Voigtlander Bergheil - A small one

<p>I thought some of you might like to see a very small bellows camera and I have a few questions if anyone has some ideas. Anyhow, it is a Voigtlander Bergheil. The entire camera is not much bigger than a pack of cards. This camera came with what appears to be 12 film backs, 1 glass plate back and a roll film back and some other things. The 75 mm Heliar is mounted on a Compur shutter with speeds ranging from 1 second to 1/300 second. Diaphragm adjusts from f4.5 to 25. There are some simple movements - straight up and down and from left to right but nothing fancier than that.</p>

<p>My questions - Did they every make 6x4.5 sheet film? Hard to believe. I am going to take a stab at trying to load one of those backs. There is a dial on the front marked with "M", "D" and "Z" - if set on "M", the shutter operates as expected. If I dial in the other two letters, I am not able to cock the shutter. What could these be for? I suppose knowing some German here would help. Oh, and there is a button at the bottom of the frame that holds the shutter that I cannot determine its function. It is essentially part of a shaft that goes across the rails, has a spring on it ... it can be seen in the attached pictures. I included on one of those small LED flashlights in the pictures to give you a bit of scale.<br /> Thanks!<br /> Dave</p>

<p><img src=" alt="" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>Z at least is the equivalent of T or B, not sure which. Compur shutters don't need cocking at T & B, which I suspect is that D and Z are.<br>

Yes, 4x5 x 6cm was a sheet film size.<br>

If you're lucky, the roll film back takes 127 film.<br>

Sounds about as tiny as an Ica Atom.</p>

<p>Photo 1<img src="http://mce_host/classic-cameras-forum/<a href="http:/www.flickr.com/photos/17331038@N00/5923929644/" title="bregheil1x by gkardmw, on Flickr"><img src="http:/farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5923929644_c48628ab76_t.jpg" width="100" height="60" alt="bregheil1x"></a>" alt="" /></p><div></div>

<p>Photo2<img src="http://mce_host/classic-cameras-forum/<a href="http:/www.flickr.com/photos/17331038@N00/5923929644/" title="bregheil1x by gkardmw, on Flickr"><img src="http:/farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5923929644_c48628ab76_t.jpg" width="100" height="60" alt="bregheil1x"></a>" alt="" /></p><div></div>

<p>Photo3<img src="http://mce_host/classic-cameras-forum/<a href="http:/www.flickr.com/photos/17331038@N00/5923929644/" title="bregheil1x by gkardmw, on Flickr"><img src="http:/farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5923929644_c48628ab76_t.jpg" width="100" height="60" alt="bregheil1x"></a>" alt="" /></p><div></div>

<p>Photo4<img src="http://mce_host/classic-cameras-forum/<a href="http:/www.flickr.com/photos/17331038@N00/5923929644/" title="bregheil1x by gkardmw, on Flickr"><img src="http:/farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5923929644_c48628ab76_t.jpg" width="100" height="60" alt="bregheil1x"></a>" alt="" /></p><div></div>

<p>It does look very 'cute' so I am hoping that you'd be able to run film through it and post here!</p>

<p>Photo5<img src="http://mce_host/classic-cameras-forum/<a href="http:/www.flickr.com/photos/17331038@N00/5923929644/" title="bregheil1x by gkardmw, on Flickr"><img src="http:/farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5923929644_c48628ab76_t.jpg" width="100" height="60" alt="bregheil1x"></a>" alt="" /></p><div></div>

<p>John,</p>

<p>You are right about the D and Z - the D is like bulb and the Z is like T. That solves that one.<br>

Why would I be lucky if the roll back is 127 - it is - it had a spool in it, and I think I have another one laying around somewhere. That back has two red windows - one has a metal cover and the other one is missing the cover. It also seems to need something to wind it on the top that is missing.</p>

<p>Well, I was trying to avoid the word "cute", but it does fit! The darn digital images makes it look in worse shape than it really is - it just has some brass colored highlights. </p>

<p>I plan to get some pictures out of it this week if everything goes as planned (which it never does).</p>

<p> </p>

<p>D and Z are, like the other fellow said, T and B. You do not cock the shutter for those.</p>

<p>If you are refering to the lever there at the 4 o clock position, that is the lever to press to interchange the whole lens/shutter. The Bergheil had interchangeable lenses. There was a long focus (telephoto) lens/shutter available from Voigtlander.</p>

