Wollensak
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Wollensak was an American manufacturer of audio-visual products. At the height of their popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, many brands of Movie cameras came with a Wollensak "Velostigmat" lens, while their reel-to-reel tape recorders were prized for their robust construction and value.
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[edit] History
The firm was founded by Andrew Wollensak to make camera shutters in 1899. At its peak in the 1950s, it employed over a thousand people. The company had a variety of owners including Revere Camera Company and the 3M Company. Wollensak closed its doors in 1972.
[edit] Camera equipment
They began to make camera lenses in 1902. The company was also known for producing camera shutters for large format cameras. They made shutters such as the Betax, Alphax, Optimo and, for the Graflex Corporation, Rapax.
The Betax shutters were patented in 1912 and remain popular for large format photographers today. Betax shutters are made in different sizes from size #0 to a huge size #5. These shutters are very reliable and relatively easy to repair given their simplicity.
[edit] Audio-visual
3M also used the Wollensak brand name on audio tape recorders for many years. They were among the first manufacturers of cassette decks, as well as 8-track decks for home use.
[edit] References
- [[1]] Surplus Shed, the current owner of the trademark.
- [[2]] a history of Rochester, NY Camera and Lens Companies
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