Post by Stephen on Aug 25, 2013 18:24:16 GMT -5
From Ebay, bought quite cheaply tonight, a Welta Welti 35 folding compact, condition looks quite reasonable, leather intact, and well embossed, it is a pre-war example, with a Schneider Xenar 50mm F3.5 lens, the better alternative to the basic models, with a Compur shutter, without body release. The lens number details seem to date it to about mid 1935 / mid 1936 (Schneider Optics Number reference page).
A close relative to the Balda 135 Baldina, it has the same design side struts, but conventional wind on on the top of the camera, with a more normal film counter.
The camera was later continued in production, until about 1960 in East Germany as the Belca.
Welta also made the more expensive Weltini 35mm cameras, with better side struts and more advance higher speed lenses. The cheapest alternative was the Welta, which was stripped to basics only.
Welta Welti 35mm camera, Xenar F3.5 50mm lens.
With leather case, partially re-stitched, I think. The viewfinder has simple parallax correction, near and far, via a lever under the rear lens. The bellows will need checking for light tightness etc.
The back with depth of field tables, in good condition. As usual the black paint needs attention, although the leather looks fine, Welta had better thicker leather than Balda, and the cameras cost a lot more! In 1938, the Welti model with the Schneider Xenon lens was selling in New York stores for $74.50, or about $1200 US in modern terms. The Xenar version was approx $56, about two times a weeks wages, making both expensive cameras for the times.
They were available in the UK via Westminster Cameras at slightly lower prices than the US.
It will make interesting comparison with the Balda Baldina.
Stephen.
A close relative to the Balda 135 Baldina, it has the same design side struts, but conventional wind on on the top of the camera, with a more normal film counter.
The camera was later continued in production, until about 1960 in East Germany as the Belca.
Welta also made the more expensive Weltini 35mm cameras, with better side struts and more advance higher speed lenses. The cheapest alternative was the Welta, which was stripped to basics only.
Welta Welti 35mm camera, Xenar F3.5 50mm lens.
With leather case, partially re-stitched, I think. The viewfinder has simple parallax correction, near and far, via a lever under the rear lens. The bellows will need checking for light tightness etc.
The back with depth of field tables, in good condition. As usual the black paint needs attention, although the leather looks fine, Welta had better thicker leather than Balda, and the cameras cost a lot more! In 1938, the Welti model with the Schneider Xenon lens was selling in New York stores for $74.50, or about $1200 US in modern terms. The Xenar version was approx $56, about two times a weeks wages, making both expensive cameras for the times.
They were available in the UK via Westminster Cameras at slightly lower prices than the US.
It will make interesting comparison with the Balda Baldina.
Stephen.
