Zeiss Ikon 520/16 - modified?

Agulliver · Jul 4, 2016

I learned the basics of photography in the 70s on my dad's already vintage Zeiss Ikon 520/16

It hasn't seen frequent use since 1979/80 but I retain it and do use it occasionally. It's never needed any sort of repair, seems a wonderful piece of engineering.

Anyway I recall my dad mentioning that he'd modified it circa 1960 when he bought it. I can see that he's added the cold shoe, to which the pop up viewfinder is now fixed. There's also a crosshair viewfinder which can be slotted in it's place, which I think he made. Is the flash sync socket on the side if the shutter a modification too? Or were some sold with this fitted by the factory?

I can't ask my dad, he passed away in 2008.

Peltigera · Jul 4, 2016

I believe the flash sync is a modification. The Ikonta B was made 1937/8 and PC flash sockets were introduced in the 1950s.

Agulliver · Jul 5, 2016

Many thanks, that is what I thought but I wasn't sure. I know my dad also built a plate camera which has synch-flash and he built has own flash unit circa 1958. It would figure that he'd mod his "pocket" camera to work with the same system.

AgX · Jul 5, 2016

It took a me a very long time in the listings to find your camera... Several manufacturers, with hundreds of cameras, with similar designations...
You'd better use the complete designation:

Zeiss Ikon Dresden, Ikonta B 520/16

it is from 1937

That camera was offered with 3 shutters: Compur / Klio / Telma

The one in question is the Compur (model from 1932).

EDIT: rather "a" Compur.

Peltigera said:
I believe the flash sync is a modification. The Ikonta B was made 1937/8 and PC flash sockets were introduced in the 1950s.

Not quite true. It was as early as 1938 (Prontor).

But the Compur series got synchronized in 1951.

AgX · Jul 5, 2016

Question remains: shutter exchanged or modified?

I'd say, modified.

R.Gould · Jul 5, 2016

I have and use the several Ikonta B's from the 1940's to early fifties with Compur and Prontor shutters, and they all have the flash sync sockett on the side of the lens, they are all set to X sync for electronic flash and as fasr as I know none have been modified, the came with the sync socket,They work well and the Nova lens, when stopped down is very good indeed
Richard

AgX · Jul 5, 2016

Interesting. I guess we assumed that model not to be made beyond the war.

Anyway, too much camera models around...

Agulliver · Jul 5, 2016

It is possible that dad fitted a different shutter. Or that me modified the original to have a flash sync socket. He was an excellent mechanical engineer working on anything from designing aircraft to lifeboats and small mechanisms.

I believe he bought the camera used around 1960 and modified it to work with the flash system he'd already hand made for his plate camera. I know he told me many years ago that he modified the camera in order to work with the flash.

Come to think of it, he might have mentioned adding more shutter speeds. Were the cheaper Klio shutters made with fewer speeds?

Dan Daniel · Jul 5, 2016

The location of the flash sync on a Compur is the same as the location of the cable release block. You can unscrew the cable release block and install a flash sync block. I've had in the shop tow such shutters exaclty the same except for this spot. Looks like this is what your father did, or had done. I assume that the flash sync block was made by Compur and simply sold separately for such changes. But maybe the block was made by someone else for retrofit, or made by your father.

Zeiss Ikon 520/16 - modified?

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