Difference between revisions of "Balda"

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'''Balda''' was a German maker based in Dresden. It was founded in 1908 and took the name '''Balda-Werk Max Baldeweg''' in 1913.<REF> See [http://www.dresdner-kameras.de/firmengeschichte/firmen/firmen.html this page at dresdner-kameras.de]. </REF> It made a quantity of medium-priced [[folding|folders]] before World War II, and its camera production was quite comparable to [[Welta]] or [[Certo]], though Baldas as a rule sold for lower prices than either of those cameras. One originality of Balda was to sell cameras to many other companies for resale under their own brand (today this would be called OEM). Perhaps as part of this strategy, Balda cameras were fitted with a very wide range lenses, from the low cost self-branded triplets through [[Meyer|Meyers]] and [[Ludwig|Ludwigs]], to the high end [[Schneider]] Xenars and Xenons, and [[Carl Zeiss|Zeiss]] Tessars and Biotars.  
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{{Dresden}}
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{{RightTOC}}
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'''Balda''' was a German camera maker based in Laubegast, near Dresden, founded in 1908 by '''Max Baldeweg''' and started by manufacturing shutters, film-pack holders and self-timers. The factory was renamed as '''Balda-Werk Max Baldeweg''' in 1913<REF> See [http://www.dresdner-kameras.de/firmengeschichte/firmen/firmen.html this page at dresdner-kameras.de]. </REF>.
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 +
Balda made a quantity of medium-priced [[folding|folders]] before World War II, and its camera production was quite comparable to [[Welta]] or [[Certo]], though Baldas as a rule sold for lower prices than either of those cameras.
 +
 
 +
One originality of Balda was to sell cameras to many other companies for resale under their own brand (today this would be called OEM). Perhaps as part of this strategy, Balda cameras were fitted with a very wide range lenses, from the low cost self-branded triplets through [[Meyer|Meyers]] and [[Ludwig|Ludwigs]], to the high end [[Schneider]] Xenars and Xenons, and [[Carl Zeiss|Zeiss]] Tessars and Biotars.
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4798191845/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4075/4798191845_25a65378ae_n.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Baldinette in red leatherette
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|image_by= Dirk HR Spennemann
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|image_rights= with permission
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}}
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{{brl}}
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==History==
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After WWII, '''Balda''' was nationalized in East Germany in 1946, while its founder '''Max Baldeweg''' fled to West Germany to start '''Balda-Werk Bünde'''.
  
After the war, Balda was nationalized in East Germany in 1946, while its founder Max Baldeweg fled to West Germany to start Balda-Werk Bűnde. After trademark litigation similar to that involving the [[Carl Zeiss]] companies and [[Zeiss Ikon]] companies the name of the East German company was changed to '''Belca-Werk''' in 1951. It continued for some time to produce folders like the little [[35mm]] [[Belca Beltica|Beltica]], and was absorbed into VEB Kamera-Werke Niedersiedlitz in 1956<REF> See [http://www.dresdner-kameras.de/firmengeschichte/firmen/firmen.html this page at dresdner-kameras.de]. </REF>.
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The East German plant began to make own ''Ovus'' shutters which were no [[Compur]] clones but had all the functions of the West-German Compur shutter. The ''Cludor'' and ''Vebur'' shutters were derived from the ''Ovus''. In 1950 [[Zeiss Ikon]] took over the production of the shutters.
  
Max Baldeweg set up a new company called '''Balda''' (Balda Kamera-Werk), this time based in Bünde, West Germany. This company produced a series of 35mm and medium-format rollfilm cameras, some of them being sold by [[Porst]] under the Hapo brand. Balda later produced cameras in both [[126]] and [[110]] cartridge format.
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After trademark litigation similar to that involving the [[Carl Zeiss]] and [[Zeiss Ikon]] companies, the name of the East German company was changed to '''Belca-Werk''' in 1951. It continued for some time to produce [[folding|folders]] like the little [[35mm]] [[Belca Beltica|Beltica]], and was absorbed into [[KW|VEB Kamera-Werke Niedersedlitz]] in 1956<REF> See [http://www.dresdner-kameras.de/firmengeschichte/firmen/firmen.html the KW section at dresdner-kameras.de]. </REF>.
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In the West, Max Baldeweg set up a new company called '''Balda''' (Balda Kamera-Werk), this time based in Bünde, West Germany. This company produced a series of 35mm and medium-format rollfilm cameras, some of them being sold by [[Porst]] under the [[Hapo]] brand or by [[Foto-Quelle]] under the [[Revue]] brand.
 
