Date of use : 1961, Germany

Dacora Kamerawerk Postcard – German Camera Maker

The widespread use of photographic technology during the mid-twentieth century depended not only on the production of cameras but also on the establishment of extensive maintenance and repair networks. Photographic cameras were complex mechanical devices that required periodic servicing and occasional repair. For this reason manufacturers and distributors developed technical service systems designed to support long-term use of their equipment. This card sent by Dacora Kamerawerk in Reutlingen represents a documentary example of how such service networks functioned.

The printed letterhead at the bottom of the card reads "Dacora Kamerawerk – Dangelmaier & Co – Reutlingen." Dacora was a German camera manufacturer active in the decades following the Second World War. The company became known particularly during the 1950s and 1960s for producing compact cameras intended for amateur photographers. Dacora marketed cameras under its own brand name as well as through various commercial labels, reaching a broad consumer market across Europe.

At the top of the card appears the advertising slogan "In jeder Hand – zu jeder Zeit ist die Dacora schussbereit," which may be translated as "In every hand, at any time, the Dacora is ready to shoot." This phrase reflects a common marketing strategy emphasizing convenience, portability, and reliability as key features of consumer cameras.

The main body of the document functions as a service receipt acknowledging the arrival of a camera for inspection or repair. The heading "Kamera-Reparatur-Eingangsbestätigung" indicates confirmation of receipt for repair service. The text specifies a camera model identified as "Dac. Digna I," which corresponds to a model produced by Dacora. The document also includes a reference number that likely served as a service or tracking number within the company's repair system. The message informs the recipient that the camera will undergo careful examination and that it will be returned as quickly as possible after inspection or repair. If repair costs exceed a certain amount, the customer would receive an estimate before further work is carried out.

The address section identifies the recipient as "Foto-Oehling," a business located in Mainz on Schillerstraße. This company likely operated as a photographic retailer or distributor. The fact that the card was sent to a photographic shop suggests that the camera may have been forwarded to the manufacturer through a retail dealer rather than directly by the individual user. Such arrangements were common, as photographic equipment sales and service were often organized through networks of local retail stores.

The card also displays a mechanical franking mark bearing the inscription "Deutsche Bundespost," the postal authority of West Germany. Mechanical franking systems were widely used by businesses that handled large volumes of correspondence. A circular postal cancellation from Reutlingen dated 17 January 1961 confirms the time of dispatch. The printed designation "Drucksache" indicates that the item was mailed under a special postal category used for printed commercial documents.

From a collecting perspective the card belongs to several thematic categories. It represents commercial correspondence documenting the maintenance and repair infrastructure associated with the photographic industry. Because it carries the corporate letterhead of a camera manufacturer, it is also relevant to collections related to photographic technology and camera production. The mechanical franking mark and the "Drucksache" postal category additionally provide points of interest for postal history research.

When considered within a broader historical context, the document illustrates that the photographic industry depended not only on production and distribution but also on technical service systems supporting long-term use of photographic equipment. The card sent from Dacora Kamerawerk in Reutlingen therefore represents a small yet meaningful historical record reflecting the commercial and technical infrastructure that supported photography during the mid-twentieth century.

This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
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