Beier

Kamera-Fabrik Woldemar Beier was a German camera factory in Freital near Dresden. It was founded by Woldemar Beier in 1923 and began producing wooden plate cameras. In 1932 Beier introduced its first 35mm camera model. After WWII Beier stayed independent until the East German state took over a big share of the company in 1959. Then the company produced its first "Beier-Matic" half-automatic cameras. After its complete takeover by the state in 1972 Beier was renamed to VEB (citizens' own company) Kamerafabrik Freital, and later the Karl Pouva Kamerafabrik, the Tharand-Werke and the Optisches Werk Ernst Ludwig (Weixdorf) were taken over by the company.

Cameras

• 1923: Edith, Erika
• 1925: Lotte
• 1929: Gloria (Beier's first roll film camera)
• 1930: Beier-Box, Box I
• 1931: Box II, Beika (later Beira)
• 1935: Box IIA, Beira-Okula
• 1936: Beirax, Precisa, Rifax, Voran
• 1938: Beier-Flex
• 1939: Beier-Flex II, Beirette
• 1941: Beirette II
• 1951: Precisa 6x6
• 1955: Beirax II
• 1956: Precisa IIa
• 1958: Beirette
• 1961: Beier-Matic
• 1958-1990: several Beirette models
• 1980s: Beirette SL100

• Made and exported the Boots Beirette BL

Links

In English:

• Small Beier section at Retrography.com by Simon Simonsen

In German:

• Beier at Frank Petermann's camera site
• Company history at dresdner-kameras.de

In French:

• Beier page at Collection G. Even's site
• Cameras and User manuals at www.collection-appareils.fr