... cord?

[BobD]

Does anyone know the origin of camera names ending with "_cord" suffix used on many TLRs? Like Autocord, Diacord, Microcord, and others. Is it just something meaningless that Rollei made up for the Rolleicord and others copied? Or, does "cord" have some meaning?

 

[AgX]

I wondered about that too... My best guess is that it was derived from Rekord (record), which of course as designation does not make more sense, but at least is a term not unknown in the photo industry...

 

[JPD]

Some of the naming suggestions in for the new camera in 1933 were: Nakaflex (Nahkampfflex), Rollrubin, Halloflex, Rollheil, Hellsah-flex, Heidex and Duoskop. Then Rolleikord, "Rollei" and "Rekord" as a nod to the technical and business achievements of Franke & Heidecke. It was then changed to Rolleicord with a c. In advertisements the Rolleicord was called "Der Photo-Record" and "Die Volkskamera im besten Sinne des Wortes" (The people's camera in the best sense of the word).

 

[Vaughn]

I owned a Honda Accord...

 

[jim10219]

Some of the naming suggestions in for the new camera in 1933 were: Nakaflex (Nahkampfflex), Rollrubin, Halloflex, Rollheil, Hellsah-flex, Heidex and Duoskop. Then Rolleikord, "Rollei" and "Rekord" as a nod to the technical and business achievements of Franke & Heidecke. It was then changed to Rolleicord with a c. In advertisements the Rolleicord was called "Der Photo-Record" and "Die Volkskamera im besten Sinne des Wortes" (The people's camera in the best sense of the word).

Volkskamera was a missed opportunity. Just like watercycle was for jetski.

 

[macfred]

Hey, I'm wearing a pair of cord trousers ...

 

[Dan Daniel]

Hey, I'm wearing a pair of cord trousers ...

dare I....

"Now I've heard there was a secret 'cord That David played and it pleased the Lord But you don't really care for music do ya....."

 

[AgX]

Some of the naming suggestions in for the new camera in 1933 were: Nakaflex (Nahkampfflex)

That makes no sense to me at all. One does not fight a war with a camera. I mean, Germany hardly had an army at all in 1933, and war propaganda photography on german side was not yet invented.
Moreover, in 1933 german people had other things on mind than fighting a war.

 

[macfred]

..."Now I've heard there was a secret 'cord That David played and it pleased the Lord But you don't really care for music do ya....."

 

[JBrunner]

So far I have avoided having a record.

 

[JPD]

Volkskamera was a missed opportunity. Just like watercycle was for jetski.

But "Volkskamera" sounds perhaps too affordable. Many professionals had one or two Rolleicords as extra cameras.

 

[AgX]

Yes, a Volkskamera at that time (and later) for sure would not have been a TLR.

But aside of that, such term would not have been bad at all. Especially with the Volksempfänger (People's Radio) just having been introduced in 1933.

 

[JPD]

That makes no sense to me at all. One does not fight a war with a camera. I mean, Germany hardly had an army at all in 1933, and war propaganda photography on german side was not yet invented.
Moreover, in 1933 german people had other things on mind than fighting a war.

Nakaflex, "Nahkampfflex" (Close-combat-flex) had SA and their street fights in mind, and the camera also had a Swastika (Hakenkreuz) on the name shield. Luckily, the F&H management didn't want a political name or design.

Franke & Heidecke was declared an NS Musterbetrieb in 1933 (National Socialist Model Company). It doesn't sound good today, but thankfully the designation only meant good work conditions.

 

[JPD]

Yes, a Volkskamera at that time (and later) for sure would not have been a TLR.

But aside of that, such term would not have been bad at all. Especially with the Volksempfänger (People's Radio) just having been introduced in 1933.

True, it's a good name. But I think a box camera like the Box Tengor, and later the Baldur/Erabox, were more affordable and had good achromat lenses. Better than most of the later Instamatic cameras by Kodak that almost everyone had.

 

[AgX]

Nakaflex, "Nahkampfflex" (Close-combat-flex) had SA and their street fights in mind, and the camera also had a Swastika (Hakenkreuz) on the name shield.

Even with the SA in mind I still find that designation not apt as it is a military term and to my understanding was not used even by fighting SA men. I shall try to check that term.

But yes, cameras for political groups (in the widest sense) were a interesting market. As various box cameras for german and italian youth organsations showed. (Kind of european Brownies). And though not making cameras for such groups, Kodak emphazised that their cameras were true german...

 

[JPD]

But yes, cameras for political groups (in the widest sense) were a interesting market. As various box cameras for german and italian youth organsations showed. (Kind of european Brownies). And though not making cameras for such groups, Kodak emphazised that their cameras were true german...

It deserves it's own discussion thread as it is an interesting topic. Those cameras would be fun to collect. The Agfa Schulprämie box camera from 1932, and the Zeiss Ikon Baldur (named after Reichsjugendführer Baldur von Schirach). A list of these "special" cameras would be fun for collectors.

