Ludwig.Lausa-Dresden "Victar" Anastigmat 50mm f/2.9 lens (a lot of info to be written on such a small lens!) in dial-set self-cocking Pronto shutter with delayed action device (the red lever). Although most had front-cell focussing lenses, examples with a helical focus unit can also be found.Įarly example of the first Gewirette model, here with E. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen any early Gewirette's that were completely identical. The Gewirette could be found with a wide variety of lenses and shutters, including Ludwig Victar or Schneider Radionar lenses, and dial-set Vario, Pronto, Ibsor or rim-set Compur or Prontor II shutters.
Two red spy windows were present at the back of the camera. The left knob marked 'F' was the wind knob. The top plate was black and could be removed to load film, it was unlocked by rotating the right knob marked 'Z'.
It had a small viewfinder in the middle of the top plate but lacked the accessory shoe present on later versions. The Wirgin Gewirette was a cute little camera with a collapsible lens that produced 3x4 cm negatives on 127 roll film. During the war production stopped and the factory was partially destroyed during Allied Forces bombing raids.Īfter the war Henry Wirgin returned to reclaim his company and carried on where he left off, building Edinex cameras and later moving into SLRs, the Edixa Reflex. The company was confiscated and produced cameras under the name Adox. In 1938 they fled Germany via Switzerland to the USA. The Wirgin brothers were of Jewish origin and became the subject of increasing harrassment.
They built several folding cameras before venturing out in miniature cameras, as cameras smaller than medium format were called, like the Gewirette and Edinex. The Wirgin company was founded in the 1920s in Wiesbaden, Germany, by the four Wirgin brothers, who were immigrants from Poland.