127 Archives - Facts, notes and thoughts about vintage cameras and other trifle matters

May 29, 2024

Toa Koki Gelto-D III Gold

Toa Koki Gelto-D III Gold Toakoki was one of the pioneers of the Japanese pre-war camera makers who survived until the early 1950s. Post-war Japan saw an avalanche of camera makers, all aimed at the half a million US soldiers posted there, who had deep pockets and hunted for trinkets to bring back home. The newcomers and the old guard...

127/Japan/Toa Koki Comments: 0

May 28, 2024

Takahashi Arsen

Takahashi Arsen A few weeks ago, I looked at the Acon 35 by ARS Optical, and the Arsen model came to mind, a kind of name similarity. I pulled the Arsen off the shelf and looked it up online. With the first online result, the Gelto name came up; indeed, they are similar. Further looking at the little information available,...

127/Japan/Obscure/Viewfinder Comments: 0

April 24, 2024

Kokusaku Auto Keef

Kokusaku Auto Keef Now and then, I come across an odd camera, which is the case now. The Auto Keef could be a top contestant for the weirdest camera title. Very little is mentioned on it, online or in print. There is a long Camera-Wiki article about it, but other than the obvious and some immaterial data, there is no...

127/Japan/Obscure/Rangefinder Comments: 0

January 27, 2024

Kalimar Kolt 44

Kalimar Colt 44 / Hoei Anny 44 Paying tribute to the Kalimar brand, I pulled two identical cameras off the shelf, the Kalimar 44 and the Anny 44. Both are the same, just different name tags. Kalimar also sold the same camera under Kalimar 44. The 44 mark was popular with other camera models, relating to the frame size of...

127/Japan/Kalimar/USA/Viewfinder Comments: 0

December 19, 2023

Bencini Comet / Koroll

Bencini Comet / Koroll Online information about Bencini feels like time travel. Sources state different, sometimes contradicting activity and model dates. Antonio Bencini seemed engaged with everything camera in Italy in the early 20th century. He was involved with FIAMMA and Filma before branching independently with ICAF, later named CMF. From his work, it seems that Bencini liked acronyms, classical...

120/127/Bencini/Italy/Viewfinder Comment: 1

October 25, 2022

Miniature Box cameras

Miniature Box cameras Yen Baby Camera Eho Baby Box Georges Paris Gap Fotobaby List number 97050 12865 131926 Brand Baby Camera Kenkyujo Eho Altissa Georges Paris Format Cut 3*4.5 127 127 Model Baby Camera Eho Box 3×4, baby box GAP Fotobaby Black Introduced 1935 1930 1955 AKA Country Japan DDR France Qty made 0 Initial price Currency Type Yen Box...

127/DDR/Eho Altissa/France/Japan/Miniature box camera Comments: 0

September 14, 2022

Becnini Comet 3

Becnini Comet 3 Comet 3 / III current value More about Bencini The Italian camera industry, which is no more, had a few high-end camera makers and some that made cameras for all, to meet the up-and-coming hobby. The flag bearers were Ferrania and Bencini. I may favor Ferrania as my first camera, back in 1962 or about that was...

127/Bencini/Italy/Viewfinder Comments: 2

June 20, 2022

Vredeborch Nordetta 3D

Vredeborch Nordetta 3D Vredeborch Nordetta 3D current value For camera collectors, vintage cameras come in several interest levels. It ranges from the nobility, such as the Leitz and Rollei, to the plebeians. Somewhere by the bottom sits the short-lived, low-tech Vredeborch brand. Vredeborch produced about 90 models, perhaps even less, discounting name variants. Today, their cameras hardly show up for...

127/Obscure/Stereo/West Germany Comments: 0

October 13, 2021

Nagel Ranca

Dr. Nagel Ranca Nagel Ranca 46/0 current value Nagel Ranca 46/1 current value I got this Ranca at the first break after the first COVID wave, following a long dry period of not adding any new camera. I drove upcountry for over an hour to pick up a Rollei when the seller pulled out “another old camera”. Nikon, Canon,...

127/Mini camera/Viewfinder/West Germany Comments: 2

Category: 127