Upde Designs

Good Day.  It has been some time since I have posted any images of my camera collection.  This is one of my favorites and a very special camera to me.  It was given to me by my Father-in-Law John Andreae.

The only thing I know about it is that he got it during the war while in Germany.  John never talked with me personally about his time as a soldier and I never brought the subject up.  I do know that for at least part of his service he was in a band that traveled all over Europe and entertained the troops.

I did some research on the internet trying to find out more about this little camera.  Most of the information that came up from my Google searches related to these little cameras for sale on e-Bay and other auction sites.

So this is what I do know.  It has been called a “German Spy Camera.”   It’s full name is Sida PATENT ann D R W Z  1:8=35mm.

The cast metal 35mm viewfinder camera Sida for shooting 25x25mm images onto paper-backed 35mm “Sida” rollfilm was made in 1936 by Sida Gesellschaft fur photographische Apparate m.b.H., Berlin, Germany. The Sida Extra was a bakelite variant.

Especially bakelite variants were also made by “Sida Cameras Ltd.” in London, Great Britain and Guiseppe Pozzoli in Milan, Italy. The camera had a simple single-speed shutter with instant and bulb mode, an f8 meniscus lens, a little optical viewfinder and a red window.

The Sida company in Germany was founded by Fitz Kaftanski, but he avoided to be mentioned in official company registration documents since it was 1934 in Germany. He had to be careful because of anti-Jewish German laws of that time.

So a manager of Kaftanski’s company Minifex and another companion became the registered chiefs of Sida. 1935 the company was sold. After the war Kaftanski revived the camera Sida as Sidax which was produced in Paris, France.

You’ll note on the second image there are 8 images taken on the camera.  I have no idea when or where they were taken.  I have been tempted several times to see if I could get the film developed but then  decided that I would keep it as is.

That’s it for today.  Another HOT one in store for us.  Looks to be that way clear through the weekend.  Enjoy your Terrific Tuesday and be careful.