A bit puzzled...

[nickr]

So I saw an Ikonta for a tenner, and decided I had to try one at that price. It's very grubby, but seems to work, so will give it a clean and a try. It has the 3 element 10.5 cm f6.3 Novar lens in a Derval shutter - so far, so normal. Has the model number 520/2 stamped into the body covering. Seems to be fully working as far as I can tell.

BUT it doesn't have the folding frame viewfinder. Has the awful reflex one, but no folding one. And no obvious trace of there ever having been one, either. So I'm a bit puzzled - can't find any trace of such a thing. All a bit odd...

[gray1720]

Blowed if I know, I'm afraid!

[steveandthedogs]

Just post-war bitsa using up whatever came to hand?

Somebody re-covering something with wrong leatherette?

Somebody nailed a new top plate on old camera?

You need new glasses?

S

ps last two weren't serious.

Honest.

[nickr]

Must admit my thoughts were running similarly to yours, Steve. And not that different to Adrian's.

But checking the serial number, having eventually found it, it begins with a P, which makes it 1929/30 production, so pretty early. Which is probably the answer. Ah, lens serial number falls between reported ranges for 1928 and 1929, now I can read it properly wearing the right glasses, so I do think this is a very early production model, or possibly even a prototype. Either way, it's even more interesting to a sad git like me than I was expecting. I'll go easy-ish on the cleaning, as it might be of some historical interest in the future, and run a film through it.

Incidentally, also in the leather case were instructions for a Brownie 620, and the leaflet from an old roll of Verichrome Pan, which is nice. And a previous owner had inscribed his name and (Wishaw) address inside, too.

[gray1720]

Interesting... My 1930s cameras are a mixed lot viewfinder-wise. I've an art-deco 620 Kodak that must post-date 1932 that has a folding frame (no lens) and a reflex finder, but my Welta Perle is probably 1934-5 and only has a pop-up. So yours could well be about the right date to predate pop-up vfs.

Please show us the results when you've used it. The later coated Novars are quite decent, take a look at the Nettar pics on my Flickr, so I'd expect yours to look good in b&w.

ETA always nice to find an address, I have a Baby Box Tengor that lived at a hospital I actually worked at!

[nickr]

Well today I've chanced on a video of one very like mine, but MUCH cleaner, so it looks like early production didn't have the frame finder.