Can anyone provide information on WOP camera?

[vickersdc]

Hello there,

For a number of years I've had a 120 6x9 folding camera that I've not been able to find anything about... and I wondered if anyone here could point me in the right direction please?

Here's the camera...

It has "W.O.P' embossed on the outer case (you can just make it out near the top of the photo), and is fitted with a Prontor II shutter, which itself is fitted with a Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar 10.5cm f4.5 lens.

On the shutter casing is a small emblem with the letters AGC in it (perhaps something to do with the diaphragm?) and also the information "Gauthier GmbH Calmbach".

Any information gratefully received. Thank you in advance...

David.
PS: I'm now using this camera as my daily shooter

 

[Q.G.]

On the shutter casing is a small emblem with the letters AGC in it (perhaps something to do with the diaphragm?) and also the information "Gauthier GmbH Calmbach".

Alfred Gauthier in Calmbach (AGC) is the maker of the Prontor shutter.
Prontor shutters (and Compur shutters, made by that other Zeiss company "Deckel") were used on many different cameras made by many different manufacturers.

Can you post a closer look of the embossed letters?

 

[Ian Grant]

One problem with pre-War cameras is that some were often re-badged for distributors, Zodel was Wallace & Heatons brand, Sallex - City Sales & Exchange, Wellex - Westminster Photographic Exchange, and that's just the tip of the iceberg, each name embossed lust like yours.

Not sure what date the Prontor name came into use, after Compur switched to Rinset rather than Dial-set though, so after 1929 and the adoption of standard shutter sizes, but the Rodenstock lenses are fitted in either Compur's or prontor's and the even cheaper shutters that AGC made like the Vario,

Ian

 

[Q.G.]

Don't confuse Prontor with Compur, Gauthier (maker of Prontor shutters) with Deckel (maker of Compur shutters).
Gauthier and Deckel were and remained two separate companies, making different products. When Deckel changed what to what had no bearing on when Gauthier did whatever they did.
Deckel closed shop in the early 1980s. Gauthier is still in business, still making Prontor shutters (among other things).


Prontor shutters were first made in 1935.

 

[vickersdc]

Might be a couple of days before I can get that shot, but I will try. Thanks for the info so far.

At least I know that it was made after 1935, which is more than I did this morning

David.

 

[Ian Grant]

Deckel/Compur changed to the standard modern shutter sizes after 1929 with the rimset Compur shutters, AGC followed their example with the Prontor's, if they hadn't then many companies would have just stopped using ACG's.

Ian