Franka Solida c1954 courtesy of the J Noir website
Toronto. We often think German cameras like Zeiss, Zeiss-Ikon, Rollei, Leica, Nagel, Retina etc. but what about Franka (not hot dogs)? On J. Noir’s site, many cameras are described including those of the Franka Kamera Werk in Bayreuth, Germany, at one time the largest maker of cameras in the area.
At our Vol. 2, ZOOM and Tell, this month, member Jeri Danyleyko showed her Franka Solida camera. The FKW was established early last century and operated until 1966. Many of the firm’s cameras were private branded before being offered for sale. This included a line of Montgomery-Ward cameras.
The Solida series were medium priced models with a bellows, lens and leaf shutter reminiscent of pre WW2 Peggy or Retina cameras. Some pricier models have Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar lenses!