<!-- The company discontinued camera production in the late 1970s. -->
 
<!-- The company discontinued camera production in the late 1970s. -->
 
<!-- Clearly it didn't; it made the C*35 series (aka Voigtlander Vito - Minox 35 clones) in the 1980s -->
 
<!-- Clearly it didn't; it made the C*35 series (aka Voigtlander Vito - Minox 35 clones) in the 1980s -->
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<!-- So, how about something like: -->
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In the 1970s, market was becoming more and more dominated by the Japanese cameras; Balda progresively discontinued production of their own cameras, which were reduced to compact cameras for [[126]] or [[110]] cartridge film, then mostly manufacturing cameras on commission from other companies<ref>Balda made the C*35 series (aka Voigtlander Vito - Minox 35 clones) in the 1980s.</ref>.
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Balda still exists today manufacturing plastic pieces, although production was outsourced to China and the old factory was sold in 2001.
  
 
== Balda Dresden, later Belca ==
 
== Balda Dresden, later Belca ==
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* [[Baldax]] (4.5×6, #0 or #00 shutter size)  
 
* [[Baldax]] (4.5×6, #0 or #00 shutter size)  
 
* [[Baldaxette|Baldaxette I]] (4.5×6, coupled rangefinder)
 
* [[Baldaxette|Baldaxette I]] (4.5×6, coupled rangefinder)
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* Pierette (4.5×6, "barn-door" front with struts)
  
 
==== 6×6cm, folding ====
 
==== 6×6cm, folding ====
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==== 6×9cm, folding ====
 
==== 6×9cm, folding ====
* Baldafix (6×9)
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* [[Baldafix]] (6×9)
* Juwella (6×9)
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* Fixfocus (6×9 and 4.5×6)
* Pontina (6×9 and 4.5×6), also sold as Hapo 10 and [[Hapo 45]]
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* [[Juwella]] (6×9)
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* [[Pontina]] (6×9 and 4.5×6), also sold as Hapo 10<ref>[http://westfordcomp.com/classics/hapo10/index.html Hapo 10]</ref> and [[Hapo 45]]
 
* [[Super Pontura]] (6×9, coupled rangefinder)
 
* [[Super Pontura]] (6×9, coupled rangefinder)
  
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* [[Balda Box]] (6×9)
 
* [[Balda Box]] (6×9)
 
* Frontbox (6×9)
 
* Frontbox (6×9)
* Poka (6×9)
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* [[Balda Poka|Poka]] (6×9)
 
* Rollbox (6×9)
 
* Rollbox (6×9)
  
 
=== 127 film, folding ===
 
=== 127 film, folding ===
 
* [[Baldi]] (3×4)
 
* [[Baldi]] (3×4)
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* Piccochic (3×4)
 
* Rigona (3×4)
 
* Rigona (3×4)
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* Springbox (3×4)
  
 
=== Plate models ===
 
=== Plate models ===
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=== 120 film, folding ===
 
=== 120 film, folding ===
 
* [[Belfoca]] (6×9)
 
* [[Belfoca]] (6×9)
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* Belfoca II
  
 
== Balda Bünde ==
 
== Balda Bünde ==
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* [[Baldessa | Baldessa F/RF/L-RF/LF-RF]]
 
* [[Baldessa | Baldessa F/RF/L-RF/LF-RF]]
 
* Baldessamat F / RF
 
* Baldessamat F / RF
* Baldamatic / Baldamatic I
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* [[Baldamatic|Baldamatic, Baldamatic I/II/III]]
* [[Super Baldamatic I / II / III]]
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* [[Super Baldamatic|Super Baldamatic / Super Baldamatic I]] (and Balda Super Matic)
  
