ICA Alpha (490)

Photos by PG text by PG. From the collection of PG. Last update 2014-09-18 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in Germany from 1919 to 1924.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 9999

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras ICA

Ica AG (International Camera Aktien Gesellschaft) was established in 1909 through the merger of the companies Huttig, Krugener, Wuensche, and Carl Zeiss Palmos, with Zulauf joining in 1911.

Several years were required to finalize this merger, during which production relied on the expertise of each of the founding companies. From this period, you can find some original models, but also often copies from one or another of the previous brands bearing the name Ica, sometimes even not listed in an Ica catalog and without a specific model code.

It was from 1912 that the situation stabilized, and the various camera models began to follow a certain coherence until 1926, when Ica ceased to exist. It was absorbed, along with others, into Zeiss Ikon.

In 1912, to simplify categorization, non-stereo folding cameras from Ica can be divided into two groups.
The first group includes the Icarette cameras. Before the war, only those in the 6 x 6 format were available, using 117 film with 6 exposures. Other formats would be introduced after 1918.
The second group encompasses other folding models, starting from the simplest, which include the Halloh, Lloyd, and Nixe models. Additionally, there are two Lloyd-Cupido models: the 540, produced from 1910 to 1915, and the 560, manufactured from 1922 to 1925. The term "Cupido" indicates that opening the camera automatically readies it for use.

__________

This camera is a low-end variation of the Icarette.
Only the metal frame viewfinder with its special attachment remains.
One instantaneous exposure is proposed, in addition to the time exposure in two times.
The diaphragm is a simple metal plate with two different hole diameters which is moved up and down to choose the aperture.
This plate is visible on top of the lens block just behind the metal frame of the viewfinder.
The three elements lens disappears, replaced by a meniscus.
This camera has only a single strut on the right side front view.

Interesting links or bibliography :

Add a link or element of bibliography, a picture taken with this camera, a picture of box or an ads about this camera

Your photos taken with the same camera: