Let's see your vintage Contax

Socrates' Contax serial number

Socrates' Contax serial number

Socrates,

What is the serial number of the Contax body and where is it marked? The reason I ask is some late war time Contaxes were possibly factory sync'ed.

Bill
 
Hello,

I have a Contax-II with an identical flash-synch contact. Mine's serial no. is "K. 60563" and the accessory shoe is also engraved with "Made in Germany"; its collapsible Sonnar 50/2 bears the serial no. 2586942. Curiously, its everready case is made of synthetic material, instead of leather (wartime shortage?) and it's now very fragile. The camera itself, after a recent, general overhaul, is perfectly working.

Best wishes,

E.L.
 
Elmar,

Thank you for your information. My Contax II serial number O.65106 also has the same flash connection. By chance, do you have the original instruction book for yours and if so does it show the flash sync?

Bill Jones
 
Contax II flash sync?

Contax II flash sync?

Hi S.H. and Greyelm,

Yes it's a very late one. In the last 400 built by Zeiss Ikon according to Kuc's serial number notes. If the sync was factory installed I was guessing that it would be mentioned in a late instruction book or an insert with the camera. So I was looking for wartime instructions for the Contax II or III. The instruction manual on the Butkus site is from around 1938. It's very good if one wants to learn how to use the camera, but too early to help identifing the existence of factory installed syncing.

I believe Elmar's camera has been in his family since it was new. That's why I asked about the instructions.

Thank you both for your replies.

Bill Jones
 
Last edited:
Hello,

excuse me if I'm replying so late.

My flash-synchro Contax-II is not the one belonged to my grandfather, but one purchased from the heirs of a late Army officer. From what I've been told, he had it during WW2.

I've also read on Kuc's "Auf den Spuren der Contax" that it is known of Contaxes with synchro flash contact.

Best wishes,

E.L.
 
My Contax II from 1938 and Opton Sonnar. This combo is a dream!

Nik
7363808574_3e86dc1b16_b.jpg
 
Bill Jones said:
Socrates,

What is the serial number of the Contax body and where is it marked? The reason I ask is some late war time Contaxes were possibly factory sync'ed.

Bill
Click to expand...

The SN is on the inside of the camera ( On the back and and under the shutter curtain "box" if I am right) and at the moment there's some film in it so some patient is needed:angel:
 
Contaxes are a real "Mechanical Rhapsody" with all sorts of buttons, dials, and funky looking protruding bits. I think this late model Contax 1 is the prettiest camera I own. Everything works extremely well. The added PC terminal is installed very neatly, and provides a reliable X sync at 1/25.

LateContax1.jpg


Cheers,
Dez
 
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