Kochmann
| Camera industry in Dresden |
| Balda | Certo | Eho-Altissa | Eichapfel | Ernemann | Feinmess | Heyde | Hamaphot | Huth | Hüttig | ICA | Ihagee | Kochmann | Kerman | KW | Eugen Loeber | Ludwig | Mentor | Merkel | Meyer | Mimosa | Pentacon | Richter | Sommer | Stübiger | Unger & Hoffmann | Werner | Wünsche | Zeiss Ikon | Zeh |
| Camera distributors in Dresden |
| Stöckig |
| Camera industry in Freital |
| Beier | Pouva | Stein & Binnewerg | Thowe | Welta |
Franz Kochmann founded the Franz Kochmann Fabrik photographischer Apparate in 1921, beginning to produce folder cameras. The first reflex camera was offered in 1923. As improved version it became the "Enolde" camera, which was launched in 1924. The next main developments were the Korelle viewfinder folding cameras for 3x4 and 6x6 format, which came out in 1930 and the following years.
In 1938 Franz Kochmann emigrated from Germany and the company was 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 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 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 Niedersedlitz.
Cameras
- 1924: Enolde (reflex camera)
- 1930: Korelle P (4.5×6)
- 1931: Korelle (3×4)
- 1931: Korelle (4×6.5)
- 1932: Korelle K (18×24mm)
- 1935: Reflex-Korelle (6×6 SLR)
- 1950: Meister-Korelle (6×6 SLR)
Links
In English:
- Kochmann section at Retrography.com by Simon Simonsen, Denmark
In French:
- Cameras at www.collection-appareils.fr
