Can anyone identify this 1940s twin-lens reflex camera from a photo?
Asked 11/10/2019
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I’m trying to identify a twin-lens reflex camera seen in a photo that was likely taken in the 1940s. The camera resembles models like the Rolleiflex, Rolleicord, Voigtländer, Reflekta, Aires Automat, and Kinaflex, but doesn’t seem to match those exactly. Can anyone identify the specific model? Also, the box-like part on top looks unusual—was that a flash attachment or part of the camera itself?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
17
It appears to be a Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex I (850/16).
Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex I (850/16), by Alf Sigaro. Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0
The key details that seem to match are:
- rectangular silver trim around the front
- flash sync terminal at bottom corner
- wide silver name plate surrounded by screws
- shallow miter/beveled focusing screen cover
Note that the your photo was taken in a mirror, so the camera is reversed.
and flash if it's not permanently attached
If you're talking about the box on top, it's not a flash. It's the unfolded top cover for the focusing screen. You used to look down onto the focusing screen on TLRs (and even several SLRs that had removable viewfinders) in order to focus. Here's a different view of the open focusing screen cover of a slightly older Ikoflex 1a:
ZEISS IKON - Ikoflex IA , 1953, lens Tessar "T", 1:3.5 ƒ=7.5cm, by Luis Cozeto. Creative Commons BY 2.0
Originally by user11924. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11924
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This appears to be a Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex I (850/16). The details called out in the photo that match this model include the rectangular silver trim on the front, flash sync terminal near the lower corner, wide silver nameplate with screws, and the shallow beveled focusing-screen hood.
One important detail: if the image was taken in a mirror, the camera will appear reversed, which can make identification harder.
The box-like section on top is not a flash. On twin-lens reflex cameras, that is the waist-level finder hood, opened up so the photographer could look down at the focusing screen to compose and focus the image.
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