Date of use : 1963, Germany

Dacora Kamerawerk Business Postcard from Germany

This document represents a camera repair intake card issued in 1963 by DACORA Kamerawerk, a camera manufacturer located in Reutlingen, Germany. The printed text confirms that a photographic camera had been received by the factory for technical inspection and possible repair. Such documents illustrate the practical relationship between camera manufacturers and retail photographic dealers within the service infrastructure of the photographic industry.

The upper section of the card contains the red printed slogan "In jeder Hand zu jeder Zeit ist die Dacora schussbereit." Translated into English, the phrase means "In every hand, at any time, a Dacora is ready to shoot." This statement functioned as an advertising slogan emphasizing the reliability and accessibility of the company's cameras. Marketing expressions of this kind were commonly used during the 1950s and 1960s, a period when consumer photography was expanding rapidly.

The sender identified on the card is DACORA Kamerawerk, a company established by Dangelmaier & Co. in Reutlingen, located in the German region of Baden-Württemberg. The DACORA brand became widely known in Europe during the 1950s and 1960s for producing affordable cameras designed primarily for amateur photographers. The company's products were generally characterized by straightforward mechanical construction and ease of use.

The camera model referenced in the document appears to be the "Dacora Dignette grau." The Dignette series formed part of DACORA's line of mid-range amateur cameras. These cameras typically used 35 mm film and represented a widely accessible format within the consumer photographic market of the period. The card also records the date of receipt and a service reference number assigned to the device upon arrival at the factory.

The recipient of the document is listed as "Foto Oehling," a photographic retail business located in the German city of Mainz. During the mid-twentieth century, photographic shops served multiple functions within the industry. In addition to selling cameras and photographic materials, they provided film processing services and acted as intermediaries between customers and manufacturers for repair and maintenance work.

The printed message confirms that the camera had been received for inspection or repair. It also states that if the cost of the repair exceeded a specified amount, the customer would receive a preliminary estimate before the work was carried out. This procedure reflects the service policies used by many camera manufacturers to ensure transparency in repair transactions.

The postal marking and printed postage indicate that the document was processed through the West German postal system operated by Deutsche Bundespost. The term "Drucksache" printed on the card refers to a category of postal mail used for printed matter. This classification allowed businesses to send commercial printed documents at reduced postal rates, making it a common method for routine correspondence.

The 1960s represent a period in which photography became increasingly widespread among amateur users. The popularity of portable 35 mm cameras expanded the consumer market and encouraged manufacturers to develop extensive service networks. Photographic retailers played a central role in this system by connecting camera owners with factory repair facilities.

From a collecting perspective, documents of this kind belong to the category of photographic industry ephemera. Factory repair records, service confirmations, and technical correspondence provide valuable insights into the everyday functioning of the photographic equipment industry. When such documents include specific camera models and service details, they become particularly significant as historical sources.

This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
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