Help requested for Bertram View Camera

Maxwell · Jul 12, 2014

Hi everyone, a friend is reconditioning a Bertram View Camera and would like to know what the A - Z lever is on the left side of the front (when behind the camera). I've done a web search and found limited info on the Bertram View - so any help someone could give would be most appreciated. On another site a member suggested that A = "auf" = open Z = "zu" = closed - which we'd thought of but the lever doesn't open the shutter nor does it seem connected to it.

The lever I refer to is shown at Dead Link Removed
which has this image (please click on it to enlarge)

Kawaiithulhu · Jul 12, 2014

PS: I'm the same person as from Auf/Zu guess and I love a mystery Apparently they only made about 2,000 of those and they look to be quite sophisticated.
I did find an advertisement, posted here for your enjoyment.

Also, check this out: http://www.oldtimercameras.com/stock/Model.asp?Model=14001&ModelPage=true

(Printed Instruction Manual (Reprint) Bertram/Bewi Bertram (65 x 90 mm = 2 1/4 x 3 1/2" (Text: German only))

John Koehrer · Jul 12, 2014

Does it allow anything to be installed or removed? Bellows, lens board, other stuff? Leica uses Auf/Zu on the bottom loaders.

Kawaiithulhu · Jul 12, 2014

John Koehrer said:
Does it allow anything to be installed or removed? Bellows, lens board, other stuff? Leica uses Auf/Zu on the bottom loaders.

Maybe the lens itself, a good guess.

Maxwell · Jul 12, 2014

Thank you both - it doesn't seem to release anything so far - but is connected to 2 cams, one on either side of the front standard. Perhaps something key is missing from the copy my friend is working on.
David

Kawaiithulhu · Jul 12, 2014

Let us know what the manual says, if that link I gave has one available. I can create an infinite series of probabilities on what's going on but that won't be helping anyone

AgX · Jul 12, 2014

"Auf - ZU" would be my guess.

As the camera has a groundglass, it would be useful to have a device to open and close the shutter for viewing (as alternative to the "B"- or "T"-setting, clumsy for this use).

So I assume this to be a (broken) "Sektorenöffner" (segments opener).

Maxwell · Jul 13, 2014

Thank you both - it is possible that something is broken but as my friend has it disassembled it doesn't look like it. I'll tell him about the instruction manual (thank you for that link - I searched but had less success than you)

Help requested for Bertram View Camera

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