Corelle plant
| Korelle-Werk Franz Kochmann | |
|---|---|
| legal form | |
| founding | 1921 |
| resolution | 1948 |
| Seat | Dresden , Germany |
| management | Franz Kochmann |
| Branch | Optics manufacturer |
The company Korelle plant Franz Koch man was a German camera manufacturer in Dresden ( Saxony ) and a trademark of cameras that were manufactured there.
history
Until 1945
The Korelle factory was founded in 1921 by Franz Kochmann, who initially only manufactured simple folding cameras for 9 cm × 12 cm plates. In 1923 Kochmann presented his first box-type single-lens reflex camera. Just one year later, an improved camera, the “mirror-reflex-enolde”, was able to demonstrate. Kochmann's cameras were of very good quality and the demand for his folding and SLR cameras was correspondingly high . A short time later, the metal housing replaced the wooden construction.
In 1929 the company started manufacturing photographic accessories. Two years later the company presented its new roll film camera “Korelle 4 × 6.5 cm”. Only one year later, the company followed the trendy 35mm cameras with the “Korelle K” . By 1935, the company turned to the construction of various 35mm cameras. After that, the production of single-lens reflex cameras was resumed.
At the Leipzig trade fair , Franz Kochmann presented the single-lens reflex camera "Korelle 6 × 6" with a high technical level, which was made clear by the image counter, the exchangeable photo lens or the hinged light shaft through which the reflex image could be seen on a screen . After many changes, the "Reflex-Korelle I", the higher quality "Reflex-Korelle II" and finally the "Reflex-Korelle Ia" and "Reflex-Korelle IIa" were offered. At the same time, there was an expansion of the range of additional lenses and other accessories.
In 1938 the different names of the models Ia and IIa were canceled and the IIa became the Reflex-Korelle II. In addition, the Reflex-Korelle Chrom III was created, which has special features such as an improved self-timer, an extension of the time series, a bayonet connection for Interchangeable objects and many other innovations. As a result, the Chrom III was on the cutting edge of performance. In the same year Franz Kochmann emigrated and a new owner took over the plant. At the same time the company name changed to Korelle-Werk .
From mid-1940, the plant had to interrupt everyday production and commit to the arms industry . The Korelle factory was completely destroyed by the subsequent bombing raids .
After 1945
After the end of the war there was a new company name to Korelle-Werk GH Brandtmann . With remnants of the machines and parts of that time, a provisional production was started, which was limited to potato peelers or pencil sharpeners . After the confiscation in 1945, the plant was expropriated on June 30, 1946 for the benefit of the State of Saxony and finally placed under the industrial administration of 24 OPTIK. A year later there was a new company name. This time to Korelle-Kamera-Werke, operation of the industrial administration 23 optics . In the meantime, the reflex corelle was restored and successfully presented at the Leipzig spring fair in 1947 . Since there were certain problems with the production process, the company was added to the new VEB Wefo Dresden and ceased to exist in 1948.
literature
- Richard Hummel: SLR cameras from Dresden. History, technology, facts. Lindemann, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-89506-127-1 .