Arette Bw interchangeable lens camera

[bigdawg]

Got this one for $17.90 US with free shipping on Ebay. The auction description said an Arette 1A but the photo was of either an Arette Bn or a Bw. I took a chance and bid. Surprise!! It is a beautiful Arette Bw. The Bw is an interchangeable lens Viewfinder camera With a Prontor SVS shutter and brightlines in the viewfinder for 50mm and 90mm lenses. I need in the future to find a 90mm lens to make the kit complete.

Everything works except the shutter is stuck. I'll look into that shortly. The Gossen meter is active and seems to be working as it did when new, A small amount of paint is missing from the plastic strip at the bottom of the film loading door. That too will be easy to fix.

All in all a lucky buy.

[photax]

Congratulations ! This German company made some excellent cameras back in the 1950`s.
I once found a Akarette II with a bag full of accessories and three lenses at a flea market.

MIK

[nikonbob]

bigdawg

You have been picking up some neat little cameras. I sure like the lines on this one.

Bob

[Berndt]

Congratulations. Cool camera !!!

[bigdawg]

Dec 6, 2011 15:09:38 GMT -5 photax said:

Congratulations ! This German company made some excellent cameras back in the 1950`s.
I once found a Akarette II with a bag full of accessories and three lenses at a flea market.

MIK

I wish I had your flea markets here. Be nice to hold one before I buy for a change.

[bigdawg]

Dec 6, 2011 21:20:55 GMT -5 nikonbob said:

bigdawg

You have been picking up some neat little cameras. I sure like the lines on this one.

Bob

Thanks Bob. I too like it's lines. The thing about Arettes is the fit and finish is so well done.

[bigdawg]

Dec 6, 2011 23:03:49 GMT -5 Berndt said:

Congratulations. Cool camera !!!

I agree my friend. COOL! Now to get at that sticky shutter.

[Just Plain Curt]

Interesting, Mine looks different:





Neither one looks the same. Not up on my Arettes though.

[bigdawg]

Just a difference in model year I guess. Does your Bw have a Gossen brand meter or a Bewi brand? Mine has a Gossen meter. I like the C with the rangefinder. Like to have one someday and a D model with the light meter and a rangefinder.

[Just Plain Curt]

Mine has the BEWI light meter. Interesting they're the same camera but so different.

[bigdawg]

Dec 8, 2011 20:40:12 GMT -5 Just Plain Curt said:

Mine has the BEWI light meter. Interesting they're the same camera but so different.

I think the design was changed to accommodate the different meter. Just a guess~ and I have no idea which was first!

[presboss]

Dec 7, 2011 19:50:25 GMT -5 Just Plain Curt said:

Interesting, Mine looks different:





Neither one looks the same. Not up on my Arettes though.

[presboss]

Hi: Arette was used by my father thru three wars, and finally found it. exactly same as yours. in brown leather orginal case.

Brings back a lot of great memories. used it a young lad, have forgotten how to use it, will start looking for a manual before I start to play with it.

thanks for posting your pictures

[e-mail]

[daveh]

Hi, Presboss. The initial go-to for manuals is always the Mike Butkus site, if you haven't already found it. However the only manual he has of this make appears to be the Arette 1B

[philbirch]

Your camera shares the same lens mount as the AkaRelle and AKARette