Brought to you by Ed van Mil - Photography Expert
When the first Rolleiflex camera came out in 1929, it quickly became the must-have for professional photographers. The idea began with one man. Working for an optics and photography company, Reinhold Heidecke had the brilliant idea to produce a roll-film camera. His employer was not keen on the idea, so Heidecke went in search of capital to start his own company. He met Paul Franke, who was intrigued by the idea of Heidecke’s dream. The two went into business together and on 1 February 1920, their company ‘Franke & Heidecke’ was born. Read on to discover how this company became the Rollei that photography fans know and love today.
The Beginning
Their first camera was not actually the realisation of Heidecke’s vision, but rather a stereo camera called the Heidoscop, named after one of the founders. In 1923 they introduced their first roll-film camera, the Roll-film Heidoscop, which is where the name “Rollei” was eventually derived from as a shortened combination of the two terms.
In 1929, after three years of development, their big hit, the Rolleiflex, was released. One of the many innovations on this camera was the introduction of “metal bellows.” Heidecke came up with the idea after he left a camera in a basement and, to his horror, discovered that rats had chewed through the leather bellows. He realised that cameras for photojournalism had to operate flawlessly, and this meant that they couldn’t have any parts that may rot, leading to the innovations in his new camera design.
War Problems
Franke & Heidecke continued to improve and expand on their designs until war broke out and halted production. During the second world war, the factory was forced to stop development of new models and focus on production of materials to help the war effort. After the war was over, the company was suffering. The allied occupation wanted them to continue as a company and even helped them secure Zeiss lenses from Soviet-occupied zones for production of their cameras. One of the founders, Paul Franke, passed away just a few years later in 1950 and this proved to be a significant loss for the company.
The Big Turn Around
Things turned around for Franke & Heidecke in the 1950s. With no competition, camera sales were booming! Almost every press photographer, as well as a large number of amateurs, owned a Rolleiflex. Diving pioneer Hans Hass even approached them and presented a challenge to create a new housing suitable for underwater photography. They rose to the challenge and produced the waterproof Rolleimarin.
Image Source: telegraph.co.uk
The Rollei history roller coaster took another turn for the worse in 1960 when the second founder, Reinhold Heidecke, passed away. The company missed a huge opportunity as the trend among professional photographers shifted toward single lens cameras. Failure to produce a camera to meet the demand meant falling short of the competition. A few years after Heidecke’s death, the company name was changed to Rollei Werke Franke & Heidecke.
The Birth of a Legend
The next leader of Rollei took a risky approach; he decided to not only focus on one single product but to explore all possibilities of photography. While this chaotic approach led to further financial trouble, there were some great successes during this period. One of which is the development of the now legendary Rollei 35. This pocket-sized camera was the smallest of its day to use 35mm film. Its sales were in the millions, and it still holds a cult status among modern photographers.
During the 1970s, Rollei successfully negotiated their way into Singapore and a new factory was opened there. The workload was insufficient to keep the larger workforce busy however, and more financial trouble followed. By 1974 banks owned 97% of the company and Rollei was dangerously close to bankruptcy. In 1981 the head approached the German government and requested that Rollei be put under voluntary administration which would allow them to carry on production. Just one year later the company was split into three separate parts. Over the following years the company changed hands and names several times, yet still managed to produce great cameras.
Rollei in the 21st Century
The list of Rollei’s products is extensive; their selection includes 35 mm cameras, subminiature cameras, digital cameras, slide projectors, tripods, camcorders, digital picture frames and the list goes on and on. After a tumultuous history, Rollei managed to hold on and make Heidecke’s dream a reality. Operating under the name Rollei GmbH & Co. KG since 2015, they continue to produce premium quality camera and equipment.
From professionals to amateurs, Rollei has accumulated a devout following. If you’re a lifetime fan of their cameras or if we’ve piqued your photography interest, we recommend your next stop to be Catawiki’s special Rollei Camera auction where you’re sure to find the camera of your dreams.