Kamera-Fabrik Woldemar Beier was a German camera factory in Freital near Dresden. It was founded by Woldemar Beier in 1923 and began producing wooden plate cameras. In 1932 Beier introduced its first 35mm camera model. After WWII Beier stayed independent until the East German state took over a big share of the company in 1959. Then the company produced its first "Beier-Matic" half-automatic cameras. After its complete takeover by the state in 1972 Beier was renamed to VEB (citizens' own company) Kamerafabrik Freital, and later the Karl Pouva Kamerafabrik, the Tharand-Werke and the Optisches Werk Ernst Ludwig (Weixdorf) were taken over by the company.
Cameras[]
- 1923: Beier Edith series
- 1925: Beier Erika series
- 1925: Beier Lotte series
- 1928: Beier Box 0
- 1928: Beier Box I
- 1928: Beier Box IA
- 1929: Beier Gloria
- 1931: Beier Beika
- 1932: Beier Beira
- 1933: Beier Beira Ia
- 1933: Beier Rollfilm-Kamera
- 1933: Beier Voran
- 1933: Beier Box II
- 1935: Beier Okula or Beira II
- 1935: Beier Rafix
- 1935: Beier Rifax
- 1936: Beier Beirax
- 1936: Beier Precisa
- 1937: Beier Vauxhall
- 1937: Beier Box IIA
- 1938: Beier Alca I
- 1938: Beier Alca IIIa
- 1938: Beier-Flex I
- 1938: Beier-Flex II
- 1939: Beier Wafconette
- 1939: Beier Westex
- 1939: Beier Westex Senior
- 1939: Beier Super Westex
- 1939: Beier Beirette (folding 1939)
- 1941: Beier Beirette (folding 1941)
- 1950: Beier Beirax 1950
- 1951: Beier Precisa II
- 1955: Beier Beirax II
- 1956: Beier Precisa IIa
- 1962: Beiermatic
- 1958: Beier Beirette series
- 1970: Beier Beroquick SL 125
- 1977: Beier Beroquick KB 135
- 1982: Beier Beroquick electronic
- 1982: Beier Boots Beirette B.L.
Camera industry in Dresden |
Balda | Certo | Eho-Altissa | Ernemann | Feinmess | Hüttig | ICA | Ihagee | Kochmann | Kerman | KW | Eugen Loeber | Ludwig | Mentor | Mimosa | Pentacon | Richter | Werner | Wünsche | Zeiss Ikon | Zeh |
Camera distributors in Dresden |
Stöckig |
Camera industry in Freital |
Beier | Pouva | Thowe | Welta |
Links[]
In English:
- Beier at Pocketable History by J. Noir
In German:
- in Beier-Kamera by Thomas Knorre
- in kamerasammlung
- Beier at Frank Petermann's camera site
- Company history at dresdner-kameras.de
- History of Beier cameras by Thomas Knorre.
In French:
In Spanish:
- Beier at Historia de Bolsillo by J. Noir