Rolleiflex - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Rolleiflex

1928

Original model

Franke & Heidecke

Braunschweig

Germany

Image of Rolleiflex Original model

Lens:
f3.8, 7.5 cm Tessar. Iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 998564 (1929).

Viewing lens: f3.1, 7.5cm Heidoscop Anastigmat. Serial no. 38292 .

Shutter:
Rim-set Compur, speeds 1 - 1/300, B, T.

Construction:
Leather covered metal body.

Format:
6, 6 x 6 cm exposures on B1 (117) roll-film.

Focusing:
To 4 feet.

Attributes:
Reflex viewing through second lens. Full-size ground glass focusing screen without condenser or cross hairs. Focusing magnifier. Mirror in hood for eye-level viewing. Spirit level in lower right corner of screen.
Film advance indicated by red window, not coupled to shutter.

Identification:
Removable back without hinge. Index line in red window. Leather wind-on knob. No cable release holder on camera front. Attached plate strap retainers. High/low strap retainers. Metal rim to back. Aluminium pressure plate. No calibration to focusing knob.

Serial Number:
37745 , Internal body number: 7027.

With:
Lens caps. Case, upright box type marked Rolleiflex.

Rolleiflex

1928

Original model

Franke & Heidecke

Braunschweig

Germany

Image of Rolleiflex Original model

Lens:
f3.8, 7.5 cm Tessar. Iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 1052890 (1929).

Viewing lens: f3.1, 7.5cm Heidoscop Anastigmat. Serial no. 48502 .

Shutter:
Rim-set Compur, speeds 1 - 1/300, B, T.

Construction:
Leather covered metal body.

Format:
6, 6 x 6 cm exposures on B1 (117) roll-film.

Focusing:
To 4 feet.

Attributes:
Reflex viewing through second lens. Full-size ground glass focusing screen without condenser or cross hairs. Focusing magnifier. Mirror in hood for eye-level viewing.
Film advance indicated by red window, not coupled to shutter.

Identification:
Removable back without hinge. Index line in red window. Leather wind-on knob. No cable release holder on camera front. Attached plate strap retainers. High/low strap retainers. Metal rim to back. Aluminium pressure plate. No calibration to focusing knob.

Serial Number:
44879 , Internal body number: 12027.

Notes:
The camera had been fitted with a sliding cover to the red window.

With:
Camera strap. Case, upright box type marked Rolleiflex.

Rolleiflex

1928

Original model

Franke & Heidecke

Braunschweig

Germany

Image of Rolleiflex Original model

Lens:
f3.8, 7.5 cm Tessar. Iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 1103331 (1930).

Viewing lens: f3.1, 7.5 cm Heidoscop Anastigmat. Internal viewing lens number: 16339. Serial no. 61732 .

Shutter:
Rim-set Compur, speeds 1 - 1/300, B, T. Serial no. 2135342.

Construction:
Leather covered metal body.

Format:
6, 6 x 6 cm exposures on B1 (117) roll-film.

Focusing:
To 4 feet.

Attributes:
Reflex viewing through second lens. Full-size ground glass focusing screen without condenser or cross hairs. Focusing magnifier. Mirror in hood for eye-level viewing. Spirit level in lower right corner of screen.
Film advance indicated by red window, not coupled to shutter.

Identification:
Removable back without hinge. Index line in red window. Leather wind-on knob. Cable release holder on camera front. Attached plate strap retainers. High/low strap retainers.

Serial Number:
61757 , Internal body number: 016534.

Notes:
Date on mirror 22/7/30.

With:
Lens caps on cord. Cable release. Case, upright box type marked Rolleiflex, Neck strap.

Rolleiflex

1928

Original model

Franke & Heidecke

Braunschweig

Germany

Image of Rolleiflex Original model

Lens:
f4.5, 7.5 cm Tessar. Iris diaphragm to f32. Serial no. 1208062 (c. 1931).

Viewing lens: f3.1, 7.5 cm Heidoscop Anastigmat. Serial no. 73868 .

Shutter:
Rim-set Compur, speeds 1 - 1/300, B, T. Serial no. 2223251.

Construction:
Leather covered metal body.

Format:
6, 6 x 6 cm exposures on B1 (117) roll-film.

Focusing:
To 4 feet.

Attributes:
Reflex viewing through second lens. Full-size ground glass focusing screen without condenser or cross hairs. Focusing magnifier. Mirror in hood for eye-level viewing. Spirit level in lower right corner of screen.
Film advance indicated by red window, not coupled to shutter.

Identification:
Removable back with hinge. Index line in red window. Metal wind-on knob. Cable release holder on camera front. High strap retainers.

Serial Number:
76179 , Internal body number 020485.

Notes:
Date on mirror 22.10.30.

With:
Lens caps on string.

The Rolleiflex is the first of the modern twin-lens reflex (TLR) cameras. Several large wooden TLRs were produced in the 1890s and continued to be sold until the late 1910s. In contrast the Rolleiflex was a small metal camera which proved very popular with many similar cameras being produced by Franke & Heidecke and other makers. The general construction and many parts of the camera are similar to the earlier Rolleidoscop stereoscopic camera by F&H.

The Original model was produced in two versions, having either an f4.5 or f3.8 lens. The price with an f3.8 lens was £18.15.0.

Variations

There are several minor variations of the original model:

  • Film roller guide near film spool (not present on very early models).
  • Leather carried around edge of the camera back (very early) later backs have a painted metal rim.
  • Cast strap retainers (very early), or an attached plate, or incorporated into back retaining spring (very late).
  • Black pressure plate (very early), later aluminium finish.
  • With or without index line across red window.
  • Focusing knob without calibration (early).
  • Leather insert in focusing knob (early), metal insert (late).
  • Cable release holder on front panel (late).
  • 'High and Low' positions for strap lugs (early). Both high (late).
  • Hinged back (late).

The Original was designed to take 117 film, when this became obsolete and many cameras were converted to take 620 spools.

References & Notes:
BJA 1930. pp. 338, 666. BJA 1931, p. 621. AP 21/8/1929, pp. 23, xi. Lothrop, Century, p. 139. Pearlman, Rollei Manual, 3rd ed. p. 16.

Further Information:
Photographica World 154 has a very good article on the Original Rolleiflex by José Paula.

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