Photo thanks to Allen Weiner
[email protected]
I was surprised to see this listing for a Kamera Werkstatten Guthe & Thorsch (later to become part of V.E.B. Pentacon group) of Dresden Germany 127 Pilot Reflex TLR from 1931-37 using Zeiss optics. The camera uses 127 film to make sixteen 3x4cm images. Lens options included a fast f/2.0 Biotar and Tessar or Xenar f/2.8 or f/3.5 lens. I was interested because a folding twin lens reflex is a novelty. Thanks in part to the fast zeiss optics, some versions of this camera command over $500 from collectors, while the less collectible variants may only merit a bit over half that amount. The same corporation produced the original Pilot Super SLR (of 1939-41 using 120 rollfilm) - see medium format history pages).
This is a very uncommon Pilot TLR for 127 rollfilm with Zeiss Tessar f/2.8 taking lens; this camera was marketed in the mid thirties under the K-W name as System Thorsch. Has strip of leather missing at very back just below reflex hood; otherwise in very good condition with working shutter and reaasonably bright viewfinder image. This has always been an uncommon small format folding TLR; and now even more so!
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Side note on Pilots
My first real job in the photo business was working for the late Ben
Thorsch in 1965 at Studio City Camera (CA). Besides being a mentor to me
he built a retail photo business that was the envy of the day. He was the
designer of the Pilots and had fled Germany pre-war. His son (Bernhard)
operated SCC after Ben retired and I believe that Ben's grandson Ron, now
runs the business. They had/have an extensive collection of Pilots and
Bernie (the son) is quite up on the history of Guthe & Thorsch.
Ron Bennett
[Editor's Note: Thanks, Ron, for sharing this interesting note! -
bobm]