Difference between revisions of "Foth"

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m (→‎127 rollfilm: link fix)
(blanked my work on the FOTH cameras, as the transition to a exclusively commercial company breaches the implicit agreement between me as the author and Camerapedia. All my previous edits are copyright)
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{{Berlin}}
 
{{Berlin}}
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==The Company==
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''C.F. Foth & Co.'', '''Foth''' in short. This German optical company was founded in Berlin in 1926. It produced a number of cameras and lenses from 1926 to 1943. A cute little collectible is the ''Foth Derby'', a vest pocket strut folder with [[focal plane shutter]].
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''C.F. Foth & Co.'', '''Foth''' in short. This German optical company operated in Berlin in 1926, first working from premises at Cottbusser Damm 25-26 (–1928),<ref>Berliner Adreßbuch 1927. Zweiter Band. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft, p. 510.— Berliner Adreßbuch 1928. Zweiter Band. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft, p. 528.</ref> then from Berlin-Britz Grade Straße 91-107 (1928-1932)<ref>Berliner Adreßbuch 1929. Zweiter Band. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft, p. 574.— Berliner Adreßbuch 1930. Zweiter Band. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft, p. 580.—Berliner Adreßbuch 1931. Zweiter Band. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft, p. 426.—Berliner Adreßbuch 1932. Zweiter Band. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft p. 444.</ref> and finally from Berlin-Buchholz, PankStrasse 1-3 (1932-1940).<ref>Berliner Adreßbuch 1933. Zweiter Band. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft p. 446.—Berliner Adreßbuch 1934. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft Erster Band, p. 579; Zweiter Band, p. 405.— Berliner Adreßbuch 1935. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft Erster Band, p. 579; Zweiter Band, p. 433.—Berliner Adreßbuch 1936. Zweiter Band. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft p. 448.— Berliner Adreßbuch für das Jahr 1937. Zweiter Band. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft p. 442.—Berliner Adreßbuch für das Jahr 1938. Zweiter Band. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft p. 453.—Berliner Adreßbuch für das Jahr 1939. Zweiter Band. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft, p. 435.— Berliner Adreßbuch 1940. Zweiter Band. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft, p. 426.</ref>
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{{Flickr image
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The relationship of C.F. Foth Berlin to C.F.Foth in Danzig (Gdansk) and C.F. Foth & Cie in Paris is not clear at this point in time and requires further research.
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| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricksoloway/2974509438/in/pool-camerapedia
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| image=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2974509438_973c6599f8_m.jpg
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Foth is known to have produced, or distributed binoculars and other optical instruments and manufactured a range of cameras and lenses from 1926 to 1940<ref>Foth & Co is no longer listed in 1941: Berliner Adreßbuch 1941. Zweiter Band. Branchenverzeichnis. Berlin: Verlag August Scherl Deutsche Adreßbuch-Gesellschaft, p. 438.—Some web sources perpertuate a 1943 date without much evidence</ref>. A cute little collectible is the ''[[Derby|Foth Derby]]'', a vest pocket strut folder with [[focal plane shutter]] taking 30×40 mm images.
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| image_align=
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| image_text=Foth Derby
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}}
  
 
== Cameras ==
 
== Cameras ==
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Foth manufactured a range of camera and lenses, mainly a range of 6×9 plate cameras and folders.
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* [[Derby|Derby (I) and II]]
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===Plate cameras===
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* folding rollfilm cameras
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* Foth plate camera 6×9 (1930–32)<ref> Catalogue Photo-Plait 1930, p. 22; 1931, p. 27; 1932, p. 22.—[http://fotomuzeum.hu/en/cameras/foth_c_f_foth_co_derby_ luxus_465 fotomuzeum.hu/en/cameras/foth_c_f_foth_co_derby_ luxus_465], [http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_C622.html www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_C622.html]</ref>
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* Foth Tropenkamera
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:The camera was available with standard black leatherette and, as the luxus edition, with brown leather imitating crocodile skin<ref>See [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/foth/html/foth_folding_luxe.php Sylvain Halgand's site]</ref>
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* [[Foth-flex]]
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* Foth Mixte for film, 6.5×9 plates and 6.5×9 film packs.
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* [[Foth-flex]] II
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:The camera was fitted with a Foth Anastigmat f/4.5 (1933–37)<ref> Catalogue Photo Sport 1933, p. 8.—Catalogue Photo-Hall August 1933, p. 7; May 1935, p. 12.—Catalogue Photo-Plait 1932-33, p. 61; 1934, pp. 32-33; 1937, p. 44</ref>
 
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===120 roll film===
 
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* Foth Film 6×9
 
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:initially offered with a Foth Doppel Anastigmat f/6.3 (1926-27)<ref>Also available with lenses by other manufacturers: Catalogue Photo-Plait 1927, p. 40.—See also [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/foth/html/fothfolding.php | Sylvain Halgand's site]</ref> and after one year with the faster Foth Doppel Anastigmat f/4.5 (1927-34).<ref>Catalogue Photo Sport 1930, p. 13; 1933, p. 8.—Catalogue Photo-Hall May 1932, p. 16; August 1933, p. 7; April 1934, p. 6; 1934-35, p. 24; May 1935, p. 12—Catalogue Photo-Plait 1928, p. 50; 1929, p. 95; 1930, p. 60; 1931, p. 58; 1932 p. 57; 1932-33, p. 61; 1933, p. 25; 1934-35, p. 24;—[http://www.fotonyf.republika.pl/sprzet/mmm/mfoth.htm www.fotonyf.republika.pl/sprzet/mmm/mfoth.htm].—McKeown 95/96 p. 199.</ref> The standard camera was covered in black leatherette. A Deluxe Version covered in brown leather imitating crocodile and brown bellows also existed.<ref>[http://www.collection-appareils.fr/foth/html/foth_alligator.php|Sylvain Halgand's site]</ref> A very rare unit covered in green leather (with green bellows) has also been observed <ref>(eBay 370402991849 July 2010).</ref>
 
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* Foth Film 6.5×11
 
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:fitted first with Foth Anastigmat f/4.9 (1931-33).<ref> Catalogue Photo-Plait 1931, p. 66; 1932 p. 57; 1932-33, p. 61;.—Catalogue Photo-Hall May 1932, p. 16; August 1933, p. 7</ref> and then, in common with the 6×9 model, with the Foth Anastigmat f/4.5 (1933-)<ref> Catalogue Photo-Plait 1931, p. 58; 1933, p. 25</ref>
 
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* Foth Special 6×9 (self-erecting folder)
 
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:fitted with meniscus lens (1935).<ref> Catalogue Photo-Plait 1935, p. 32</ref>
 
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* Foth Spring (self-erecting folder)
 
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:fitted with Foth Anastigmat f/4.5 (1933-36).<ref> Catalogue Photo-Plait 1933, p. 25; 1934, pp. 30-31; 1935, p. 32; 1936, p. 24.—Catalogue Photo-Sport 1933, p. 8.—Catalogue Photo-Hall May 1935, p. 12; May 1936, p. 12.—Catalogue Au Bon Marche 1933, p. 22</ref>
 
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* Foth Tropical Model (1930-35)
 
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===127 rollfilm===
 
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* [[Derby|Foth Derby]]
 
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:The Derby was a strut folding viewfinder camera for [[127 film]] rolls, made by [[Foth]] from 1931 to about 1940. The Derby sported a cloth [[focal plane shutter]] capable of shutter speeds of 1/500th of second. It was marketed as a vest-pocket camera suitable for action photography. The first versions of the camera had a film gate size of 24 × 36mm, while all later versions used the full 30 × 40mm format the 127 film format was capable of.
 
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*[[Foth-Flex]]
 
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:In addition, following the success of Franke and Heidecke’s Rolleiflex, Foth produced the [[Foth-Flex]] (1933-36) fitted with a 75mm f/3.5.<ref> Catalogue Photo-Plait 1933, p. 27; 1934, pp. 36-37; 1934-35, p. 24; 1935, p. 68; 1936, p. 73—Catalogue Photo-Hall April 1934, p. 6; May 1935, p. 12; May 1936, p. 12.—A Deluxe Version covered in brown leather imitating crocodile also existed ([http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2453029 www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2453029])</ref>
 
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:Like the [[Derby]] the [[Foth-Flex]] had a focal plane curtain shutter, which was an usual arrangement for the time. The [[Foth-Flex]] II was introduced in 1937, again with a 75/3.5<ref> Catalogue Photo-Plait 1937, p. 45; 1938, p. 74; 1939, p. 62 — Popular Photography 1937</ref>, but also with a 75/2.5.<ref> Catalogue Photo-Plait 1937, p. 45</ref> The [[Foth-Flex]] II was manufactured until 1939.
 
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===Other cameras===
 
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* Foth Tubus Kamera (1930)<ref>[http://www.ukcamera.com/classic_cameras/Kamerahersteller/foth.htm www.ukcamera.com/classic_cameras/Kamerahersteller/foth.htm]</ref>
 
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* Foth Stereo
 
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{|class=plainlinks
 
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||[http://www.flickr.com/photos/27548522@N02/3226103253/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3339/3226103253_8852ecdaf2_m.jpg]<br/>Foth 6×9 <br/>with brown crocodile leather imitation<br/>{{With permission}}
 
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||[http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricksoloway/2974509438/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2974509438_973c6599f8_m.jpg]<br/> [[Derby#Derby type 3 (1935–1939)| Foth Derby Type 3]] {{With permission}}<br/>&nbsp;
 
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|}
 
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=Lenses=
 
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The various folding camera models produced by  taking 120 roll film or plates use the Foth Doppel Anastigmat F=105mm. None of these lenses carry serial numbers. The [[Derby|Foth Derby]] uses the Foth Anastigmat F=50mm, while the [[Foth-flex]] use Foth Anastigmat F=75mm
 
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==Foth Doppel Anastigmat F=105mm==
 
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*f/6.3 (1926-27)
 
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*f/4.9 (1927-34)
 
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*f/4.5 (1933–37).
 
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==Foth Anastigmat F=75mm ==
 
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This lens was used in the [[Foth-flex]]
 
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*f/2.5
 
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*f/3.5
 
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==Foth Anastigmat F=50mm ==
 
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This lens was used in the [[Derby|Foth Derby]].
 
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*f/2.5
 
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:The lens exists with and without serial numbers. Both have the same f-stops: 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.3, 9, 12.5, 18.
 
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:The lens was fitted with a focus scale in metres or feet with the following spacing:
 
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::Metre-scale: 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, ∞.
 
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::Feet-scale: 2½, 3½, 4, 5, 6, 6¼, 10, 13, 23, 33, ∞.
 
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* f/3.5 (Berlin Model)
 
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:The lens exists with and without serial numbers. Both have the same f-stops: 3.5, 4.5, 6.3, 9, 12.5, 18.:
 
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:The lens was fitted with a focus scale in metres or feet with the following spacing:
 
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::Metre-scale: 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 20, ∞.
 
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::Feet-scale: 3½, 4, 5, 6, 6¼, 10, 13, 23, 33, 66, ∞.
 
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* f-3.5 (Paris Model)
 
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:The Paris-built Anastigmat f-3.5 found use in the [[Derby#Derby type 5|Derby 5]] with the following f-stops: 3.5, 4.5, 6.3, 9, 12.5, 18.
 
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:The lens was fitted with a focus scale in in metres or feet  with the following spacing:
 
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::Metre-scale: not observed yet, but existence can be inferred.
 
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::Feet-scale: 3½, 4, 5, 6, 6¼, 10, 13, 16, 23, 33, 66, ∞.
 
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{|class=plainlinks
 
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||[http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4871489268/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4871489268_544c8ce7dd_m.jpg]<br/>Foth Anastigmat f-2.5/50mm<ref name="DHRS">Picture by Dirk HR Spennemann. {{With permission}}</ref><br>&nbsp;
 
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||[http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4871490658/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4871490658_1ecf19813d_m.jpg]<br/>Foth Anastigmat f-3.5/50mm<br>Berlin model without serial number<ref name="DHRS"/>
 
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||[http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4871489756/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4871489756_995b1973c9_m.jpg]<br/>Foth Anastigmat f-3.5/50mm<br>Berlin model with serial number<ref name="DHRS"/>
 
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|}
 
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&nbsp;
 
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&nbsp;
 
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= Notes =
 
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<references />
 
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
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* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/liste5_imagettes.php#Foth Cameras] at www.collection-appareils.fr
 
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/liste5_imagettes.php#Foth Cameras] at www.collection-appareils.fr
 
* [http://photo.even.free.fr/col_app.php?type=foth&title=Foth Foth page] at [http://photo.even.free.fr/ Collection G. Even's site]
 
* [http://photo.even.free.fr/col_app.php?type=foth&title=Foth Foth page] at [http://photo.even.free.fr/ Collection G. Even's site]
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[[Category: German camera makers]]
 
[[Category: German camera makers]]
 
[[Category: German lens makers]]
 
[[Category: German lens makers]]
 
[[Category: Foth|*]]
 
[[Category: Foth|*]]

Revision as of 18:33, 20 January 2011

Camera industry in Berlin
Agfa | Amigo | Astro Berlin | Bermpohl | Bopp | B+W | Foth | Goerz | Grass & Worff | Levy-Roth | Ernst Lorenz | Plasmat | Rudolph | Rothgiesser & Schlossmann | Rüdersdorf | Schulze & Billerbeck | Sida | Stegemann | Romain Talbot

C.F. Foth & Co., Foth in short. This German optical company was founded in Berlin in 1926. It produced a number of cameras and lenses from 1926 to 1943. A cute little collectible is the Foth Derby, a vest pocket strut folder with focal plane shutter.

2974509438_973c6599f8_m.jpg
Foth Derby

Cameras

Links

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