Huge Antique 'Mentor' Camera, Circa 1920's

Striking large-format Mentor camera made in Germany in the 1920s. The camera boasts an impressive size and reaches a height of 21.6 inches (55 cm). It is designed to take photographs on glass plates and on film, and remains in very good condition. Mechanically the camera works fine though it has not been tested with film. It preserves all its original component parts and pieces and comes with some unused glass plates, as well as with a film charger. At the top of the camera we can see the brand name Mentor engraved in the surface. On one side of the camera we can see a riveted metal plate with the Mentor speed tables in French. This detail indicates that the camera was probably made for the French market. Close to it there is a circular plate with the German manufacturers name and address. The camera mounts a Tessar 1:4,5 f=21 lens with serial number 561060 made by Carl Zeiss Jenna. The lens is protected by the original metal sunshade, also included. This amazing antique Mentor camera will surely stand out in a great collection of turn-of-the-century cameras. Measurements: Width: 18.11 in / 46 cm. Height: 21.6 in / 55 cm.Mentor Cameras History The history of Mentor cameras starts out in 1898. This year, Hugo Breutmann founded a company in Berlin to produce these devices. In 1899 Breutmann joined a salesman called Franz Goltz and they found a company called Goltz & Breutmann OHG Fabrik für photographische Apparate; from then on, they would produce the Mentor cameras. Years later, Gustav A. Heinrich replaced Franz Goltz and forced the further development of the company which then moved to Dresden. During WWI, the firm produced military air cameras. After the word, Heinrich revived the business again with the manufacture of civil cameras; in 1921, the company eventually changed its name for Mentor Kamerafabrik Goltz & Breutmann. In 1929, the factory had 180 workers. The crisis that happened then and Heinrichs death in 1935 supposed the beginning of the end for the company, although the master craftsman Rudold Groser acquired the business and started out again with 15 employees. During WWII, an air raid over Dresden destroyed the factory and curtailed Gosers dream; nevertheless, the company survived the war and kept on manufacturing large format cameras. In 1972 it changed its name to VEB Mentor, and in 1980 it merged with Pentacon.