Zeiss Contessamat SE

[photax]

Hi !

I received this camera some days ago as a gift from my uncle: A Zeiss Ikon Contessamat SE from the mid 1960`s, which spent many years in a neighbour`s basement. It is equipped with an 1:2.8/45 Color-Pantar in a Prontormatic 500 shutter. The camera is working, but the exposure meter seems to be inexact. The most interesting about this model is the designation “ZIAG” at the front panel. I think this is an shortcut for “ Zeiss Ikon Aktien Gesellschaft” ( stock company ). I have seen many Contessa`s and Contessamat`s marked with “ Zeiss Ikon”, but this is my first Zeiss camera marked with “ZIAG”. There is also no “made in Germany” marking at the camera.

Does anyone know the reason for this variant name ?



MIK

[Stephen]

I have seen this model with Zeiss on the plate, the Colora model was supplied with ZIAG as well, same period, I wonder if this was during the long legal battle with the East Germans over the rights to the Zeiss names? I don't think Zeiss manufactured outside Germany, so should have borne West German markings, required legally for sale in most countries outside Germany.
A nice model if still in good order,, as usual the lens was the best feature.
Stephen.

[Stephen]

I am told it was as I thought, part of the legal issues with the East Germans, for a while the home market cameras were marked ZIAG, whilst other markets continued with Zeiss Ikon. The merger with Voigtlander was going on in this period, and caused problems with existing agreements over trademarks.
Stephen.

[photax]

Hi Stephen !

Have many thanks for your investigation , this seems to be an plausible explanation.

MIK

[hansz]

MIK,

Not only plausible, but effectively right.
For example ZIAG was the Austrian tradename for a (short) while.
Not many cameras were marked ZIAG, most were low-end. Also Contaflex ZIAG cameras are known.

Hans

[Stephen]

Ihagee has similar trademark naming woes, they could not use Exakta, using Exacta in the States, and were forced not to use Varex, which was a US registered Trademark.
Ziag by Zeiss were never marketed here in the UK, they always seemed to use Zeiss Ikon till the end. They do turn up though, sold by tourists etc., like a lot of cameras not officially imported in the 1950/60 period before restrictions faded on imports.

Name variations were far more common in the States with the multiple importers from Japan putting a home market brand on the cameras. In Europe only big German retailers got in on the act, along with Rank Photographic, and Boots the Chemist, in the UK.

Makes an interesting area to collect.

Stephen.

Stephen.