Contax-II with flash synch

[Elmar Lang]

Hello,

in another thread, appeared a discussion about prewar contaxes with flash synch.

I have one, bought in Trento some years ago: its serial no. is K. 60563 (also with "Made in Germany" inscription engraved on the accessory shoe) and its collapsible 50/2 Sonnar is no. 2586942. The synch shoe is on the left side (holding the camera), just below the strap lug. I've always thought it should have been a factory-made work.

A few days ago, again in Trento (it's the city where nearby I live), with great surprise, I've found another Contax-II, with the same, identical synch shoe. Its serial no. is K. 56041 and its collapsible Sonnar 50/2 is no. 2556017. Could it be possible that in the "K" series, some Contaxes were sinch'ed at the Zeiss?

Trento was occupied by the Germans from 1943 to 1945 and when they left, a lot of materials and equipments have been abandoned. I know that this is just an hypotesis, but I think that these two cameras could have been left by the retiring germans (or traded for more useful things like food and clothes...), in the difficult days of April/May, 1945.

I will take pictures of both cameras, of course.

Best wishes,

E.L.

[outfitter]

I have always assumed that the sync was a post war after-market adoption and not done at the factory. I have a few because they lack collector's value and cost considerably less than a collectible Contax II.