The Plaskop is a German stereo camera that was manufactured by the Internationale Camera AG (ICA) from Dresden. It is a very basic camera for 45 x 107 mm glass plate negatives that can be compared to the French Glyphoscope and Platoscope.
This blog shows a model 603 with two 65mm f/12.5 achromatic lenses. Model 603/2 has a similar design, but is equipped with two faster Anastigmat Novar 60mm f/6.8 lenses. The Plaskop has a shutter with two settings: M (Momentaufnahme) for instant shooting and Z (Zeitaufnahme) for long exposures. The camera uses a simple foldable metal frame as a viewfinder.
After the merger of ICA with other German camera manufacturers to Zeiss Ikon, the Plaskop remained in the portfolio of the new company, but received new catalogue numbers. Model 603 was given the number 602/1 and Model 603/2 became 603/1. A new model for 6 x 13 cm glass plate negatives was numbered 603/41.
Specifications
| Manufacturer: | ICA |
| Year of introduction: | c.1920 |
| Year of manufacture: | Between 1922 and 19242 |
| Type: | Stereo camera |
| Serial number: | J 42552 |
| Negative type: | Glass |
| Negative format: | 45 x 107 mm |
| Lens: | Two achromatic 65mm lenses |
| Serial number lens: | – |
| Lens aperture: | f/12.5, f/18 and f/25 |
| Focus: | Fixed focus |
| Shutter: | Guillotine shutter |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | 14 x 8 x 5.5 cm (viewfinder folded) |
| Construction: | Wood with leather body. Metal front panel. |
| Other features: | Dealer plate of Walter Talbot Berlin |
ICA
ICA, or Internationale Camera AG, was a significant camera manufacturer based in Dresden. ICA was formed in 1909 as a merger of four different German camera makers: Hüttig AG in Dresden, Kamerawerk Dr. Krügener in Frankfurt/Main, Wünsche AG in Reick near Dresden, and Carl Zeiss Palmos AG in Jena. The merger was a strategic move to consolidate resources and compete more effectively in the growing camera market. ICA became one of the largest camera manufacturers of its time. The company produced a wide range of cameras, including stereo cameras, and also stereoscopes. In 1926, ICA merged with three other German camera manufacturers: Contessa-Nettel, Ernemann, and Goerz. This merger led to the formation of Zeiss Ikon.
Glossary: achromatic lens / anastigmatic lens / guillotine shutter
References
- Zeiss Ikon Camera Hauptkatalog (1929), p. 47 ↩︎
- ICA serial number database. Via: manualcamera.info ↩︎