A Kodak Recomar designed by Nagel and made in Europe
Toronto. If you can stand it, here is another Kodak Canada ad from the back cover of issue 12-5. The ad shows the result of Kodak’s decision to buy a German factory which manufactured precision cameras. This ad covers the Kodak Recomar camera. At one time I had the earlier Nagel Recomar technical camera in my collection.
The Recomar is a very well designed and manufactured camera. Different models use different sizes of cut film, film rolls, and even glass pates. Its bellows can be extended to capture tiny subjects just a few inches from the lens.
Predating the growth in minicam popularity and market share, Kodak looked to Europe to manufacture precision cameras. Rather than starting a new factory, Kodak decided to buy the Nagel factory in Stuttgart along with its innovative product line. Initially, Nagel Recomars were re-branded as Kodak cameras in North America. Later, the European factory began production of the line of Kodak Retina 35mm cameras. August Nagel is best known for designing the Retinas and the cheap 35mm cassette that became the industry standard.
This ad extolls the virtues of the Recomar and infers it is a Kodak! It should be noted that both Recomars and Retinas were well built precision cameras, showing their Germanic roots.
