Another "What is this camera?"

[jeffreythree]

I searched high and low but came up with nothing on this camera, and odd stuff always catches my interest. It is not here yet, but for $30 it would even look nice on the shelf. The details are: a 25, 50, 100, B, T shutter marked Velio, but not the Zeiss one that comes up in searches(looks older); a lens marked Anastigmat "VELOSTIGMAT" 1:4.5 F=10.5cm, but Wollensak turns up for most of the velostigmat lens searches; and the ground glass back has the only makers name with a very faint ICA over a large star. I couldn't find anything about a plate camera by ICA with this shutter and lens with searches and looking through some catalogs I found posted online. Seller listed it as an unknown maker 2x3 format plate camera, but figured it was just a European 6x9 plate camera with an oddball lens and shutter. My hope is that I could actually use it eventually. Any help on what it is would be appreciated, and hopefully my picture is actually attached(first time attaching here).

 

[summicron1]

looks exactly like one i used to have that i never knew what it was either -- if the back says Ica then that's what it is -- as to not fiding a reference for this particular lens/shutter combination -- that's very common. Zeiss Ikon (which was formed from zeiss and Ica and a cupla others) had dozens, scores of combinations of lenses and shutters, too many to show in standard reference books now because there were so many and the value is all pretty much the same.

 

[AgX]

I could neither find any ICA camera with that lens or shutter in a most extensive listing.

It may be a case of rebranding or exchange of shutter/lens combo.

 

[Ian Grant]

Looks like a Franka camera, they used a Velostigmat lens which is essentially a Tessar copy and also the AGC Velio shutter which is similar to the same company's Vario shutter, although it may be self cocking like the Ibsor.

It's quite possible the back isn't original.

Ian

 

[Andy38]

Hello,

You may be right, Ian ; on the McKeown's guide (the book for camera collector), it's written about Franka :
"Most Franka plate cameras are unmarked , but many have "Franka" lenses : ... and Velostigmat (not to be confused with the Velostigmat by Wollensack)" ; and there are pictures of plate folding cameras with the particular radial focusing.

But if it was made by an independent maker, like a lot of these old cameras in Europe, it is difficult and often impossible to identify...

 

[Ian Grant]

Just to confirm it's a Franka Klappkamera, a 9x12 version has a similar focus scale and lever focus on the left looking from the font and similar focus track etc.

Some people assume the Velostigmat lens is made by Wollensack, how correct that assumption is I don't know. Personally I doubt the lenses were imported, that would be highly unusual as Germany lead the world in lens manufacture when the camera was made.

Ian

 

[jeffreythree]

Thanks for the help everyone. I guess the next step will be to figure out holders once it is here.

 

[Ian Grant]

Look for a Rollex or Radaa roll film back. Be aware though that there are various different edge types so you'll need to be careful to get the right one.

I've probably got Plate holders that will fit but then you need film adapters and 6.5x9 film is expensive.

Ian

 

[jeffreythree]

Well, it made it here. I had to do a little repair in the shutter. One leaf of the aperture(?) did not follow the proper track at larger aperture settings, and a slight straightening of the guide kept it going where it was supposed to instead of the pin heading under the guide. There really is no other markings other than a big 14 on the inside of the ground grass holder. I guess I will need to do some research on what holder and adapter style fits on the back. I am assuming an ICA 721/3 or 726/3 holder would fit since the ground glass holder is ICA and fits.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG

Enjoy your camera.