 
==== Ultra compact ====
 
==== Ultra compact ====
 
* C 35
 
* C 35
* [[Balda CA 35|CA 35, and Voigtländer Vito C]]
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* [[Balda CA 35|CA 35, Revue 35 XE and Voigtländer Vito C]]
* CE 35
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* [[Balda CE 35|CE 35]]
 
* CS 35
 
* CS 35
 
* Mini 35
 
* Mini 35
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=== 126 film ===
 
=== 126 film ===
* Nizo Elektronik 1000 (made for [[Niezoldi & Krämer]])
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* [[Nizo Elektronik 1000]] (made for [[Niezoldi & Krämer]])
 
* [[Argus Lady Carefree]]
 
* [[Argus Lady Carefree]]
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* [[Balda F.126 Electronic]]
  
 
=== 120 film ===
 
=== 120 film ===
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=== 6×6cm, collapsible ===
 
=== 6×6cm, collapsible ===
* Baldixette
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* [[Baldixette|Baldixette / Baldixette I / Baldixette II]]
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==== 6×9cm, folding ====
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* [[Baldalux]]
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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== Links ==
 
== Links ==
{{Dresden}}
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In English:
 
In English:
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* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/balda/ Flickr group ''Balda Cameras'']
 
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/balda/ Flickr group ''Balda Cameras'']
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<!--
 
* [http://www.retrography.com Balda section at Retrography.com] by Simon Simonsen, Denmark
 
* [http://www.retrography.com Balda section at Retrography.com] by Simon Simonsen, Denmark
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link commented-out Dec 2018 - domain expired -->
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* [http://www.submin.com/35mm/collection/balda/index.htm Balda C-series subminiatures] at submin.com
 
* [http://www.submin.com/35mm/collection/balda/index.htm Balda C-series subminiatures] at submin.com
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* [http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Balda/ Balda Cameras Price Guide] at collectiblend.com
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* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/other_manuals.htm Balda instruction manuals] at [http://www.butkus.org/chinon Orphancameras.com]
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In German:
 
In German:
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* [http://www.dresdner-kameras.de/firmengeschichte/firmen/firmen.html Company history] at [http://www.dresdner-kameras.de/ dresdner-kameras.de]
 
* [http://www.dresdner-kameras.de/firmengeschichte/firmen/firmen.html Company history] at [http://www.dresdner-kameras.de/ dresdner-kameras.de]
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<!--
 
* [http://home.zugang.net/Petermann/balda.htm Balda page] at [http://home.zugang.net/Petermann/ Frank Petermann's site]
 
* [http://home.zugang.net/Petermann/balda.htm Balda page] at [http://home.zugang.net/Petermann/ Frank Petermann's site]
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pages not found Dec 2018 -->
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In French:
 
In French:
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* [http://mgroleau.com/photo/allemagne/balda/balda.html Balda page] at [http://mgroleau.com/index.html Mario Groleau's website]
 
* [http://mgroleau.com/photo/allemagne/balda/balda.html Balda page] at [http://mgroleau.com/index.html Mario Groleau's website]
* [http://photo.even.free.fr/col_app.php?type=belca Belca page] at [http://photo.even.free.fr/ Collection G. Even's site]
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* [https://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/index.php?/category/164 Balda page] at [https://www.collectiongeven.com/ Collection G. Even's site]
* [http://photo.even.free.fr/col_app.php?type=balda Balda page] at [http://photo.even.free.fr/ Collection G. Even's site]
 
 
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/listeB_imagettes.php#Balda Balda cameras] and [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/listeB_imagettes.php#Belca Belca cameras] at www.collection-appareils.fr
 
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/listeB_imagettes.php#Balda Balda cameras] and [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/listeB_imagettes.php#Belca Belca cameras] at www.collection-appareils.fr
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[[Category: German camera makers]]
 
[[Category: German camera makers]]
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[[Category: German shutter makers]]
 