 

[etn]

I owned a Honda Accord...

Me, an Opel Rekord

 

[Arklatexian]

I owned a Honda Accord...

Must add to this silliness. I have been known to carry my Rolleicord with me while driving our Honda Accord. Both performed extremely well except when this "driver and photographer" screwed-up. Does this qualify as silly enough?............Regards!

 

[Arklatexian]

I owned a Honda Accord...

Must add to this silliness. I have been known to carry my Rolleicord with me while driving our Honda Accord. Both performed extremely well except when this "driver and photographer" screwed-up. Does this qualify as silly enough?............Regards!

 

[Vaughn]

It deserves it's own discussion thread as it is an interesting topic. Those cameras would be fun to collect. The Agfa Schulprämie box camera from 1932, and the Zeiss Ikon Baldur (named after Reichsjugendführer Baldur von Schirach). A list of these "special" cameras would be fun for collectors.

I've hauled my 'cord in the Accord many times. My favorite oldie I have is the Spartaflex (non-working). If I ever made a meme (I have maybe 25 years left in my life to avoid making one) it would be of the King of Sparta holding the camera out and yelling "THIS...IS...SPARTAFLEX!"

 

[GRHazelton]

It deserves it's own discussion thread as it is an interesting topic. Those cameras would be fun to collect. The Agfa Schulprämie box camera from 1932, and the Zeiss Ikon Baldur (named after Reichsjugendführer Baldur von Schirach). A list of these "special" cameras would be fun for collectors.

For a better source for Baldur, Baldur the Beautiful was an ancient Norse god or demigod. See this: https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/the-aesir-gods-and-goddesses/baldur/

 

[JPD]

For a better source for Baldur, Baldur the Beautiful was an ancient Norse god or demigod. See this: https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/the-aesir-gods-and-goddesses/baldur/

Mythological names were popular in the 1890's - 1910's for both people and products, so you are most probably correct that Odin's and Frigg's son Baldur/Balder is the ur-source for that name. From mythology to von Schirach to the camera.

 

[eli griggs]

That makes no sense to me at all. One does not fight a war with a camera. I mean, Germany hardly had an army at all in 1933, and war propaganda photography on german side was not yet invented.
Moreover, in 1933 german people had other things on mind than fighting a war.

In 1933 , The year of Hitler's ascension, there were paramilitary "Clubs"/groups all over Germany, trained in small arms, etc, so as no to violate the terms of the soul killing Treaty of Versailles, and two million NAZi Brown Shirts, alone.

To be sure, their unofficial militarized activist, had plenty of photographs taken, as their propaganda to the German People churned out new material, night and day.

And, like Rome, German NAZIs made records of Everything!

IMO.

 

[Dan Daniel]

To be sure, their unofficial militarized activist, had plenty of photographs taken, as their propaganda to the German People churned out new material, night and day.

And, like Rome, German NAZIs made records of Everything!

Imagine if they had Instagram and smartphones!

Between Facebook, Instagram, twitter, google, and Amazon, I'd say we are putting any past culture in the dust for the amount of records and recording being done.

Which reminds me, the word RECORD- etymology Verb- Middle English, literally, to recall, from Anglo-French recorder, from Latin recordari, from re- + cord-, cor heart — more at heart

Does 'cor' or 'cord' as related to heart and/or record have any resonance in German?

 

[AgX]

Nakaflex, "Nahkampfflex" (Close-combat-flex) had SA and their street fights in mind,..

That term makes no sense, as it only would if there would be the choice between distant- and close-combat, which may be in war, but not in civil life.

In 1933 , The year of Hitler's ascension, there were paramilitary "Clubs"/groups all over Germany, trained in small arms, etc, so as no to violate the terms of the soul killing Treaty of Versailles, and two million NAZi Brown Shirts, alone.

Your statement provokes the idea that Germamy in 1933 was filled with militias, which is not true. And your figure for the SA is way off too. The number only grew vastly after the Nazi party having won the elections and come to power, and the times of street-fighting were over.


If anyone has proof of the spread use of Nahkampf at the SA or the term Nahkampfflex considered as trade name, please let me know by PM.

 

[eli griggs]

"Your statement provokes the idea that Germamy in 1933 was filled with militias, which is not true. And your figure for the SA is way off too. The number only grew vastly after the Nazi party having won the elections and come to power, and the times of street-fighting were over."

A quick Google search, "How many nazi brown shirt members were there in 1933?", brings this up, from "Encyclopedia Britannica",

"Under Röhm SA membership, swelled from the ranks of the Great Depression’s unemployed, grew to 400,000 by 1932 and to perhaps 2,000,000—20 times the size of the regular army—by the time that Hitler came to power in 1933.."

There were other fractions as well, but the Communist Party represented to the NAZis, the #1 domestic enemy that had to be overcome, and Hitler, et al, did no let their response gather moss.

All of this history is well reCORDED, and you have but look to find any aspect of that period.

I wonder if Leica miniature film cameras were ever referred to or advertised as a 'cord'?