Photavit

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Photavit
Bolta-Werk GmbH (1921 - 1937)
Photavit-Werk GmbH (1937 - 1957)
Nürnberg - Germany

Bolta GmbH was founded in 1921 by Johann Bolten and the company manufactured hard-rubber and bakelite product. Johann Bolten however immigrated to the USA in 1929 and founded a second factory "over there", and subsequently became a legal american citizen. Production of cameras in Nürnberg did not commence before 1935. In 1937 the company changed its name to Photavit-Werk Gmbh, and probably also restructured the legal ownership etc. In 1936 the German forces had allready re-occupied the Rhineland from France, and in 1937 the Nürnberg laws relegates Jews to a separate second-class status in Germany. Being an american citizen, Johann Bolten maybe acted before it was too late, and maybe there was more to it than simply just a change of company name. What happened at the Photavit-Werk during the war is not known, but what is known is, that Nürnberg were heavily destroyed by 1945. Johann Bolten returns to Germany in 1946 and the production of cameras starts again at some point thereafter. In 1955 the Photavit-Werk launches the new line of cameras, the TLR Photina, which were also re-branded and sold as OGA Reflex in the Obergassner chainstores, and as Sears Tower Reflex in the USA. However it all ended in 1957 when Photavit-Werk stopped the production of cameras

Photina Reflex III (1955-57) TLR
Serial no.: n/a
Format: 6 x 6 on 120 rollfilm
Optics: Isco- Göttingen Isconar 1:3,5 75 mm (x 2)
Shutter: Pronto B + 1/25 sec. => 1/200 sec.
I actually aquired this camera as an act of mercy. I noticed this lonely woman hanging around on eBay all alone, and nobody seemed to care, or showed any interest in her ;-). So I couldn't help my self, and after paying only a few Euro's she was mine. The Photina Reflex is a basic TLR with externally linked and coupled lenses. You'll notice the cockwheel-rings on the lenses that interlocks. The Photina Reflex came with various lenses and shutters and was also sold in the USA as "Tower Reflex". As yet merely another Rolleiflex clone it never became very popular, maybe because of the external lens coupling, and it is regarded as a low end TLR. Focussing is done by turning the top lens itself, which feels a bit awkward. Theres is a double exposure prevention links to the film transport, and the shutter know on the bottom-right on the frontplate slides in to the center. This also feels a bit uncomfortable. Of course it's a bit of history, but i must admit that there ARE better basic TLR's outthere. If we're talking low- to mid quality TLR's, I would personally prefer a Weltaflex antime, or why not take a step up and find a secondhand Rolleicord ?.