Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Nov 22, 2014 13:35:36 GMT -5
Another 35 mm camera coming in from ebay, a Diaxette from Walter Voss of Ulm in Germany, a revised version of the original 1948 Diax camera, introduced in 1953 to complement the more expensive Diax cameras with interchangeable lenses. Well made, they are pretty standard in features, no rangefinder, fixed lens, a three element Steinheil Cassar 45mm F2.9, in a Prontor shutter 1sec to 1/300th plus B. Quite compact design, conventional mechanics, no odd features, although the big brother Diax had unusual viewfinder and rangefinder windows. The rewind button is on the top as the whole back comes off for reloading film. Quite why the Walter Voss brand never made it much outside Germany remains a mystery. This particular camera was imported to the Uk by Wallace Heaton Ltd, of Bond Street, London, a major 1950's/60's Photographic retailer and importer. They always added a transfer trade label to the camera, this Voss has it on the back. Indicates Wallace Heaton were the official importer, and that it came in to the UK custom charges and tax paid. Walter Voss closed suddenly in 1957, a little before the Japanese invasion that brought down many German makers. Not to bad a price as well at £17. Stephen.
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Post by genazzano on Nov 22, 2014 14:49:59 GMT -5
Nice little camera. Btw, who was Walter Voss?
David
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Nov 22, 2014 15:23:40 GMT -5
He was the owner and founder of Voss, trade name Diax, not much on net about his background. It was a small firm, started according to sources on the net with nine workers. Walter Voss seemed determined to get into production as soon as possible after the war. It was the first new model from any maker in West Germany.
Stephen.
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Post by philbirch on Nov 22, 2014 19:01:25 GMT -5
I was watching this camera and missed the end of the auction because of work
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Post by Rachel on Nov 23, 2014 7:36:39 GMT -5
Similar to mine .....
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Nov 23, 2014 9:03:42 GMT -5
I was watching this camera and missed the end of the auction because of work I was surprised the camera did not attract more interest, they go for far more in Germany, even for the plainer Diaxette. The reason I was interested was the Wallace Heaton transfer on the back. Heaton was a major UK retailer, until bought by the Dixon's photographic store group, who where mainly interested in the London stores they acquired in the deal, especially the London Bond Street branch. Stanley Kalms, Dixon's owner, was only interested in discounting, direct sales with no back up. Brought the prices down, but within months lead to untrained staff running the shops. such was the reputation of Dixon's name and reputation, it is still in business, but under another name! Still after a Diax and lenses, often available but at high end prices. Stephen.
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Stephen
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Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Nov 23, 2014 9:15:21 GMT -5
Rachel, yes the very same model, l am curious as to the lens performance, it had a Cassar lens by Steinheil, 45mm f2.9, a three element lens, which in my experience are very average in performance, and mediocre at full open aperture.
The only really decent one is the Edixa standard lens, others fitted to compacts have only been sharp at F8, admittedly typical for a three element lens. But the three element lens from East Germany from Meyer are better all round, and l wonder why.
Stephen.
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Post by Rachel on Nov 24, 2014 4:28:29 GMT -5
Stephen, your model has more shutter speeds than mine. I think that I have put a film through the camera. I'll have a look.
Had a closer look at mine. It has a Pronto shutter. It's hardly been used and the leather ERC case is as new.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Nov 24, 2014 6:27:21 GMT -5
A lot of German makers offered so many variants of shutter and lens, pre-war because of a bust economy, and post war due to shortages. Some Welta 35 mm have about twenty variants of what is shown to be the same model. Occasionally even Leica supplied lenses to other makes including Welti. Edixa seemed to use whatever model of shutter was available at times.....I think the post war models were more settled, especially the East Germans, who on fixing the designs left them in production.
Stephen.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Nov 29, 2014 10:09:52 GMT -5
The Diaxette arrived today, all working, in good condition, bar a couple of paint marks, easily touched in. Very solidly built, heavy construction, lens is a Steinheil Cassar, quite clean, with front element focusing. Nothing unconventional about the loading or auto cocking of the shutter, all as modern designs. Shutter is a Prontor-S, with delayed action, very quiet and a smooth release. Despite the heavy construction the camera is very small, as is the Diax.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Nov 30, 2014 10:36:31 GMT -5
Walter Voss Diaxette 35mm Camera as received from seller, it will need a pouch case for storage, no case with the sale. Handles very nicely, the wind on a touch stiff, release very smooth and quiet. Built about 1954/55. The release button stays down a bit till wound on to indicate it needs winding, and the Prontor-s shutter has a tab visible on the rim, when ready to fire. Focus scale is in meters, with a depth of field scale. The Steinheil Cassar 45mm F2.9 lens is focused by the outer element, down to approx a metre close up. Push on filters were done by Voss as accessories, of which they had quite a range. The film counter is a simple scale surrounding the wind on shaft, with knurled edge to aid grip for setting. The general standard of engineering looks far better than average, with good finish to everything. despite the small size it is heavy, mainly due to thick solid castings ans thick casings. The interior is well made, no plastic anywhere in the camera bar insulation.
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Stephen
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Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Nov 30, 2014 11:00:22 GMT -5
The Voss Diaxette camera with the back open, a fully removable type, it locks with a twist button around the tripod screw. the interior is finished with a matt crackle finish paint. Well made parts. A competitor was the Braun Paxette, which was cheaper than the Voss, and not so well built. They had both used various shutters and lenses, the Braun was made with the same Cassar lens. both very compact, the Braun looks chunkier than the Voss. Stephen.
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Stephen
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Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Dec 7, 2014 10:29:17 GMT -5
The first films show the performance to be very good, a surprise for the Steinheil Cassar lens. I am waiting for a new scanner at present, so samples as soon as that arrives rather than re-photographing the negatives. There are Black and white as well as Fuji colour shots. At first glance they look as good as the Kodak Retina etc., but will requite close examination. Very pleasant camera to use, it's only restriction is no rangefinder built in. The stiff wind on has eased in use, plus a spot of oil on the mainshaft. The internals are very well made, top quality engineering. It is strange the make vanished so quickly, maybe Walter Voss died, and he was sole owner.
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