.

GaryLH, that forum is fantastic, thanks for the link.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

[/QUOTE]

Great, the sportsfinder is complete - I missed that in the other pics, apparently no screw holes there either ....

indeed the lens / shutter combi could original - btw in many cases one was given a choice of shutter / lens combinations so one can find the same camera very often with a different lens / shutter

That was a extra size (or version) designator behind the three digit base model number. It only was consistently introduced years after ICA started, none of my pre-war or WWI cameras have it. Their earlier cameras usually had a three digit number (and different numbers for each size) - some even had completely different identification schemes as the companies that merged into ICA used up their earlier parts inventory, sometimes for years...

Yup, indeed very early Ica camera's may not have that extra digit... but IMHO this is no ICA.

 

[Toastno6]

Great, the sportsfinder is complete - I missed that in the other pics, but it was there....

It's a delightfully basic bit of kit 🙂

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

It's a delightfully basic bit of kit 🙂

No doubt about that!, I'm in search of plateholders for my latest acquistion - since I really want to take some pics with it: a Zeiss Ikon 9x12 of the 1930's, but they are very hard to find i.e. matching plateholders...

Zeiss Ikon 'Favorit Tropen' by Ron (Netherlands), on Flickr


ps can you please put the shutter upright 🙂

 

[Toastno6]

No doubt about that!, I'm in search of plateholders for my latest acquistion - since I really want to take some pics with it: a Zeiss Ikon 9x12 of the 1930's, but they are very hard to find i.e. matching plateholders...

ps can you please put the shutter upright 🙂

Sorry Ron, I'll do that right now! The Zeiss looks gorgeous.

I think this is it! I'm 99.9% convinced you have it with the Minerva Merkel. As far as I can tell this is pretty much identical to my camera. Thanks again everyone, this forum really is a great place to be.

http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Merkel/Minerva-Tropen.html

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Sorry Ron, I'll do that right now! The Zeiss looks gorgeous.

I think this is it! I'm 99.9% convinced you have it with the Minerva Merkel. As far as I can tell this is pretty much identical to my camera. Thanks again everyone, this forum really is a great place to be.

http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Merkel/Minerva-Tropen.html

tnx, and indeed even the sportsfinder is the same as the Minerva!

 

[oftheherd]

No doubt about that!, I'm in search of plateholders for my latest acquistion - since I really want to take some pics with it: a Zeiss Ikon 9x12 of the 1930's, but they are very hard to find i.e. matching plateholders...
Zeiss Ikon 'Favorit Tropen' by Ron (Netherlands), on Flickr


ps can you please put the shutter upright 🙂

Finding matching cut film/plate holders can be an interesting treasure hunt. Many will fit other brands, some will not. That search has netted me about 25 holders.

It is interesting to me that apparently at least 3 makers had models with interchangable lenses: Zeiss Ikon, Certotrop, and Bee Bee. I think Bee Bee cameras may have been made by the Certo makers? Bee Bee cameras didn't have bayonet mounted lenses, but two slots, top and bottom, one spring loaded, and a cam at the top side to hold it in place.

Anyone know of others?

 

[sevo]

It is interesting to me that apparently at least 3 makers had models with interchangable lenses: Zeiss Ikon, Certotrop, and Bee Bee.(...)

Anyone know of others?

Most notably Voigtländer, with a bayonet mount on the Bergheil series.

 

[BW400CN]

Most notably Voigtländer, with a bayonet mount on the Bergheil series.

BINGO!!!

Ron I have a few different 9x12 cut film holder from Voigtländer - Zeiss - Ernemann.
Do you have a Zeiss number or can you measure your plate size?
Maybe there is something that might help you.