Speedex Folding Camera with Leather Case c. 1940
ABOUT
This is an original German folding camera from the 1940s by AGFA for the American market with leather case. All the functions seem to be in order and there is no mold on the lens, however the camera is untested. The camera folds properly.
- CREATOR AGFA, Made in U.S.A.
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DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1940.
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MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Metal. Leather, Optical Glass.
- CONDITION Good Wear consistent with age and use.Leather strap is missing.
- DIMENSIONS H 4 in. W 6 in. D 4 in.
HISTORY
Originally founded in Berlin,1867, its name was changed to AGFA (Actien-Gesellschaft für Anilin-Fabrikation) in 1873. Its core business was the production of chemicals and films for photography. When AGFA obtained the Rietzschel camera works in Munich from Bayer in 1925, it tagged all Rietzschel products with its AGFA rhombus. In 1926 it introduced the first true AGFA camera, the Standard.
In 1927 the name Rietzschel disappeared from the products. In 1927 the successful Billy camera series was introduced, and AGFA licensed Ansco to manufacture its products for the American market. In January 1928 Ansco merged with AGFA in the United States and the name is changed to AGFA Ansco Corporation.
