Date of use : 1963 DDR

Woldemar Beier Camera Factory Shipping Card from Freital, Germany

Package Card. Kamera-Fabrik Woldemar Beier was a camera factory operating in Freital, near the city of Dresden, Germany. The company was founded in 1923 by Woldemar Beier and initially produced wooden plate cameras. In 1932, Beier expanded its product range by introducing its first 35mm camera model. After World War II, the company managed to remain independent until 1959. However, starting from that year, the East German state took over a significant portion of the company.

During this period, Beier produced its first semi-automatic camera model, the "Beier-Matic." In 1972, the company was fully nationalized and renamed "VEB Kamerafabrik Freital." Later, Beier was merged with other companies such as Karl Pouva Kamerafabrik, Tharand-Werke, and Optisches Werk Ernst Ludwig (Weixdorf).

Note: These types of documents are historically significant as they illustrate the functioning of postal services. In particular, documents from the DDR (German Democratic Republic) period are important resources for understanding international trade and postal relations during the Cold War era.

Record Information

Title: Woldemar Beier Camera Factory Shipping Card from Freital, Germany

Category: Photographic Manufacturing History / Postal History

Subcategory: East German Industry / Cold War Commerce

Country: German Democratic Republic (DDR)

City: Freital (near Dresden)

Date of use: 1963 (based on packaging card design and period)

Company: Kamera-Fabrik Woldemar Beier (founded 1923 by Woldemar Beier, Freital)

Product History: Initially wooden plate cameras (1923), first 35mm camera (1932), Beier-Matic semi-automatic model (post-WWII), remained independent until 1959, nationalized 1972 as VEB Kamerafabrik Freital

Later Mergers: Karl Pouva Kamerafabrik, Tharand-Werke, Optisches Werk Ernst Ludwig (Weixdorf)

Object Type: International package shipping card / commercial dispatch document

Postal Features: DDR postal markings, international shipping documentation, "Bulletin d'expédition" / "Paketkarte" format

Language: German / French

Material: Printed card stock

Dimensions: Standard package card format

Collection Theme: East German camera industry, Cold War trade, socialist manufacturing, camera export documentation

Archival Significance: This 1960s package card from Kamera-Fabrik Woldemar Beier documents the operations of a significant East German camera manufacturer during the Cold War. Founded in 1923, Beier produced wooden plate cameras and later 35mm models (1932), remaining independent until partial state takeover in 1959. The company's Beier-Matic represented East German innovation in semi-automatic cameras. This shipping document, in the international "Bulletin d'expédition" / "Paketkarte" format, illustrates the export of photographic equipment from the DDR. The bilingual (German/French) form reflects international postal agreements. Beier's 1972 nationalization as VEB Kamerafabrik Freital and subsequent mergers exemplify the consolidation of East German industry. This item is a primary source for understanding camera manufacturing in socialist economies, the infrastructure of international trade during the Cold War, and the material culture of East German photographic exports.

Research Note:

This article is based on historical research and independent analysis of the material in the author's collection. The text has been prepared as an original interpretative study and does not reproduce copyrighted material.

This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.