Rollei factory, 1949

Some interesting pictures of Rolleiflex cameras and users are now available from the Life magazine archive on

Google Image. Just type in the subject you want followed by source:life. Here's one of the Brunswick factory in 1949:<div></div>

Great photo! I think I have some similar ones somewhere showing Contax IIa's and maybe something from the CZ Oberkochen lens works .... ought to scan and post those, these things are great to share.

 

I like the tools in the foreground: 2 pairs of pliers, 2 large files and a hammer?

Beautiful photo - from Braunschweig.

 

Kerkko K.

Nice photo. I wonder if they always wore ties and had a thousand camera on the table at the same time. I am guessing this

is a promo photo.

Dennis

wearing ties, probably yes. Quite common in Europe then. 1000 cameras.... well, maybe not all at one time.

Wow, amazing photo. Mike, thanks for bringing this up.

Photos like this are always interesting!

The black tube in the back ground must be somekind of alignment equipment.

 

And the two large files looks somewhat missplaced. (but he has a brush for the chips...)

Rollei produced their 300,000th camera in 1938. 18 years later, in their Golden Age in 1957, they sold their

1,000,000th camera. This means 700,000 cameras in 18 years, 39,000 cameras a year, which translates to roughly

110 camera per day in the various Rollei factories -- and almost all of them twin-lens reflex cameras!

<p>

Due to the effects of WW2, in 1949 their production was probably much less than that (while sharply increasing

later in the 1950s). So I'd <i>guess</i> there is maybe a week's production placed out on that table for showing off.

By the way, the picture can be found <b><a

href="http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=ed3ef82c2dac1a9a&q=rolleiflex+source:life&usg=__VOnBKDgfW4BxolQ_ZIOksk8ywls=&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drolleiflex%2Bsource:life%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG&um=1#"

>here</a></b> and there is also a much larger version than the copied image shown above.

I like how they keep the focusing cam lube in their hair ;)

so THAT's how it gets all over the lens diaphragms!

The fellow at the back standing is interesting; is he supervising or being taught what to do? Maybe he got it wrong and the supervisor needed to show him again how to do it. Maybe he's too old now and afraid he'll be sacked; or maybe he's checking the other guy's work.

 

I like the hammer, too, and the brush. Looks like a better place to work, really....