Help to identify a camera

[Marsopa]

A friend of me recently received as a present this camera:

Anyone knows what camera is it?

Thanks

Juan Luis

 

[newspaperguy]

The ribbed leatherette looks like it could be an Agfa or an Ansco.
The metric focussing scale would support that...
That peek-through waist-level view finder says "I'm old."
Surely there's something written someplace to give you a clue?

 

[sevo]

In spite of the ribbed leatherette and circular bars on the shutter, I don't believe in a Agfa, unless it has a third-party shutter added during repair - the shutter seems to be unbranded, while Agfas of similar vintage had prominently Agfa branded dial set shutters or (rarely, on the higher end models - which that one does not look like) early Prontor branded rim set shutters. It has strong traces of a Agfa lookalike, though.

Might be Ansco, I don't know what they filled the gap during the WWII embargo years with, and they could have had models made that visually matched their earlier Agfa OEM ware - a rim set shutter on a camera that otherwise looks like a older dial set thing might be explained by such a situation. But with a presumably metric scale (a close position of 2ft on a front cell focusing lens is beyond unlikely), it would have to be for some export market, and I don't know whether they actually had such in the 40-45 timeframe. Maybe South America?

But given the large amount of OEM production in the golden folder days, and many designs copied off the big names, it could be almost anybody. The straight, short undecorated strut makes it unlikely it is any of the more renowned German or French brands, as they usually took quite a lot of pride in their elegant and complex folding mechanisms. My guess would be some second line German or French OEM, or a British or US "for export" model, or maybe a Japanese imitation of the same.

A closeup of the lens might be helpful - the shutter and lens inscriptions are more helpful for identification than a generic folder shape...

Sevo

 

[FallisPhoto]

A friend of me recently received as a present this camera:

Anyone knows what camera is it?

Thanks

Juan Luis

On the black surface of the ring surrounding the lens what does it say? Is there nothing embossed into the leather near, or on, the carrying strap?

 

[chippy]

it really does help to show more detail of other parts of the camera, in particular the lens/shutter..

but i would have a reasonable guess at a glance, going by the ribbed patteren covering, shape and pattern of the struts, and some of the other visable hardware that it is from Franka-Werk. probably a Rolfix model in the mid 30s, not early because they were different shape and not 39 because they have different view finder ect. so guesing about 34 at the earlyist and up to about 37, most likly toward the later years


so do i win ? what do i win 😀😀

 

[Marsopa]

Thanks you for the help. I'll speak with him to take more detailed pics.

 

[Chris101]

I've got an Agfa that has a very similar body - with the flip up, non-optical viewfinder, and the flip down foot that doubles as a latch for the door. Not sure of the lens, it's a 105mm. I'll look for it tomorrow and post what I find here.

 

[ZorkiKat]

Could be an unbranded Agfa or Ansco. Some of these were sold as "Ventura". Does it use 120? Or something different like 620? Or larger like 116?

In spite of the ribbed leatherette and circular bars on the shutter, I don't believe in a Agfa, unless it has a third-party shutter added during repair - the shutter seems to be unbranded - the shutter seems to be unbranded, ...

There is a logo at 6:00 position under the lens. It looks similar to the the AGC (Gaulthier) logo. Hard to see though, since the resolution of the photo is too low to make the logo legible. They supplied shutters for many cameras, Agfa included. My Isolette V has a Gaulthier shutter.

 

[sevo]

By the case shape, it has some resemblance to a Agfa Standard or Igetar Billy - and possibly other 20's vintage Agfas. But the shutter is at least ten years younger, at that time, they still were dial set. And the luxury models from that period, which sometimes had rim set shutters, had a more complex folding mechanism, and sliding bed focusing.

http://www.rolandandcaroline.co.uk/standard.html
http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Agfa_Billy_Jgetar_8.8

 

[oftheherd]

I don't know much about those really old folders like many here. But isn't that a reather unusual lens standard?

More pictures please.

