Vollenda 68 Camera, 1937

Magnificent vintage folding camera made in Germany in 1937. This camera was a very popular model because of its efficiency, small size and quality. It is a Vollenda 68, a model designed by Dr. August Nagel, who started commercializing it in 1929 through its company Nagel. This camera is very compact and boasts a surprisingly small size. The item is in good condition and works perfectly, preserving all its original component parts. The black covering that protects the frame is slightly worn in some places but otherwise the camera keeps its original good look.Dr. August Nagel, father of the Vollenda cameras, was a relevant character in the history of photography, and he designed good small compact cameras. The Contessa and the Retina were also developed by him. In 1929 he founded his own company, the Dr.-August-Nagel-Fabrik für Feinmechanik, best known as Nagel. In 1932 he sold his company to American brand Kodak but he maintained his influence in the firm. The camera we can see in these images was manufactured under the Kodak name, though the name Dr. Nagel is also present in its frame. Curiously enough, the name Vollenda comes from the German word Vollendet that can be translated as Complete or Culminated.This models name, Vollenda, is engraved with embossed letters in the black covering that protects the box. It appears at the back and at one of the sides. The lens bears the inscription Kodak AG Dr. Nagel Work Stuttgart. It is the cameras original lens, a Radionar 6,3/10,5 cm. The name Nagel is also printed in the small metal plate that supports the base on which the bellow and the lens rest when the camera is open.This vintage camera is surely a jewel of 20th century photography. Its good working order will provide its lucky owner with many happy moments.Measurements: Width: 15 cm/5.9 in. Height: 7.5 cm/2.9 in.