Difference between revisions of "Balda"
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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 factry 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. | ||
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+ | 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 | {{Flickr_image | ||
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4798191845/in/pool-camerawiki | |image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4798191845/in/pool-camerawiki | ||
− | |image= http://farm5. | + | |image= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4075/4798191845_25a65378ae_n.jpg |
|image_align= right | |image_align= right | ||
|image_text= Baldinette in red leatherette | |image_text= Baldinette in red leatherette | ||
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|image_rights= with permission | |image_rights= with permission | ||
}} | }} | ||
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− | After | + | {{br}} |
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+ | ==History== | ||
+ | After WWII, '''Balda''' was nationalized in East Germany in 1946, while its founder '''Max Baldeweg''' fled to West Germany to start '''Balda-Werk Bűnde'''. | ||
− | 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 | + | 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. |
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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 --> | ||
+ | <!-- 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. | ||
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== Balda Dresden, later Belca == | == Balda Dresden, later Belca == | ||
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== Links == | == Links == | ||
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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''] | ||
* [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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* [http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Balda/ Balda Cameras Price Guide] at collectiblend.com | * [http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Balda/ Balda Cameras Price Guide] at collectiblend.com | ||
* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/other_manuals.htm Balda instruction manuals] at [http://www.butkus.org/chinon Orphancameras.com] | * [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] | ||
* [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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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_balda.php Balda page] at [http://photo.even.free.fr/ Collection G. Even's site] | * [http://photo.even.free.fr/col_app_balda.php 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: East Germany]] | [[Category: East Germany]] | ||
[[Category: Balda|*]] | [[Category: Balda|*]] | ||
+ | [[Category: B]] |
Revision as of 14:42, 29 December 2012
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 | Stein & Binnewerg | 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 factry 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.
Baldinette in red leatherette image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights) |
History
After WWII, Balda was nationalized in East Germany in 1946, while its founder Max Baldeweg fled to West Germany to start Balda-Werk Bűnde.
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)
6×6cm, folding
- Baldax (6×6, #0 shutter size)
- Baldaxette II (6×6, coupled rangefinder)
6×9cm, folding
- Baldafix (6×9)
- Juwella (6×9)
- Pontina (6×9 and 4.5×6), also sold as Hapo 10[4] and Hapo 45
- Super Pontura (6×9, coupled rangefinder)
6×9cm, box
127 film, folding
- Piccochic (3/4)
- Baldi (3×4)
- Rigona (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
- Belfoca (6×9)
- Belfoca II
Balda Bünde
35mm film
Folding
- Baldalette
- Baldina
- Baldini
- Baldinette a modified version was sold as the Rival 35
- Mess-Baldinette (uncoupled rangefinder)
- Mess-Rigona (uncoupled rangefinder), also sold as Hapo 35 and Rival 35
- Rigona
- Super Baldina (coupled rangefinder)
- Super Baldinette (coupled rangefinder)
Rigid
- Baldina
- Super Baldina (coupled rangefinder)
- Baldessa / Baldessa I
- Baldessa F/RF/L-RF/LF-RF
- Baldessamat F / RF
- Baldamatic, Baldamatic I/II/III
- Super Baldamatic / Super Baldamatic I (and Balda Super Matic)
Ultra compact
- C 35
- CA 35, Revue 35 XE and Voigtländer Vito C
- CE 35
- CS 35
- Mini 35
- Scout 35
- Minox 35 series - the entire line of Minox 35 cameras was manufactured by Balda Kamera-Werk in Bünde, West Germany
110 film
- Minox 110 (Manufactured by Balda Kamera-Werk)
126 film
- Nizo Elektronik 1000 (made for Niezoldi & Krämer)
- Argus Lady Carefree
120 film
6×6cm, folding
- Baldi 29
- Baldix
- Mess-Baldix (uncoupled rangefinder), also sold as Hapo 66e
- Baldax
- Super Baldax (coupled rangefinder)
6×6cm, collapsible
6×9cm, folding
Notes
- ↑ See this page at dresdner-kameras.de.
- ↑ See the KW section at dresdner-kameras.de.
- ↑ Balda made the C*35 series (aka Voigtlander Vito - Minox 35 clones) in the 1980s.
- ↑ Hapo 10
Links
In English:
- Flickr group Balda Cameras
- Balda section at Retrography.com by Simon Simonsen, Denmark
- Balda C-series subminiatures at submin.com
- Balda Cameras Price Guide at collectiblend.com
- Balda instruction manuals at Orphancameras.com
In German:
In French:
- Balda page at Mario Groleau's website
- Balda page at Collection G. Even's site
- Balda cameras and Belca cameras at www.collection-appareils.fr