Extremely interesting vintage folding camera from the early 1930s or possibly the late 1920s. The camera is a Voightlander Bessa Voighter 1 : 7.7 with the lens marked Braunschweig Anastigmat. It is a manual film camera, format 6 x 9. I understand this camera was one of the earliest Voightlander self-folding roll film cameras.
What adds to the attraction of the camera is the hand-written note which was found inside the original leather camera case which reads as follows:
"This camera belonged to Willy (sic: Willie) Wallenda & it was handed to me after the accident on the wire as Willy was in Hospital, seriously hurt. Not knowing what to do with it I just kept it & it was never claimed. He owed me salary as the act ended there. The other two men went off somewhere & I was left in Munich so still have the camera - now a Museum piece maybe. (SIGNED) Aunt Judith"
The misspelt "Willy" refers to Willie Wallenda who was killed in a fall during a high wire circus act in Europe in 1936 ( the note mentions Munich so this may be where the fall occurred). Willie Wallenda was part of the famous Flying Wallendas family of dare-devil high wire troupe who famously performed without a safety net.
Indeed it was the death of Willie Wallenda that started this tradition as Willie had been using a net when he fell & tragically died so his brother Karl vowed that "never again would his family be lulled into false complacency by a net or anything else".
If you research the history of the Flying Wallendas you will see that the troupe was probably as famous for the number of fatal tragedies that befell them as for the dare-devil acts themselves!
PROVENANCE: Other than the note within the camera I have no other provenance linking it with Willie Wallenda (so therefore by repute) but it is worthy of further research to connect Aunt Judith with Willie Wallenda. As a further clue the name "WINIFRED J. LLOYD" has been scratched internally onto the camera frame & the leather case (see photos).
The camera comes complete with its original brown leather case.
Weight (including leather case): 600.2 gm. Weight of Camera only: 505.7 gm.
Camera Dimensions: 170 mm x 85 mm x 35 mm.
Summary: As can be seen by the photos & history (above) this is an unusual camera with a great back story (if only in essence by repute). Further research may be able to establish a firm connection between Willie Wallenda & Aunt Judith & maybe also Winnifred J. Lloyd, whose name is scratched in the camera frame. A great conversation piece. Good luck!