F. Deckel-munchen folder

[IGMeanwell]

I have a friend who picked up a folder for about 5 dollars at an antique store, but has no information about it other than it works to some extent.

I have been trying to search for information via google and finding very little

So I am asking the brain-trust of the RFF to provide anything you know about these cameras. Specifically good things, problems, things to watch for, film use, and anything else that might be useful.

I asked him to give me a few details about the camera and all he could provide me was what was written on the camera and lens.

"F. Deckel-munchen" and "Rifax" also "Compur-Rapid" (I am familiar with compur shutters)

Thanks in advance

[Solinar]

I have a friend who picked up a folder for about 5 dollars at an antique store, but has no information about it other than it works to some extent.

I have been trying to search for information via google and finding very little

So I am asking the brain-trust of the RFF to provide anything you know about these cameras. Specifically good things, problems, things to watch for, film use, and anything else that might be useful.

I asked him to give me a few details about the camera and all he could provide me was what was written on the camera and lens.

"F. Deckel-munchen" and "Rifax" also "Compur-Rapid" (I am familiar with compur shutters)

Thanks in advance

F. Deckel was the firm in Munich that originally made the Compur leaf-shutters.

The camera on the other hand was made by Beier of Freital - circa 1936-38

http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Beier

What lens is on the camera?

[Solinar]

A picture is worth a thousand words. Here is one showing one equipped with a Prontor shutter, a Steinheil Actinar triplet and the original mask to switch from 6x9 to 645.

http://www.beier-kamera.de/html/rifax1_1.html

All of the above is courtesy of Dr. Google.

[IGMeanwell]

Well now were getting some where

The fact I was missing was the company name being beier

I am going to have him send me a picture; it will make this ten times easier
to pin point

Has anyone used one of these folders?

[Solinar]

Amongst the other links for 6x9 Beiers is the more upscale version of the Rifax utilizing a Laack Pololyt 3.9 lens set within a Compur shutter, circa mid-1930s.

http://www.beier-kamera.de/html/rifax_unbezeichnet.html Lesen Sie Deutsch?

The lens is of interest in that the name ceases to appear during the post-war period. After the war, Welta, Beier and Eho-Altissa, all based near Dresden in East German, seem to use Meritar lenses in many of their folders and TLR's. I discovered this while looking at various TLR's surfing google-land during my lunch break.

[IGMeanwell]

Looks like it has a Rodenstock lens

I asked him for pictures of the entire camera... but this is what I got :p

[Solinar]

That Trinar is an excellent lens. It is the best of the triplets.