Superb! 1937 Rolleicord , CLA'd, Freshly Serviced!

Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use!

If you’re familiar with the Rolleiflex and Rolleicord cameras you’ll know that they are considered a cult classic by many fans. They are also often mentioned by photographic websites as an excellent way to get into medium format photography. The Rollei TLR is a very famous design that just like Leica has inspired countless copies over the decades.

The Rolleicord Ia was a particularly lovely model which had featured excellent controls and was covered with real leather. Franke & Heidecke  produced it in Braunschweig Germany from 1936 until 1947. It produces 6x6 negatives and uses 120 roll film.

The camera in this listing is an exceptionally fine example. The serial number of the lens (1966095) indicates it was produced in prewar Germany in 1937.

It’s been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted. The quality Compur shutter works smoothly and all speeds (T, B & 1 Sec-1/300^th) are appropriate. The slow speeds buzz along nicely and the faster ones are clean and snappy. Focusing is accurate. I should mention that it has its original viewing mirror has scratches on it but it delivers a clear, useable image onto the ground glass screen. For perfectionists, new mirrors can be found on eBay. It only takes a couple of minutes to fit on.

Great lenses are not simply defined by high resolution. What artists and photographers love about certain lenses is the beautiful rendition in the fore and background. It’s something the Japanese refer to as bokeh. This Zeiss lens has an excellent reputation in Europe for a lovely bokeh and its soft smooth backgrounds.

This lens on this camera is a sharp Carl Zeiss 3.5/7,5cm (75mm) Triotar lens which is a classic Cooke design with three elements in three groups. It’s well known for the attractive rendition and bokeh it produces. The glass is in excellent condition. It’s clear and clear. There are no scratches, just a few light cleaning wisps (but you’ll need a magnifier to see it) and it’s capable of producing beautiful photos with modern color & B&W films. As with all prewar lenses, we recommend keeping the sun behind you for best performance.

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 camera with you…