<p>I had one in 6.5 x 9cm in green leather. Nice but I sold it. I am waiting to get a CertoTrop (also had interchangeable lens/shutters).</p>

<p>Tom,</p>

<p>I am not sure we are looking at the same lever - the one that appears to be at the 4 o'clock position is the lever to adjust the aperture. If you look directly under that, you can see a chrome plated pin with a spring around it - that is the one I cannot find a use for. <br>

Or maybe that is the one you are referring to - if that is the case, how is it used? Do you depress it and lift on the shutter frame?</p>

<p>Dave</p>

 

In photo 5 on the left, what you are calling a glass plate back, is in fact a pack film adapter. The holders in the center are the glass plate holders and may or may not have been adapted for film with sheaths or backing plates. We would need to see inside them to tell you for sure. And the other is of course a Rolex Patent roll film adapter. The reason for two red windows is that half frame can be shot if you use the half frame mask that you show in photo 5 in place of the darkslide in the holder. The button with the spring looks like a shutter release. Is there any linkage on the other end of it that will trip the shutter when you press it?

The spring/button may also be the shutter/lens release as Tom said. If it is, then press it and turn the entire shutter counter clockwise to undo the bayonet mount on the back of the shutter. On the larger models it is a hooked lever up on the lens board, but on that little one, it might be that button.

<p>Wow. A 645 Bergheil. I never knew such a thing existed. I have a 6x9 Avus that is tiny and amazing. Yours is twice as cool and half the size.</p>

<p>BTW, later Bergheils had both rise and shift knobs at the same location at the top left of the standard. Early models like yours had the same layout as the Avus, with shift at the exact location of your mystery spring/button, but I would expect a knurled knob. Maybe a replacement/repair?</p>

<p>The reason it was suggested that you were lucky if it was a 127 back is that film and hence spools are still available new.<br>

The mask fitted in the film back and using both of the two red windows will let you take 16 on 127 for economy as well.</p>

<p>Cliff,<br>

I bet you are correct as now that I look at these holders, there size and configuration fit your described uses. Here is a picture of the plate holder insides - how would you modify it to hold film, just jam some cardboard into it to fill in the space?</p>

<p><img src=" alt="" /></p><div></div>

<p>Nick - here is a shot of what was included with the roll film back - a 127 spool, a roller and the chrome fixer to block out the red window. Am I correct in thinking something is missing? There is nothing holding either a take-up spool or supply in place, the film would be dragged across that metal bar between the red windows, there is no knob to allow the rotation of the film - this might be a dead end. I am really disappointed that it seems this camera will just sit unless maybe I can get film into the plate holders<img src=" alt="" /></p><div></div>

Yes you are correct, the inside film carrier is missing from the roll holder. It is quite useless without it. On the plate holders I cut a piece of aluminum the size of a plate, paint it black, and insert it in the holder. It act as a pressure plate. Those little clips are springs. Then the film is cut to the same plate size and just slipped in against the plate. I'll take some pictures and get them on here for you.

<p>Thanks Cliff, that would be appreciated. What is your source of aluminum (thickness)?</p>

Ok here is a picture of the pressure plate you need to make. It doesn't matter how thick it is. flashing from the hardware store will work. If you notice in the holder there is a finger nail groove at the top end. When you make your plate, put a matching groove in it. Then you can get a hold of your film to get it out easy after exposure. Once you make the plate it stays in the holder. The film will slide in toward the bottom then up to the top. The pressure plate will keep it flat but it is only secured at the top and bottom between the plate and the frame from the spring pressure. When you go to unload it. press in on the film and slide it down and get your finger nail in the groove at the top to lift it out.<div></div>

Here is the plate installed showing the hole you get from the two opposing grooves. This gives you a good place to get a nail on your film to get it back out.<div></div>

Thought you might like to see this too. This is a 4.5x6cm film pack dated March of 1927. This is what goes in the film pack holder.<div></div>

Here is the pack itself. the entire thing fits inside that holder with the tabs sticking out the slot in the end. After each exposure you pull the tab and it pulls that sheet of film to the back. With these old steel packs you can open them and retrieve the exposed films for developing before you use up the whole pack. There are 12 sheets of film in these packs. I wish someone would gear up and make them again. Especially the 2x3 size.<div></div>