[rollei_list] Re: Automat 'Tropical'
- From: CarlosMFreaza <cmfreaza@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:26:48 -0300
John:
A Rollei TLR camera with the word "Tropical" in the focusing
knob was mentioned in this group some years ago and there were some
similar references in other Rollei forums like in "Photo.net". Todd
Belcher owned a Rolleicord IIb "Tropical", this is his message:
"From: todd <todd_belcher >
To: <rollei
Sent: Sunday, January 28, 2001 5:57 PM
Subject: [Rollei] Rolleicord II b
> I have a Rolleicord IIb with an interesting inscription on the focus knob
> insert. It says "DEUTSCHES FABRIKAT Tropical" There are also three chinese
> characters engraved on the insert. Anybody know anything about this?
>
> Todd"
And one of the members answered:
"Todd
My R-cord IIb has the same markings, I make the assumption they were export
models for the Far-East. I have know idea what the chinese? characters
mean...perhaps 'Made in Germany'....
Ross" ; and Todd answered:
"Ross,
Yes I would assume that it meant export to foreign markets, but I wonder
why the 'Tropical' designation. Are there extra seals in the camera? Did
they originally use different lubricants? Any mention of this in Prochnow?
Todd"; and Ross answered:
"Todd
Your R-cord IIb is a little different.....the word 'tropical' does not
appear on mine nor others I've seen.
Prochnow mentions this 'insert' (excluding the word 'tropical') on p.204 of
Rollei Report 1...."Die Zeichnung zeigt die auch verwendete chinesische
Gravur"...the one mentioned by Prochnow was fitted to R-flex Automats, types
1 to 3. Anyone else have more information?
Ross"
I only could add Ross is right, Prochnow shows in the Rollei Report 1
page 7-204 a focusing knob plate or insert with the words "Deutsches
Fabrikat" and three chinese symbols, but it does not have the word
"Tropical " , however some years ago I read another reference about
the Rolleicord IIb "Tropical" in Photo.Net. This plate in Prochnow is
identical regarding the plate described by Todd except for the word
"Tropical" in western alphabet.
Rolleicord II models and Rolleiflex Automat models were manufactured
simultaneously and the word "Tropical" in the focusing knob has to do
with these two TLR models; the serial number you mentioned in your
post is for a pre-war model as the Rolleicord II(b) is a pre-war model
mainly, the designation has to do with pre-war models.
Todd did not know the exact cause for the name"Tropical" for his
Rolleicord and Prochnow does not talk about it in his book and it
looks like other books don't mention the "Tropical" model. I think it
was called "Tropical" because it had special lubricants to work better
at the tropics hot and humidity, there were no "15-40" oils at the
time and it seems evident the special lubricants were no longer
neessary with the new lubricants manufactured after the war. If I find
more data I'll write you.
Carlos
2010/2/15 John Wild <jwild@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
> I hope that Marc does not object but in my capacity as Editor of Club Rollei
> User, one reader has asked me for further information and I have not got a
> clue(!); although I seem to remember that this may have come up in the past.
> Can anybody offer an answer that I can publish (with suitable
> acknowledgement) in the magazine? -
>
> "I have an Automat, Type 2 (Mr. Parker¹s designation), camera serial no. 699
> 287, Tessar no. 2 181 156, distance scale in meters, the exposure table in
> French, with the top film speed of 18/10 DIN, with the word ³Tropical²
> engraved around the circumference of the Focusing Knob, in place of, and in
> the place and apparently in the same type face as the usual ³Made in
> Germany². After the most careful inspection with a magnifying glass, but
> with no disassembly at all, I have detected no differences what so ever from
> two other examples of the same camera, except that this one is in
> extraordinary good condition, and has a Decal inside the film chamber
> reading ³Usem Films Pertz.² I have never found a reference in any F&H
> literature (of which I have more than 100 examples), nor in any books or
> articles for the user or collector, to a ³tropical² model, or even that
> cameras might be specially prepared for use in the tropics. I also checked
> the Prochnow Reports 1 and 2, but did not find the word ³tropical². Can you
> furnish any information or shrewd guesses, or refer me to someone who might
> have that information?"
>
> - Thanks, John
>
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