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Dinesmann Détective Série A N° 6 |
 Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in France from (Before) 1914 to (After) 1914.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 3669
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Dinesmann
Disnesmann did not exhibit great imagination when naming most of the detective cameras he distributed. He simply grouped them into series and named the series with one or two letters. Within each series, the same model was then offered in various formats.
The "A" series represents the inexpensive cameras. They are made from very lightweight wood, often described as very dry, which could be poplar. When you hold such a camera, it feels as light as a matchbox in your hands. This wood is covered with fabric that poorly imitates leather. Over time, this type of covering tends to wrinkle.
The cameras in the "A" series are also recognizable by the paddle-shaped plate that acts as an aperture, featuring holes of different diameters.
Some of the cameras in this series include:
| Format | Plates | Viewfinders | Price (Francs) | |
| N° 3 | 6,5 x 9 cm | 6 | 1 | 4.65 |
| N° 4 | 6,5 x 9 | 6 | 2 | 5.10 |
| N° 5 | 6,5 x 9 | 12 | 2 | 7.05 |
| N° 6 | 9 x 12 | 6 | 2 | 7.95 |
| N° 7 | 9 x 12 | 12 | 2 | 10.95 |
In the engraving from the catalog, you can see the inscription "N. C & Cie." on the front of the camera, which stands for Natali, Collo et Cie. __________
Natali, Collo & Company was the name of a subcontracting manufacturer, not a commercial brand of cameras. All the production was sold under more well-known brands like Manufrance, Plavic, etc. These were distributors or players in the photography market who aimed to add affordable cameras to their catalog.
The cameras manufactured by Natali and Collo were of the Box or Detective type, as the materials used were not suitable for other forms. The wood used was lightweight and not very durable. The covering was limited to decorative paper glued to the wood, which over time tended to wrinkle. Some unusual features for the time are worth noting, such as imitation reptile skin in blue color.
The manufacturing quality was low in order to produce budget cameras. This is the primary characteristic of Natali and Collo cameras. Certain technical characteristics were consistent across the manufacturer's cameras. The shape of the shutter speed selector (P/I) resembled a racket; this design was found on several models. The film advance key was simple, often a bar passing through the axis of the winding spool. The locking mechanism for the back door of detective cameras was circular with a circular notch that allowed it to lock onto a simple nail. On other models, a metal piece with a small hole was positioned over a nail head. The shutter release button was sometimes absent and was simply the end of a rod.
While these features were not universal, these unique characteristics serve as a good basis for identifying cameras from Natali, Collo & Co.
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