Date of use : 1919 Germany

Kieser & Pfeufer and the Mystery of the "Prinzess" Camera

Kieser & Pfeufer was a photography company that operated in Munich, Germany, between 1898 and 1945 (?). Located at Marienplatz 22, the company specialized in selling cameras and photographic equipment while also holding the title of "Königlich Bayerischer Hoflieferant", meaning it was an official supplier to the Royal Court of Bavaria. Among the company's promotional activities were poster stamps featuring the name "Kieser & Pfeufer" along with images of photography-related products. Dating back to around 1910, these stamps are considered significant collectibles that reflect the advertising approach of the era. The company is believed to have produced a camera named "Prinzess."

However, it is also possible that this camera was manufactured by another company and sold under the Kieser & Pfeufer brand. The "Prinzess" is a strut-folding camera with a metal body covered in leather, designed for use with plates or film packs. The front of the camera extends forward using two pairs of support struts, and the shutter is mounted in an inverted position on the front plate. This unusual design makes adjusting the shutter speed and aperture more difficult, as the controls are located at the rear of the camera.

A model of this camera auctioned by Leitz has been speculated to have links to Rodenstock. However, the camera does not bear the Rodenstock name, and the serial number of the shutter indicates that it was produced before 1912. Despite this, the front of the camera prominently displays the name of Kieser & Pfeufer, based in Munich. Different versions of the camera were equipped with Steinheil 11cm f/4.7 and Rodenstock 105mm f/4.5 Eurynar lenses.

While these high-quality lenses suggest that the camera was a premium product, its unique design elements make it a challenging model to operate. Due to these uncertainties, the "Prinzess" remains one of the more enigmatic cameras in photographic history. It is believed to have been produced between 1912 and 1925. On the back of a related card, the following message is written:

"Dear Mr. Krause, please send us your photographic negatives, especially the exposures of your glass plates."

Record Information

Title: Kieser & Pfeufer and the Mystery of the "Prinzess" Camera

Category: Photographic Manufacturing History / Commercial Ephemera

Subcategory: German Camera Trade / Royal Court Suppliers

Country: Germany

City: Munich

Date of use: c. 1919 (based on company activity period 1898-1945 and card design)

Company: Kieser & Pfeufer, Marienplatz 22, Munich (active 1898-1945, Inhaber: M. Pfeufer)

Royal Title: Königlich Bayerischer Hoflieferant (Royal Bavarian Court Supplier) and Hoflieferant Ihrer K. Hoheit Frau Prinzessin Ludwig Ferdinand v. Bayern

Product Range: Handlung Photographischer Apparate und Bedarfs-Artikel (Photographic Apparatus and Supplies)

Camera Model: "Prinzess" strut-folding camera (c.1912-1925), metal body with leather covering, inverted shutter mount, available with Steinheil 11cm f/4.7 or Rodenstock 105mm f/4.5 Eurynar lenses

Promotional Items: Poster stamps featuring company name and photography products (c.1910)

Object Type: Advertising postcard / business correspondence

Language: German

Material: Printed card stock

Dimensions: Standard postcard format

Collection Theme: Bavarian court suppliers, German camera retail, early 20th century advertising, enigmatic camera models

Archival Significance: This postcard from Kieser & Pfeufer documents a prestigious Munich-based photographic supplier that held the title of Royal Bavarian Court Supplier. Operating from Marienplatz 22 between approximately 1898 and 1945, the company sold cameras and photographic equipment to the elite of Bavarian society. The enigmatic "Prinzess" strut-folding camera, with its unusual inverted shutter mount and production period (c.1912-1925), represents a fascinating mystery in photographic history—possibly manufactured by another company and rebranded by Kieser & Pfeufer. The camera's availability with high-quality Steinheil and Rodenstock lenses suggests it was a premium product, despite its challenging ergonomics. The company's use of poster stamps for advertising (c.1910) reflects contemporary marketing practices. This item is a primary source for understanding the retail side of early 20th-century German photography, the role of royal court suppliers in the photographic trade, and the complex relationships between retailers, manufacturers, and brands in the pre-World War II era.

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.