Reflex-Korelle

1936

Model 1

Franz Kochmann

Dresden

Germany

Lens:

f2.9, 7.5 cm Victar, iris diaphragm to f16. Interchangeable screw mount lens. Serial no. 390565 .

Shutter:

Focal-plane, speeds 1/25 - 1/500, B.

Construction:

Leather covered metal body.

Format:

12, 6 x 6 cm exposures on 120 roll-film.

Focusing:

Helical to 3 feet.

Attributes:

Reflex viewing through taking lens. Full-size ground glass screen. Frame finder. Magnifier in hood.
Film advance indicated by counter after initially setting to 1 in red window.
Lever-wind film advance which also tensions the shutter.

With:

Case.

The Reflex-Korelle was a fairly basic but functional camera.

Models:

Original - Shutter speeds of 1/10 - 1/1000. Film advance is by counter. 1935.
Model 1 - Shutter speeds of 1/25 - 1/500. Film advance is by counter. 1936.
Model 11 - As for the Model 1 but with speeds of 2 - 1/500 and delayed action. 1936.
Model 1a - As for a Model 1 but an auto-stop is fitted to the film advance. 1937.
Model 11a - As for a Model 11 but with an auto-stop to the film advance. 1937.
Model B - Similar to a Model 1 but the film advance does not set the shutter, the speed dial has to be turned to tension it. There is no frame finder. c. 1939.
Model 111 - Similar to a Model 11a but with different styling around the finder. The shutter speeds go to 1/1000. The lens has a bayonet fitting and a wider throat. c. 1939.

Some early models have nickel rather than chrome trim.

Lenses and Accessories:

A large number of lenses was produced for the Korelle. Some were distributed by the maker others by independent manufacturers. Accessories included extension tubes (16, 26 and 38 mm) and a folding focusing hood. A 1939 pamphlet on the Reflex Korelle lists the following lenses:

Standard Lenses
f3.5, Victar	f3.5 Tessar
f2.9, Victar	f2.8 Tesar
f3.5, Radionar	f1.9 Promoplan
f2.9, Radionar
Long focus and Telephoto Lenses
f1.9, 100 mm Primoplan	f3.5, 180 mm Primotar
f2.7, 105 mm Macro-Plasmat	f5.5, 180 mm Tele-Xenar
f4.5, 105 mm Xenar	f6.3, 180 mm Tele-Tessar
f4.5, 105 mm Tessar	f4.5, 240 mm Tele-Xenar
f4.5, 135 mm Xenar	f5.5, 300 mm Tele-Xenar
f4.5, 135 mm Tessar	f5.5, 360 mm Tele-Xenar
f3.5, 135 mm Primotar	f5.5, 400 mm Tele-Megor
f4.5, 120 mm Rodenstock Imagon
British supplied Lenses
f5.6, 6" Dallon	f4.5, 9" Adon
f5.6, 6" Cooke

References & Notes:

BJA 1937, pp. 275, 650. BJA 1938, p. 527. AP 27/5/1936, pp. iv, xv, xi. AP 21/7/1937, p. xxviii. AP 21/6/1939, p. 712. Westminster Cat. 1939, p. 60. Korelle Guide. Reflex Korelle, The Camera for 1939. Distributed by the Service Co.

Further Information:

BJA 1953, p.221. Dallmeyer lens advert. The AP advertisement of 27/5/1936 is by R. A. Fleming who later became Photo-Optics. One advertisement from 27/5/1936 shows the original shutter speed range. The advertisement for 21/7/1937 says that the 1a and 11a models are nearly ready.

Illustrations:

Wills, History, p.48. (Model B). Christie's Cat. 9/11/1989 lot 165. (Model 111).

Early Photography