Bolta

Photavit with Compur-Rapid shutter image by Rick Soloway (Image rights)

Company History

In 1921 Johann Bolten founded the Bolta GmbH in Nuremberg. He emigrated to the USA where he founded a second factory. His German factory began making cameras in 1935. In 1937 he renamed it to Photavit-Werk GmbH. In 1946, after World War II, Johann Boltan returned to German 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 its camera making in 1957 and is currently a producer of specialized plastic components for industry.

Cameras

35mm Film Cameras

Unless otherwise noted, these used 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

• Photavit 36 (1956-1958), used standard 35mm cartridges

Bolta Roll Film Cameras

• Photavit (1937)

120 Film Cameras

• Photavit Photina (aka Sears Tower Rediflex II)
• Photavit Photina Reflex II (aka OGA-Reflex)
• Photavit Photina Reflex III (aka Sears Tower Reflex 30)

828 Film Cameras

• Photavit 828

Super-8 Cine Cameras

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

Photos and Advertisements

Photina TLR image by Wedste - Proud to be Italian.for what we have been (Image rights)

Photavit with Prontor shutter image by Rick Soloway (Image rights)

Photavit image by Inspiredphotos (Image rights)

Leaflet by the British distributor Seeing Camera. (Image rights)	Photavit miniature full frame 35mm camera in original box with film loader and film cartridges, 1938-46, images by rst90274. (Image rights)

Links

In English:

• Bolta Werke, GmbH - official website
• Boltavit and Photavit cameras at Submin.com
• Photvit/Boltavit page at Classic Cameras
• Cameras at www.collection-appareils.fr