Nagel
Superb! 1935 Art-deco 6x4.5 Duo camera, with Zeiss Tessar lens, CLA'd, Freshly Serviced!
Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use
This is an art-deco Kodak Duo Six-20 camera. It was produced at the Nagel factory, which at that time had been recently purchased by Kodak in order to gain a foothold in the European market. The Nagel Camera Company had enjoyed a fine reputation for it quality products. This quality was evident in the finely crafted prewar European Kodak Retinas. This was largely due to the founder Dr. Nagel, designed and ran the business together with his skilled and motivated workforce.
This version of the Art Deco camera was only produced for three years between 1934 to 1937. It produces 16 6x4.5 cm exposures on 620 roll film. By the way in case you’re wondering, 620 film is still available from specialty film firms on the internet. Additionally many owners simply wind 120 film onto 620 spools. (620 film is identical to 120 but it’s wound onto slightly smaller spools.)
This camera is in beautiful condition and it’s been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted. Everything works. The bellows are light tight. The quality Compur shutter works smoothly and all speeds (T,B & 1 sec - 1/300th) are appropriate. The slow speeds buzz along smoothly and the faster ones are clean and snappy. and all speeds are appropriate.
The 3.5/7cm (70mm) Carl Zeiss Tessar lens is in exceptionally fine condition. This is the same lens that was used on the Zeiss-Ikon Super Ikonta A of the same era. It’s a superb design with four lens elements in three groups. The glass looks virtually new. There are no scratches or cleaning marks. There are no separated elements, crystallization or haze and it’s capable of producing lovely photos modern color and B&W films.
The lens serial number indicates that it was produced in the autumn of 1934. This indicates that this camera was produced in late 1934 / early 1935. It was then most likely sold in the summer of 1935 by “Photo-Plait” in Paris France.
All in all a very attractive, vintage camera. Freshly serviced and enjoyable to use, if you’re so inclined.