Took my 6x9 Voightlader Bessa made in `1937` for a trial run , I used foma film rated at 50ISO developed in ID-11 for 9.5 mins diluted 1-3 : The last negative buckled in the middle when I scanned it and the sun angle was wrong also ::
Lauren MacIntosh
When one's life Ends, then one becomes Life's history !
My 1936 Bessa has become a real favorite this past summer. Mine has the Halomar lens with compur-rapid shutter. Seems to work best with 100 or 125 film. Still experimenting though.
Huh! is it possible that you have made an error Seawolf? i do beleive that the Vaskar is a post-war lens..the voigtar f4.5, f6.3 or f7.7 was the 3 element lens used pre-war (pre-49ish actualy) on scale focus Bessa. Bessa RF have Helomar. If yours has the Vaskar then i would assume it is one of the Bessa made between 1949-50 that used the Vaskar and just before they introduced the Bessa I.
Is your lens a blue colour, it should be and indicates it a coated lens--the post war Bessa is usually a very nice looking unit--esentually the post war Bessa is the same camera the Voigtlander 1937 model Bessa
Anastigmatic :: Yes the lens in this camera is a Vaskar 1:4.5 / 105mm Serial number is 303036 when I did a serial number check on the Voitlander web site , I thought it said made about 1937 , I could be wrong But when I shine a light into it It does look Blue ?? So which is it ??? 1937 or 1947 :o
Dunno, could it also be possible someone did a lens transplant in reconditioning the camera somewhere along the way? In addition, I have followed some Voitländer auctions for a while and have noted there sometimes appears to be a slow transition rather than stopping of the line for new models. The Perkeo (I) occasionally appears with a Color-Skopar that's much more common on the Perkeo II (which I own).
Anastigmatic :: Yes the lens in this camera is a Vaskar 1:4.5 / 105mm Serial number is 303036 when I did a serial number check on the Voitlander web site , I thought it said made about 1937
Is there a typo in that number, or maybe a digit eroded away at the end? The list of Voigtlaender serial numbers in the Vade Mecum looks like they rolled over 300 000 in 1927-28, but the 3 000 000 range would be around 1947, which might be late enough for an early Vaskar.
Anyway, it looks like you hit it with this one, whatever its history.
-NT
Nathan Tenny
San Diego, CA, USA
Although the moon is smaller than the earth, they are about the same distance apart.
Anastigmatic :: Yes the lens in this camera is a Vaskar 1:4.5 / 105mm Serial number is 303036 when I did a serial number check on the Voitlander web site , I thought it said made about 1937 , I could be wrong But when I shine a light into it It does look Blue ?? So which is it ??? 1937 or 1947 :o
Seawolf, you seem to have a digit missing, over 2 million 7 hundred thousand is meant to indicate post war and after 3 million is meant to be after 1947, which that link you provided indicates as well, you may of miss read the number perhaps? as that number you provided is for about 1927, which your camera definately isnt. The Vaskar lens was introduced in 49 (on the Bessa) and was first seen on the bessa model you have before they changed the next year to the Bessa I (completly different looking camera).
there is no doubt at all you have a 1949 Bessa.
many of these are often in very nice condition, yours certainly looks like it is. i am not sure why that is often the case i have no way of knowing for sure), but perhaps to possit a guess, its because is was somewhat of an old design at the time, (based on the 1937 Bessa, which in turn was an upgraded from previous models of simular design), and perhaps people purchased a new 'more modern' looking camera (that were appearing in chrome tops even on relatively basic cameras), in a relatively short time after first buying the 49 Bessa, to keep up with the times 'so to speak' and so these Bessa'a were often packed away and left in good condition...either way its a nice example of a camera just made for about a year. a coated lens and one of the early shutter with flash sync (i assume your has that?)
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Originally Posted by seawolf66
