Superb! 1937 Old Standard Rolleiflex, Freshly Serviced, CLA’d

Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use

Forget the socks... What he really wants for Christmas is a 1934 Rolleiflex.

If you’re familiar with the Rolleiflex and Rolleicord cameras you’ll know that it’s considered a cult classic by many fans. It was the camera of choice by pros until the middle of the 1960’s. And even today it’s still a camera that was often mentioned by photographic websites as an excellent way to get into medium format. It’s a very famous design that just like Leica, inspired countless copies over the decades.

This is a very early example of the camera that started it all. This is the original “Old Standard” Rolleiflex introduced by Frank & Heidecke in 1932, starting with serial number 200,000. The serial number of the camera we have up for auction is camera is 559236. (This model run ended production at serial no. 567550 in 1938. Based on this and the lens’s serial number, I’d say this camera dates from 1937.) Understandably such an early Rolleiflex is a desirable and significant camera. It can be difficult to find an early example in good working condition. Many were used by war photographers during WWII and subsequently worn out or lost in action…

Some 80 years after it was produced, this Rolleiflex is in very fine condition and completely functional. It uses easily available 120 roll film. So if you’ve been looking for a fine prewar camera to admire and use, then this might be it. It’s honest, it’s significant and it works well.

It’s been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted. Focusing is accurate. The Compur shutter works well and all speeds (T,B, 1 Sec-1/500th) are appropriate. The slow speeds buzz along nicely and the faster ones are clean and snappy. The sharp Zeiss 3.8/75mm Tessar lens (four elements in three groups) is in fine condition. This Tessar lens is very clean. There are no separated elements, crystallization or other problems. There are no scratches, just some unavoidable light cleaning marks and it’s capable of producing lovely photos with modern color and black & white films.

It comes complete with a lovely original brown leather case and hard to find lens cap.

Additionally the camera has a nice archaic detail that aids in the use of the so called “action finder”. In the center of the cross hair sight is a small circular mirror that reflects the eye of the photographer. When you see your own iris in this mirror, then the sight is perfectly centered for accurate framing and allows you to quickly compose shots.

All in all, a very enjoyable vintage camera. Load it with your favorite film and keep it handy for that perfect shot you’ve been looking for. You know the one... the one with the perfect Ansel Adams light breaking through the dark storm clouds that leaves you wishing that you had a vintage medium format camera with you…

Search terms: Carl Zeiss Jena, Tessar, 75mm, 7,5cm, Compur Rapid shutter, medium format, TLR, twin lens reflex, prewar, pre-war, camera, Heidoscope, Rolleidoscop 120 film, authentic, original, vintage, WWII, WW2, reenactor, re-enactor, signal corps, USAAF, war correspondent, war photographer, Frank & Heidecke, Germany