Cameras/Voigt camera
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Question
Hi again, David. You answered my question yesterday about an
Olympus Pen EES - thank you.
Pardon the typo - yes, it is a Voigt that I have.
Serial number 10296, on a label inside under a film collection
roller.
The ring around the lens says Compur. On the lens are the
words Wirgin Anastigmat F - 4.5 75 m.m. Also there is a teeny
booklet that says "for Perfect Pictures WIRGIN Fine Art Filters
that describes filter use and a yellow filter.
The back comes off with two slides on the sides - it seems to be
in good shape. That's the scoop.
I appreciate your help.
Rick Green
Hi Rick,
Okay, the Voigt is a generic amateur's folding bellows camera, made in the late 1940's by the Vokar Corporation in the USA, for 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 inch exposures on #120 roll film. Now it was not that uncommon for American camera suppliers to buy overstock gear from German and Japanese manufacturers, put their own name on them, and market the cameras here as their own products. However, here we have an example of a camera made in America, it was purchased at a deep discount by a large German supplier, and sold over there instead! In America this camera was called the Vokar A and Vokar B (depending on the lens ans shutter combinations). But when Wirgin of Germany marketed the camera under their own name, they called it the Voigt, the Voigt Junior, and the Wirgin Deluxe! Despite the bizarre history, I'm afraid the Voigt and all its various incarnations is a rather common little beast, and it doesn't generate a lot of collectible interest today. A truly excellent example might sell for $30. However, if you have one in its gorgeous original "art deco" box, the price can triple. Yes, the box is worth more than the camera!
Best wishes,
David Silver
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| Comment | Again, David was speedy, knowledgeable and very helpful in his answer to my question. Thank you, David! | ||
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David Silver
Expertise
I'm an expert on all types of antique, classic, and contemporary cameras, as well as the general history of photography. Everything from ancient box cameras to modern single-lens-reflex; from simple Kodaks to sophisticated Leica and Nikon; from glass plates and roll film to movie and 35mm. I can identify and appraise them, explain how they work, and offer insights on their restoration and care. I can also provide historical background on vintage cameras and equipment, and guidelines on their purchase and sale.
Experience
I've been a professional photographer and a student of the history of photography for nearly 30 years. During that time my collection of vintage cameras and photographic paraphernalia has grown beyond 2000 significant pieces. I've published nearly 70 articles in the field, including 16 in the popular "Buying Classic Cameras" series for PHOTO SHOPPER MAGAZINE from 1995 to 1997, I'm currently a contributing editor for CAMERA SHOPPER MAGAZINE and McKEOWN'S PRICE GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAMERAS, and I've written numerous entries for WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA. Portions of my collection have been displayed in museums and special exhibits in the past two decades, and many of the items were photographed as illustrations for books. In 1985 I founded the International Photographic Historical Organization (InPHO), which eventually evolved into its intended purpose as the best first resource for information on the history of photography. I'm also a founding member of several e-mail forums dedicated to specialized areas of photography, and I'm the moderator of the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors (IDCC), which remains the largest and most successful such group in the world. For more information about the International Photographic Historical Organization and its many services, please visit its web pages at:
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