Rollex rollfilm back

1927 Balda-Werk type image by Uwe Kulick (Image rights)

1927 Balda-Werk type View of opened filmback showing component parts image by Nicholas Middleton (Image rights)

1952 knob wind Linhof Rollex image by John Gateley (Image rights)

Rollex made rollfilm holders (film backs) fitted with a dark slide, designed as adapters to use 120/620 rollfilm with 9×12 or 6.5×9 plate cameras, resulting in a 6×9 image (or smaller with a mask insert).

History

1927 - Max Baldeweg founder of the Balda-Werk camera company of Dresden,Germany patented the Rollex roll film cassette. It was a staple in the Balda-Werk catalogs until the beginning of WWII.

1946 - Following WWII Balda-Werk Dresden found itself in East Germany and Max Beldeweg left for the West.

1952 - Linhof Precision Camera Work of Munich, Germany took up the Rollex name for their new roll film back which was an entirely new design from the 1927 Balda-Werk Rollex back.

1957 - Linhof changed the design again and re-named it the Super Rollex roll film back.

1960 - Linhof released a Cine Rollex back for 70mm perforated rollfilm. It used 56x72mm Ideal Format and 53 exposures were possible per roll.

1982 - Linhof released the Techno Rollex 6x12 for 120/220 film.

Links

In English

• Loading a Balda Rollex patent rollfilm back discussion at Photo.net
• Super Rollex Currently made by Linhof, Munchen at Linhof.com
• Instructions for Linhof ROLLEX rollfilm Adapter (1952 Knob Wind Type) at cameramanuals.org
• Instructions for Linhof Super ROLLEX rollfilm Adapter (1966 Lever Wind Type) at cameramanuals.org
• Linhof SUPER ROLLEX BACKS Operating Instructions (Current 2022 Lever Wind Type) at Linhof.com
• Linhof Cine Rollex 70mm rollfilm back Operating Instructions at Laflexcamera.com

In Swiss

• Details & images of the Balda-Werk Rollex Model 3 at Emtus Camera Reference book Switzerland.ch