Unraveling the Zeiss/Contax/Yashica Microscope cameras
Apr 6, 2020 2:48:34 GMT
on Apr 6, 2020 2:48:34 GMT
Posted: Apr 6, 2020 2:48:34 GMT
I think I would need more than a self-taught one day crash course in microscope gear to understand some of the nuances and hardware neccessities, but I think I can draw some generalities about the body and shutter bits and pieces for the Contax and Yashica based parts of the puzzle. This doesn't include the CGCM bodies, or the mainstream Scientific/Medical models... just those parts used on microscopes and listed and sold by Zeiss, as Zeiss products.
I found a forum reply posted by bobblehat that will give everyone an idea of just how many 'devices' were used, and what some of them were over the years. The surprise for me, was that there were multiple camera models used as the basis for the same catalog item and item number. As an example, a "C35" camera back might have been based on any one of several camera models, like a Zeiss Ikon Tenax, an Ikon Continette, and what looks similar to an Ikon Contaflex or Icarex. They all had the "C35" marking on the casing, but included no Zeiss catalog numbers (i.e., 47 60 72 - XXXX) on the bodies themselves, and contained no other clues to models or brands other than Zeiss.
The C/Y branded models that made it into the lineup had different designations, like M35 or M35W, but were listed in the Zeiss accessories catalogs as "47 60 72", and most had a secondary 'dash' number that distinguished their functionality first, and made no reference to their manufacturer's brand or it's base model designation. The exception is the M35F's Zeiss number, and what was missing.
a. Physically marked as "M35". A Yashica FR-I (with or without "Winder M"). The body's Zeiss # 47 60 72 - 9901, and the Winder M is Zeiss # 47 60 79 - 9901.
b. Physically marked as "M35W". A Contax 137 (with it's internal "W"inder), is Zeiss # 47 60 72 - 9902. There's no readily available way to tell if there's a distinction between a 137MA or a 137MD used as a base part without a post-mortem teardown. There might be zero actual difference in the cast frame itself.
c. Physically marked as "M35F". A Yashica FR-I (with or without "Winder M"). The body Zeiss # 47 60 79 (has no 'dash' number), and the Winder M, is # 47 60 79 - 9901. The obvious feature here is the active flash hotshoe for firing the (optional) flash modules attached to the microscope stage for illumination.
The Zeiss catalogs calls a specific list of modules as a 'Camera'. The control box, the shutter, the adapter tube, the mount adapter, etc., are listed as individually replaceable parts, but they get labeled and numbered in a 'Camera' group by their function. Notice that there's no 'dash number' on the "MC 35" camera back below, but the Zeiss number echos the 47 60 72 pattern of the other known/marked items. I've seen no physically marked "MC 35" photos anywhere, so it seems unlikely there was one made and marked as it's own distinct model. I presume any one of the Zeiss numbered backs could be plugged into a camera package, and all sold as 'the camera' used for your XYZ model microscope.
This is a page section from a catalog provided to customers by the Baltimore Instrument company, from 10/1/78, and revised 2/15/79. The optional phototube was what matched a camera to the microscope you owned.
... Another catalog insert section from 11/84, describing some of the same basic parts, but includes the "M35F" by it's marked model # ...
I'll expand on these with pics as I get them created, and additional links to some Zeiss catalogs. I also have info on some newer microscope platforms that included a twist on the Zeiss-branded accessory cameras.
I found a forum reply posted by bobblehat that will give everyone an idea of just how many 'devices' were used, and what some of them were over the years. The surprise for me, was that there were multiple camera models used as the basis for the same catalog item and item number. As an example, a "C35" camera back might have been based on any one of several camera models, like a Zeiss Ikon Tenax, an Ikon Continette, and what looks similar to an Ikon Contaflex or Icarex. They all had the "C35" marking on the casing, but included no Zeiss catalog numbers (i.e., 47 60 72 - XXXX) on the bodies themselves, and contained no other clues to models or brands other than Zeiss.
The C/Y branded models that made it into the lineup had different designations, like M35 or M35W, but were listed in the Zeiss accessories catalogs as "47 60 72", and most had a secondary 'dash' number that distinguished their functionality first, and made no reference to their manufacturer's brand or it's base model designation. The exception is the M35F's Zeiss number, and what was missing.
a. Physically marked as "M35". A Yashica FR-I (with or without "Winder M"). The body's Zeiss # 47 60 72 - 9901, and the Winder M is Zeiss # 47 60 79 - 9901.
b. Physically marked as "M35W". A Contax 137 (with it's internal "W"inder), is Zeiss # 47 60 72 - 9902. There's no readily available way to tell if there's a distinction between a 137MA or a 137MD used as a base part without a post-mortem teardown. There might be zero actual difference in the cast frame itself.
c. Physically marked as "M35F". A Yashica FR-I (with or without "Winder M"). The body Zeiss # 47 60 79 (has no 'dash' number), and the Winder M, is # 47 60 79 - 9901. The obvious feature here is the active flash hotshoe for firing the (optional) flash modules attached to the microscope stage for illumination.
The Zeiss catalogs calls a specific list of modules as a 'Camera'. The control box, the shutter, the adapter tube, the mount adapter, etc., are listed as individually replaceable parts, but they get labeled and numbered in a 'Camera' group by their function. Notice that there's no 'dash number' on the "MC 35" camera back below, but the Zeiss number echos the 47 60 72 pattern of the other known/marked items. I've seen no physically marked "MC 35" photos anywhere, so it seems unlikely there was one made and marked as it's own distinct model. I presume any one of the Zeiss numbered backs could be plugged into a camera package, and all sold as 'the camera' used for your XYZ model microscope.
This is a page section from a catalog provided to customers by the Baltimore Instrument company, from 10/1/78, and revised 2/15/79. The optional phototube was what matched a camera to the microscope you owned.
... Another catalog insert section from 11/84, describing some of the same basic parts, but includes the "M35F" by it's marked model # ...
I'll expand on these with pics as I get them created, and additional links to some Zeiss catalogs. I also have info on some newer microscope platforms that included a twist on the Zeiss-branded accessory cameras.
