Rolleiflex 4x4 prewar series

UNDER CONSTRUCTION Hanskerensky (talk) 01:42, 19 December 2014 (PST)

The Rolleiflex 4x4 is a small format TLR camera manufactured by Franke & Heidecke.

General

Observing the huge succes of the Leica camera Rollei at that time (1930) decided to engineer and produce a small format TLR. It should be a camera which, as the Leica, would be easy and fast to operate.
Another demand was that it should be possible to operate it at eye-height. This involved a new design of the viewer hood.
After much debate about its name (Bobyflex was almost considered) they decided to just call it Rolleiflex like their existing 6x6 TLR line. However, the market soon came with other bynames like e.g. Baby Rolleiflex and Klein Rolleiflex.

There were 4 models manufactured :

• Model 1 from 1931 to 1933
• Model 2 from 1933 to 1934
• Model 3 from 1934 to 1938
• Model 4 from 1938 to 1944

Specifications Model 1

• Rollei internal name : K.1A, Baumuster (build) 410 and 411
• Production period : 1931 to 1933, 9500 units
• Format : 12 exposures of 4 x 4 cm on 127 type rollfilm.
  Furthermore a Plate adapter for sheet film can be used.
• Taking lens: Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3.5 f=6cm (on build 410) or
  Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:2.8 f=6cm (on build 411)
• Viewing lens: Heidoskop-Anastigmat 1:2.8 f=6cm
• Filter Size : Both lenses, 28.5mm.
• Shutter: Compur CR00 leafshutter. Speeds 1 to 1/300 sec.,T and B.
  Combined shutter tensioning and release lever
• Flash synchronisation : None
  
• Color Laqcuer : Black
• Color Leatherette : Black
• Dimensions WxDxH: 60 x 77 x 107 mm
• Weight: Build 410, 490 grams ; Build 411, 520 grams

Specifications Model 2

Only differences with Model 1 shown.

• Rollei internal name : K.1A, Baumuster (build) 420 and 421
• Production period : 1933 to 1934, 1980 units
• Taking lens: Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3.5 f=6cm (on build 420) or
  Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:2.8 f=6cm (on build 421)
• Viewing lens: Heidoskop-Anastigmat or Heidoscop-Anastigmat 1:2.8 f=6cm
• Viewing lens now has a cover which shows speed and diaphragm scales on top.
• Weight: Build 420, 525 grams ; Build 421, 560 grams

Specifications Model 3

Only differences with Model 2 shown.

• Rollei internal name : K.1A, Baumuster (build) 422 and 423
• Production period : 1934 to 1938, 3240 units
• Format : 13 exposures of 4 x 4 cm on 127 type rollfilm.
  Furthermore a Plate adapter for sheet film can be used.
• Taking lens: Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3.5 f=6cm (on build 422) or
  Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:2.8 f=6cm (on build 423)
• Viewing lens: Heidoscop-Anastigmat 1:2.8 f=6cm
• Shutter: Compur-Rapid CR00 leafshutter. Speeds 1 to 1/500 sec.,T and B.
  Combined shutter tensioning and release lever
• Weight: Build 422, 525 grams ; Build 423, 567 grams

Bibliography

• Claus Prochnow, Rollei Report 1, Braunschweich, Lindemanns Verlag, 1993, ISBN 3-89506-105-0.