Difference between revisions of "Bolta"

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'''Bolta-Werk''', later '''Photavit-Werk''', was a German camera maker, which made the Boltavit and Photavit models from 1936 to the late 1950s. The early models used unperforated paper-backed 35mm film on special spools, called [[Bolta film]].
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| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricksoloway/3211348352/in/pool-camerawiki/
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| image=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3437/3211348352_3a34152b5a.jpg
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| image_align=right
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| image_text=Photavit with [[Compur]]-Rapid shutter
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| image_by= Rick Soloway
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| image_rights= With permission
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}}
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Johann Bolten founded the '''Bolta GmbH''' in Nuremberg in 1921. He emigrated to the USA where he founded a second factory. His German factory began making cameras in 1935; two years later it was renamed '''Photavit-Werk GmbH'''. In 1946, Bolten returned to Germany as a US citizen and restarted the German company.
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Bolta made the '''Boltavit''' and '''Photavit''' models from 1936 to the late 1950s. The early models used unperforated paper-backed 35mm film on special spools, called [[Bolta film]]. A late version of the 1950s was named '''Photina'''. A typical 1950s camera was the rollfilm TLR [[Photina Reflex]] for type No. [[120 film]], marketed by [[Sears]] as ''Tower Reflex'' and by [[Obergassner]] as ''OGA Reflex''.
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The company stopped making cameras in 1957 and was after that only a producer of specialized plastic components for industry.
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In 2022 the bankrupt Bolta-Werke were bought by the German-Czech company Winning Plastics a.s. <ref>[https://winningplastics.com/winning-group-to-acquire-bolta-werke/ Winning Group acquires BOLTA-WERKE]</ref>.
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==Cameras==
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===35mm film cameras===
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<div class="floatright plainlinks" style="margin:0px 0px 15px 15px;">
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{{Flickr image
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| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricksoloway/3211348238/in/pool-camerawiki/
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| image=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/3211348238_b8bf9d41dc_n.jpg
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| image_align=
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| image_text=Photavit with [[Prontor]] shutter
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| image_by= Rick Soloway
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| image_rights= With permission
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}}
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</div>
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Unless otherwise noted, these use unperforated 35mm film in special Bolta film cartridges.
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====Fixed lens====
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* Boltavit (1936) identified by external hinges
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* Boltavit II (1937) identified by internal hinges.
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* Photavit I (1938) same housing as Boltavit II
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* Photavit II (1938)
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* Photavit III (1946)
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* Photavit IV (1948) advertised as "world's smallest 35mm camera"
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* Photavit V (1951)
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====Rangerfinder, interchangeable lens====
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* [[Photavit 36]] (1956-1958), uses standard 35mm cartridges
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===Bolta roll film cameras===
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* Photavit (1937)
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===120 film cameras===
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<div class="floatright plainlinks" style="margin:0px 0px 15px 15px;">
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{{Flickr image
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| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/trembleatdawn/3131661170/in/pool-camerawiki/
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| image=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/3131661170_419bf38643.jpg
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| image_align=
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| image_text=Photina [[TLR]] for 120 film
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| image_by= I is someone else
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| image_rights= With permission
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}}
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</div>
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* [[Photina Reflex|Photavit Photina]] (aka Sears Tower Rediflex II)
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* [[Photina Reflex|Photavit Photina Reflex II]] (aka OGA-Reflex)
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* [[Photina Reflex|Photavit Photina Reflex III]] (aka Sears Tower Reflex 30)
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===828 film cameras===
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* Photavit 828
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===Super-8 cine cameras===
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* Photavit Super-8 S800 (1972) manufactured by Chinon
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{{Flickr image
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| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/inspiredphotosdotcom/4905564145/in/pool-camerawiki/
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| image=http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4905564145_318b623cba.jpg
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| image_align=left
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| image_text=Photavit with cassette loader
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| image_by= Inspiredphotos
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| image_rights= With permission
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}}
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<br style="clear:both;"/>
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{| class="floatleft plainlinks" style="text-align: center;"
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|-
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| rowspan=2 | [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rst90274/256237798/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/256237798_24a39bf6dd.jpg]
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rst90274/256237750/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm1.static.flickr.com/108/256237750_a3265795f8_m.jpg]
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|-
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|[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rst90274/263982755/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm1.static.flickr.com/98/263982755_92cc396b83_m.jpg]
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|-
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| colspan=2 | Photavit miniature full frame 35mm camera in original box with film loader and film cartridges, 1938-46.<br/><small>images by {{image author|rst12}}. {{with permission}}</small>
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|}
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<br style="clear:both;"/>
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<div class="floatright plainlinks" style="margin:0px 0px 15px 15px;">
 
