Balilla

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The Balilla is a box camera for 4.5x6cm exposures, made by Zeiss Ikon for supply to the Italian Fascist boys' club, the Opera Nazionale Balilla (active 126-37), named after a Genoese boy who supposedly began a revolt against Austro-Hungarian occupation of Genoa in the eighteenth century. The camera is very similar indeed to the Baldur used by the Hitler Youth.

Like the Baldur, the Balilla has a Goerz Frontar, an f/11; it has horizontal and vertical brilliant finders (instead of the Baby Box Tengor's wire frame). It has a leather hand-strap on the top.

The corresponding Box Tengor 54/2 has three fixed apertures, a portrait auxiliary lens, a tripod bush and cable release socket: The Balilla (and Baldur) lack these. It has about the same specification as the Erabox.

Links

• Balilla sold with leather case and original instructions (for a Box Tengor 54/2) at the eighteenth Westlicht Photographica Auction, in December 2010.
• Opera Nazionale Balilla at Wikipedia