 

[chippy]

at first glance and a good guess i was sure it was a Franka-werk camera. looking at it closer, nothing, leads me to think it is not out of the Franka Werk factory . the front standard is exactly what franka used as well on a few of its models

if Marsopa can provide a pic of the lens shutter it will be easier to narrow down the model...but there's no doubt it is likely a Rolfix (or one of its variants) which was produced by Franka-werk since the early 30's . if the lens has a Franka lens then it was sold as a Franka camera, but if it is not it doesnt discount it from being a Franka camera, a great many Franka cameras (particularly this model) were sold to distributers unmarked and with different named lenses. Even Franka sold their Rolfix model under a few different named models (usually with a slight difference of lens or some small add on of some sort) but they are generaly considered variants of the Rolfix

they even made a cheap variant of the Rolfix (the same as this pre war year and basic model rolfix) after the war that is called a Bolfix or something like that (i will have to look it up to get the exact name, i remember it starts with a B because it reminds me of Bollywood to Hollywood). this may well be that model because I notice the black bracing strut on the bottom instead of chrome or nickle, which would be in line with the cheaper made camera...the lens and shutter info will help determine whether it is the later cheaper produced Rolfix with the name that starts with a B.....bolifix or something like that

 

[FallisPhoto]

at first glance and a good guess i was sure it was a Franka-werk camera. looking at it closer, nothing, leads me to think it is not out of the Franka Werk factory . the front standard is exactly what franka used as well on a few of its models

if Marsopa can provide a pic of the lens shutter it will be easier to narrow down the model...but there's no doubt it is likely a Rolfix (or one of its variants) which was produced by Franka-werk since the early 30's . if the lens has a Franka lens then it was sold as a Franka camera, but if it is not it doesnt discount it from being a Franka camera, a great many Franka cameras (particularly this model) were sold to distributers unmarked and with different named lenses. Even Franka sold their Rolfix model under a few different named models (usually with a slight difference of lens or some small add on of some sort) but they are generaly considered variants of the Rolfix

they even made a cheap variant of the Rolfix (the same as this pre war year and basic model rolfix) after the war that is called a Bolfix or something like that (i will have to look it up to get the exact name, i remember it starts with a B because it reminds me of Bollywood to Hollywood). this may well be that model because I notice the black bracing strut on the bottom instead of chrome or nickle, which would be in line with the cheaper made camera...the lens and shutter info will help determine whether it is the later cheaper produced Rolfix with the name that starts with a B.....bolifix or something like that

That's it! It's a Franka Bollix! Are you perhaps thinking of the Bonafix? To tell the truth, I have seen a few Frankas that would qualify for the name Bollix. I think you're somehow combining Bonafix and Rollfix though. http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m221/subsilla/2007_2/bonafix.jpg It looks a lot like it, and that is probably the body, but Bonafixes almost invariably had Vario shutters. Very occasionally, you see one with something called a "Singlo" shutter. His has some no-name shutter. It might be aftermarket, but it is hard to imagine why anyone would trade down.

 

[chippy]

That's it! It's a Franka Bollix! Are you perhaps thinking of the Bonafix? To tell the truth, I have seen a few Frankas that would qualify for the name Bollix. I think you're somehow combining Bonafix and Rollfix though. http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m221/subsilla/2007_2/bonafix.jpg It looks a lot like it, and that is probably the body, but Bonafixes almost invariably had Vario shutters. Very occasionally, you see one with something called a "Singlo" shutter. His has some no-name shutter. It might be aftermarket, but it is hard to imagine why anyone would trade down.

yeah thats it, Bonafix, i knew it sounded something like that, the Bonafix was also sold by the name Rolfix Junior. Really it could be found with a few different shutters, sometimes it had the Prontor shutter as well, it wouldn't suprise me at all if it had a no name shutter. it was a budget camera and often sold to distubters and made to a price and specification to suit them. really need a pic of the lens/shutter, if its a bonafix its a very early model or one of the cheapest versions made (it still has the old film wind knob ect)

 

[FallisPhoto]

yeah thats it, Bonafix, i knew it sounded something like that, the Bonafix was also sold by the name Rolfix Junior. Really it could be found with a few different shutters, sometimes it had the Prontor shutter as well, it wouldn't suprise me at all if it had a no name shutter. it was a budget camera and often sold to distubters and made to a price and specification to suit them. really need a pic of the lens/shutter, if its a bonafix its a very early model or one of the cheapest versions made (it still has the old film wind knob ect)

Well, you're the guy with all the old catalogues. I've only ever seen them with Varios though. I've seen a photo of one with a Singlo, but I've never seen one with anything else.