What is this camera

[David Murphy]

What camera is this?

The HPR book implies it's a Tower 35, which is supposed to be the same as the Nicca 3-F Lever Wind. The Sears 1959 Catalog suggests it is not a Tower 35, since the Tower 35 has a hinged back.

Does this camera have a known name? Are there any scans of printed documentation (manual, ads, etc?).

I have reviewed my impressions of it on my blog, but I need correct terminology!

 

[Brian Legge]

How about this:

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/iannorris/leica_copies/leica_copies_t/tower48.htm

 

[David Murphy]

Brian by Jove I think you've got it right! I was aware of the above fine Web site, but in most instances the HPR book was more informative. Norris apparently even notes its absence from HPR! I'm delighted, although I still need a manual.

 

[john341]

Tower??

Tower??

I have one such body..speeds to 1/500 ? Bottom loader and with sweet lever advance - and the shutter is so quiet! I love using this camera. When you find out what it really is, I would love to know. Mine has a serial nr. 50628 and simply states "Tower" on the top deck.

 

[ferider]

I've seen the 3-F with and without hinged back on ebay, Dave.

 

[David Murphy]

Hmm well this mystery deepens!

 

[johannielscom]

At one time I had a hinged-back Tower 45 or 46 with a Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5 that I had bought from Germany through eBay. Sold the body on for a respectable price and the lens at a loss while nowadays I'm sure it was a real one and not a Jupiter-3 faked into a Zeiss.

Man, was I ignorant four years back. Ended up here shortly after and have made less stupid moves since then...