{{Flickr_image
 
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rst90274/256237798/
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/48706861736/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/256237798_3b93be2646.jpg
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|image= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48706861736_3645dd87cc_d.jpg
 
|image_align= left
 
|image_align= left
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|image_text= Photavit miniature full frame 35mm camera in original<br/>box with film loader and film cartridges, 1938-46
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|image_text= Leaflet by the British distributor Seeing Camera.<br/><small>Scan by {{image author|rebollo_fr}}</small>
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|image_by=
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|image_rights= public domain UK
 
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</div>
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== Notes ==
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<references/>
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== Links ==
 
== Links ==
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In English:
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150203180551/http://www.bolta.com/en/unternehmen/historie/ Bolta Werke history] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20150208121128/http://www.bolta.de/ Bolta Werke, GmbH] - official website (archived)
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* [http://www.submin.com/35mm/collection/photavit/index.htm Boltavit and Photavit cameras] at [http://www.submin.com/ submin.com]
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* [http://www.submin.com/35mm/collection/photavit/index.htm Boltavit and Photavit cameras] at [http://www.submin.com/ Submin.com]
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180316141537/http://www.ukcamera.com/classic_cameras/bolta1.htm Photavit/Boltavit page] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20170911101419/http://www.ukcamera.com/classic_cameras/camindexe.html Classic Cameras] (archived)
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[[Category: German camera makers]]
 
[[Category: German camera makers]]
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[[Category: Bolta film]]

Latest revision as of 04:37, 28 May 2023

3211348352_3a34152b5a.jpg
Photavit with Compur-Rapid shutter
image by Rick Soloway (Image rights)

Johann Bolten founded the Bolta GmbH in Nuremberg in 1921. He emigrated to the USA where he founded a second factory. His German factory began making cameras in 1935; two years later it was renamed Photavit-Werk GmbH. In 1946, Bolten returned to Germany as a US citizen and restarted the German company.

Bolta made the Boltavit and Photavit models from 1936 to the late 1950s. The early models used unperforated paper-backed 35mm film on special spools, called Bolta film. A late version of the 1950s was named Photina. A typical 1950s camera was the rollfilm TLR Photina Reflex for type No. 120 film, marketed by Sears as Tower Reflex and by Obergassner as OGA Reflex.

The company stopped making cameras in 1957 and was after that only a producer of specialized plastic components for industry. In 2022 the bankrupt Bolta-Werke were bought by the German-Czech company Winning Plastics a.s. [1].

Cameras

35mm film cameras

3211348238_b8bf9d41dc_n.jpg
Photavit with Prontor shutter
image by Rick Soloway (Image rights)

Unless otherwise noted, these use unperforated 35mm film in special Bolta film cartridges.

Fixed lens

  • Boltavit (1936) identified by external hinges
  • Boltavit II (1937) identified by internal hinges.
  • Photavit I (1938) same housing as Boltavit II
  • Photavit II (1938)
  • Photavit III (1946)
  • Photavit IV (1948) advertised as "world's smallest 35mm camera"
  • Photavit V (1951)

Rangerfinder, interchangeable lens

Bolta roll film cameras

  • Photavit (1937)

120 film cameras

3131661170_419bf38643.jpg
Photina TLR for 120 film
image by I is someone else (Image rights)

828 film cameras

  • Photavit 828

Super-8 cine cameras

  • Photavit Super-8 S800 (1972) manufactured by Chinon


4905564145_318b623cba.jpg
Photavit with cassette loader
image by Inspiredphotos (Image rights)


256237798_24a39bf6dd.jpg 256237750_a3265795f8_m.jpg
263982755_92cc396b83_m.jpg
Photavit miniature full frame 35mm camera in original box with film loader and film cartridges, 1938-46.
images by rst12. (Image rights)


48706861736_3645dd87cc_d.jpg
Leaflet by the British distributor Seeing Camera.
Scan by rebollo_fr (Image rights)

Notes

  1. ↑ Winning Group acquires BOLTA-WERKE

Links

Retrieved from "http://camera-wiki.org/index.php?title=Bolta&oldid=223987"