[[Category: East Germany]]
 
[[Category: East Germany]]
 
[[Category: Balda|*]]
 
[[Category: Balda|*]]

Revision as of 05:46, 12 May 2019

Camera industry in Dresden
Balda | Certo | Eho-Altissa | Eichapfel | Ernemann | Feinmess | Heyde | Hamaphot | Huth | Hüttig | ICA | Ihagee | Kochmann | Kerman | KW | Eugen Loeber | Ludwig | Mentor | Merkel | Meyer | Mimosa | Pentacon | Richter | Sommer | Stübiger | Unger & Hoffmann | Werner | Wünsche | Zeiss Ikon | Zeh
Camera distributors in Dresden
Stöckig
Camera industry in Freital
Beier | Pouva | Thowe | Welta


Balda was a German camera maker based in Laubegast, near Dresden, founded in 1908 by Max Baldeweg and started by manufacturing shutters, film-pack holders and self-timers. The factory was renamed as Balda-Werk Max Baldeweg in 1913[1].

Balda made a quantity of medium-priced folders before World War II, and its camera production was quite comparable to Welta or Certo, though Baldas as a rule sold for lower prices than either of those cameras.

One originality of Balda was to sell cameras to many other companies for resale under their own brand (today this would be called OEM). Perhaps as part of this strategy, Balda cameras were fitted with a very wide range lenses, from the low cost self-branded triplets through Meyers and Ludwigs, to the high end Schneider Xenars and Xenons, and Zeiss Tessars and Biotars.


History

After WWII, Balda was nationalized in East Germany in 1946, while its founder Max Baldeweg fled to West Germany to start Balda-Werk Bünde.

The East German plant began to make own Ovus shutters which were no Compur clones but had all the functions of the West-German Compur shutter. The Cludor and Vebur shutters were derived from the Ovus. In 1950 Zeiss Ikon took over the production of the shutters.

After trademark litigation similar to that involving the Carl Zeiss and Zeiss Ikon companies, the name of the East German company was changed to Belca-Werk in 1951. It continued for some time to produce folders like the little 35mm Beltica, and was absorbed into VEB Kamera-Werke Niedersedlitz in 1956[2].

In the West, Max Baldeweg set up a new company called Balda (Balda Kamera-Werk), this time based in Bünde, West Germany. This company produced a series of 35mm and medium-format rollfilm cameras, some of them being sold by Porst under the Hapo brand or by Foto-Quelle under the Revue brand.

In the 1970s, market was becoming more and more dominated by the Japanese cameras; Balda progresively discontinued production of their own cameras, which were reduced to compact cameras for 126 or 110 cartridge film, then mostly manufacturing cameras on commission from other companies[3].

Balda still exists today manufacturing plastic pieces, although production was outsourced to China and the old factory was sold in 2001.

Balda Dresden, later Belca

35mm film, folding

120 film

4.5×6cm, folding

  • Baldax (4.5×6, #0 or #00 shutter size)
  • Baldaxette I (4.5×6, coupled rangefinder)
  • Pierette (4.5×6, "barn-door" front with struts)

6×6cm, folding

6×9cm, folding

6×9cm, box

127 film, folding

  • Baldi (3×4)
  • Piccochic (3×4)
  • Rigona (3×4)
  • Springbox (3×4)

Plate models

Belca

35mm film

Folding

  • Beltica I (vertical style folding, like the pre-war Baldina)
  • Beltica II (horizontal style folding)

Rigid

Stereo

120 film, folding

Balda Bünde

35mm film

Folding

Rigid

Ultra compact

110 film

  • Minox 110 (Manufactured by Balda Kamera-Werk)

126 film

120 film

6×6cm, folding

6×6cm, collapsible

6×9cm, folding

Notes

  1. See this page at dresdner-kameras.de.
  2. See the KW section at dresdner-kameras.de.
  3. Balda made the C*35 series (aka Voigtlander Vito - Minox 35 clones) in the 1980s.
  4. Hapo 10

Links

In English:

In German:

In French: