Kochmann

Franz Kochmann founded the Franz Kochmann Fabrik photographischer Apparate in 1921, and started production of folding cameras.

History

The first reflex camera by 'Kochmann was offered in 1923. It was improved as the Enolde Reflex, launched in 1924. The same Enolde brand was used for various folding plate cameras, and later rollfilm cameras.

The next main developments were the Korelle viewfinder folding cameras, issued in various formats from 1931 onwards. The company's major success was the Reflex-Korelle 6x6 SLR, released in 1935.

In 1938 Franz Kochmann (who was Jewish) fled Germany and the company was siezed and renamed Korelle-Werk G. H. Brandtmann. At the end of World War II the company burnt down when the city of Dresden was bombed severely by the Allies.

Since when the war was over, Dresden was part of Soviet-occupied East Germany, the state took over ownership of the company. In 1947 the resulting Korelle-Werke restarted production. In 1948 the company was taken over by the state-owned VEB WEFO. The Meister-Korelle, a development of the Reflex-Korelle, was launched in 1950. In 1951 WEFO was taken over by VEB Welta-Kamerawerke, which produced the last Korelle-cameras until 1952 in its plant in Niedersiedlitz.

Cameras

• 1924: Enolde Reflex (SLR)
• 1930: Enolde rollfilm cameras

Image by Uwe Kulick (Image rights)

• 1931: Korette and Korelle (3×4)
• 1931: Korelle (4×6.5)
• 1932: Korelle K (18×24mm)
• 1932: Korelle P (4.5×6)
• 1933: Korelle (4.5×6) and Korelle (6×6)
• 1934: Korelle (6×9)
• 1935: Reflex-Korelle (6×6 SLR; several models, by Kochmann and later Korelle-Werk)
• 1939: Sport-Korelle 66 (by Korelle-Werk)
• 1950: Meister-Korelle (6x6 SLR by WEFO, after Korelle-Werk was nationalised, and finally by Welta)

Links

In English:

• Reflex-Korelle, and history of Franz Kochmann and his company at The Elisabetta & L. David Tomei Classic Camera Collection

In French:

• Kochmann cameras at www.collection-appareils.fr