ATTN Bessa (6x9 folder) owners

[cdholden]

I recently picked up a Bessa II from the evil auction site. I noticed that distance on the rangefinder scale is measured in feet. I seem to recall my Bessa I from a few years ago being measured in meters. This got me to thinking. Voigtlander documentation has been spotty at best, in my search for production notes and hardware details. Does anyone know where there were produced? I would think a measurement in feet would be an American made product. Any input is welcome. Thanks in advance.
Chris

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

They had authorized service in New York (my own Bessa II, which I've sold, had a sticker inside from Voigtlander New York), and I've seen an advertisement for the Bessas from Willoughby's Camera in New York, so they had a US market, but I believe they were still manufactured in Germany.

 

[edz]

I recently picked up a Bessa II from the evil auction site. I noticed that distance on the rangefinder scale is measured in feet.

They (as well as most German camera makers) made much of their cameras in metric and imperial versions. The imperial (feet) were intended for the American, British and parts of the Commonwealth markets. Even today MINOX, for instance, offers Imperial and Metric versions of their cameras and accessories. U.S. Americans even today can't work with metric... And while Britain is now a metric country (officially since 1994/95) its still very much an Imperial market...

To my knowledge all Voigtlaender cameras prior to 1972 were produced in Germany. When Zeiss sold the company and brand to Rollei production moved abroad, mainly to Singapore, but continued as a unique series untill Rollei went belly-up and the brand (but nothing else) got sold to Plusphoto--- which sold it a few years ago to Ringphoto.
My Vito B (from 1955 or 1956), btw., is an Imperial model.

 

[cdholden]

Do you know of any site that is specific to Voigtlander? I've yet to find one. I'd like to see some reference site, even if unofficial. I wouldn't even mind starting one if there isn't. Like I said, all my Voigtlander info to date has been spotty, at best. A central location would be nice to find info on history, hardware specs, etc. It seems like there's one for everything else. I've got a lens I've been unable to find any info on: Technika badged Voigtlander Heliar 210/4.5. I know what a Heliar is, but I've not found anything specific to the Technika badged version of it.

Some Americans can work in metric. I'm one of them, but I find I'm one of the few when putting others to the test. If it wasn't for my hobbies, I'd probably be one of them too. 12" = 300mm. Yay for lens knowledge. Scuba diving taught me how to cope with air pressure, depth and temperature. My first console was all metric (some Euro model by Cressisub). It was hard at first, but once you realize that red is still red and you're almost out of air, the rest is easy!
Chris

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Do you know of any site that is specific to Voigtlander? I've yet to find one. I'd like to see some reference site, even if unofficial. I wouldn't even mind starting one if there isn't. Like I said, all my Voigtlander info to date has been spotty, at best. A central location would be nice to find info on history, hardware specs, etc. It seems like there's one for everything else. I've got a lens I've been unable to find any info on: Technika badged Voigtlander Heliar 210/4.5. I know what a Heliar is, but I've not found anything specific to the Technika badged version of it.

Some Americans can work in metric. I'm one of them, but I find I'm one of the few when putting others to the test. If it wasn't for my hobbies, I'd probably be one of them too. 12" = 300mm. Yay for lens knowledge. Scuba diving taught me how to cope with air pressure, depth and temperature. My first console was all metric (some Euro model by Cressisub). It was hard at first, but once you realize that red is still red and you're almost out of air, the rest is easy!
Chris

Most Americans I know (myself included) are comfortable and fully conversant with the MKS system.

My Voightlander Bessa II (with Color Skopar) has a metric distance scale.

I have a Technika badged Voigtlander Heliar 150/4.5 in Compur shutter that I bought new (in the early 1970's) from one of the New York camera stores. The Technika badged lenses were presumably tested and accepted by Linhof. In any case, my Technika/Heliar is a fine lens.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Linhof badged lenses are just lenses that have been tested and approved by Linhof. At one time this was more important than it is today when quality control wasn't as refined at the major manufacturers, but you can still get Linhof tested and engraved lenses (at about 3x the typical retail price from what I've read).