Dating a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521

[Hilo]

Hello, first post here.

I just bought a Ikonta 521 4.5X6 camera, with an Opton-Tessar 75/3.5 and a Synchro-Compur shutter. On the back it says Made in Germany - Stuttgart, the serial nr of the camera is W 49221 and the lens nr is993872

Would anyone have an idea when this camera was made?

I never realised how small these are, it fits inside a "not so big" front pocket of my coat !

 

[thuggins]

I've got a Nettar 515 which has a definite pre-war appearance. But there was apparently never a requirement to distinguish between West German and Germany on the origin stamp (unlike "Made in Occupied Japan" which is very useful in dating cameras).

The Nettar is also amazingly small. It is no bigger than a Kodak Retina 35mm folder.