Unusual Contarex camera from Zeiss – photo courtesy of Lars Sundberg of Finland
Toronto. With issue 25-1, late editor Bob Lansdale celebrated the society’s 25th anniversary with a number of stories that originally appeared in other journals. One such article by the late Larry Gubas was titled ‘”Anonymous” Zeiss Ikon Cameras’. This article is from the Zeiss Historica journal edited by Mr Gubas for the Zeiss Historical Society.
Larry begins, “Check our main illustration for this article [Contarex at left] and compare the details to an official photograph of the same camera. It looks rather normal for a Contarex first model, doesn’t it? Well, look again. There are some legitimate differences from a regular Contarex which must be inspected by someone as interested as a Zeiss collector.
“The picture and the information comes from one of our distant Zeiss Historica Society members, Lars Sundberg of Kiperhaantie, Finland. On this camera, the Zeiss Ikon logo usually appears in two places. On the front of the bezel, as you look at the camera under the rewind knob on the right, the engraved lens cell trademark is typically under the rewind knob.
“It also should appear on the rear center on the leather directly under the eyepiece it appears with the words “Made in Germany.” Well on this camera, it does not appear at all.” …
Learn why this is a legitimate Contarex in spite of the strange badging by reading all of Mr Gubas’s article in the issue 25-1 pdf file on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. See above (MEMBERSHIP) or at right (Membership) to join. Email any membership questions to Lilianne at member@phsc.ca. And be sure to visit our 2025 events. Next in line is our famous fall fair on October 19th at Trident Hall. While we can’t say you will find that special Contarex offered, you will see items to clearly compliment your collection. A post will go up with details closer to the event.
