Zeiss Ikon Nettar 515

[matty]

Went to the twice yearly antiques fair at the Anglesey Showground today and found a Nettar 515, complete with its box:




Quite a neat little camera, I thought it was a 35mm folder at first glance as it is quite a bit smaller than my other 120 folders. It has the Nettar Anastigmat 7.5cm 1:4.5 lens. The shutter is marked as Telma and has speeds B, T, 25, 50, 100 and 125. On the rear is marked E71514. Hansz, I would be most grateful if you could work your Zeiss magic and tell me a little bit more about this camera.

The camera is in okay shape, the body is a little rusty and the covering has the usual bubbles but the lens is clear, the bellows look to be in good shape and the iris stops down properly, so I've got a working camera. I'll give it a little bit of a clean up but will leave it as found otherwise.

Regards
Matty

[hansz]

The Nettar (as follow-on camera of the Nixe-Icarette line) was introduced mid 1934 in the 6x9cm format, as the 515/2.
The Nettar in 4,5x6cm format was introduced early 1937, fitted with a 1:6,3 Nettar lens in a Klio00 shutter (Bestellnummer 515 Dk).

Your 515 Nettar-Anastigmat 1:4,5 in Telma was introduced as the 515 Dt late 1938.
The body number E.... is definitely prewar, so your 515 can be dated as 1939(-ish).

Hans

[Peltigera]

My favourite medium format camera. Very usable and produces excellent images.

[philbirch]

I have a couple of 6x6's and they are both stellar performers. Nice find!

[Stephen]

If you want to repair the box, use thinned PVA art glue, and paint each surface, and allow to dry.
Art grade dries clear and semi matt, but keep it from the front surface pare if you can.
After it is dry(it seals the surfaces, use the normal strength PVA glue on one surface and then smooth the paper down, using a dry cloth, then if any glue comes out at the edge wipe away with a damp cloth.

The inside of "tired" old cardboard can be painted with shellac varnish, (french polish), the easiest stuff to buy is button varnish grade. Dilute and clean up with meths,(alcohol). It binds the flaky and dusty card together, and rendered it more damp proof.

Tiny tears and pealing outer skin can be superglued down, or glued with PVA, once the lot is clean and dry it can be sealed with a good soft beeswax furniture polish, but be warned it will darken the finish a bit, so look different to un-treated ones.

After sealing and waxing it should stabilize the box finish for ages.

Stephen.

[philbirch]

Jun 2, 2014 13:04:57 GMT -5 Stephen said:

If you want to repair the box, use thinned PVA art glue, and paint each surface, and allow to dry.
Art grade dries clear and semi matt, but keep it from the front surface pare if you can.
After it is dry(it seals the surfaces, use the normal strength PVA glue on one surface and then smooth the paper down, using a dry cloth, then if any glue comes out at the edge wipe away with a damp cloth.

The inside of "tired" old cardboard can be painted with shellac varnish, (french polish), the easiest stuff to buy is button varnish grade. Dilute and clean up with meths,(alcohol). It binds the flaky and dusty card together, and rendered it more damp proof.

Tiny tears and pealing outer skin can be superglued down, or glued with PVA, once the lot is clean and dry it can be sealed with a good soft beeswax furniture polish, but be warned it will darken the finish a bit, so look different to un-treated ones.

After sealing and waxing it should stabilize the box finish for ages.

Stephen.

Interesting comment, I have been collecting old board games and thats pretty much what I do with the boxes and boards. Sometimes the cardboard tokens too. Only PVA no superglue or shellac.

[matty]

Thanks for the info everyone, next time I'm in town I'll pick up some 120 and try this one out. Won't be for a few days yet as I've got a lead to follow up. Whilst I was looking at the Nettar a gentleman came up and said if I was interested in cameras he had a box full in his shed, so tomorrow I'm off to have a look at what he's got.
Matty

[philbirch]

Jun 3, 2014 6:59:17 GMT -5 matty said:

Thanks for the info everyone, next time I'm in town I'll pick up some 120 and try this one out. Won't be for a few days yet as I've got a lead to follow up. Whilst I was looking at the Nettar a gentleman came up and said if I was interested in cameras he had a box full in his shed, so tomorrow I'm off to have a look at what he's got.
Matty

I get that kind of conversation too. The wife usually drags me away, well aware of the direction the conversation will take!!

The Photax arrived> great to have the blinde too, the old one never had one. Thanks.