Date of use : 1942 Germany

Photo-Union Lorenz Postcard, Germany 1942

This postcard from 1942 belongs to Photo-Union Gebrüder Lorenz (Lorenz Brothers), a photographic equipment supplier based in Vienna, the capital of Austria. The company is located at Franz Josef Kai 47, one of the key commercial hubs of the era. On the left side of the card, a detailed technical drawing of a film projector, reflecting the quality and advanced technology of the photographic and cinema equipment offered by the company. The phrase at the bottom, "Vorteilhafte Bezugsquelle für den gesamten Photobedarf," emphasizes that the firm serves as a favorable source for all photographic needs.

The card was sent to a photo house operating under the name F. J. Weidinger in the city of Linz. The term "Photohaus" indicates that this establishment was either a photographic studio or a retailer of photographic supplies. Such postcards were commonly used during that period across Europe as part of extensive commercial networks to promote products and inform customers.

The postage stamp bears a cancellation mark with the Nazi propaganda slogan "Mit dem Führer zum Sieg!" (With the Leader to Victory!). This mark is not only an indication of the postcard's mailing but also serves as a significant reflection of the ideological and political climate of the time.

Upon examining the details of the projector depicted on the card, it is believed to be a 16 mm film projector manufactured in Germany during the 1930s. Prominent German projector manufacturers of that era included Siemens, Lytax Klangton, and Eberlein & Krug Apparatebau (EKA). Siemens was known for producing robust 16 mm projectors with high-quality optical systems. Lytax Klangton specialized in projectors designed especially for home cinema use. EKA offered models capable of handling both 8 mm and 16 mm film formats, which were widely preferred for home cinema as well as educational purposes. These projectors represent an important chapter in the history of cinema technology and reflect the technological and practical needs of the 1930s.

The following note appears on the back of the card:

Company: F. J. Weidinger, Linz a. D., Schmidtstraße 2

Sir,

According to our records, the stand (stativ) delivered to us for repair on July 5 was returned to you on August 25.

Unfortunately, the requested 5x5 wooden inserts (Holzeinlagen) are not available.

Vienna 1., Kai 47, December 12, 1942

With kind regards,

Photo-Union Gebrüder Lorenz

Record Information

Title: Photo-Union Lorenz Postcard, Germany 1942

Category: Photographic Equipment History / Wartime Commerce

Subcategory: Cinema Technology / Commercial Correspondence

Country: Austria (Origin, part of Greater Germany) / Germany (Destination)

City: Vienna → Linz

Date of use: 12 December 1942 (based on letter date)

Company: Photo-Union Gebrüder Lorenz, Wien 1., Franz Josef Kai 47

Recipient: F. J. Weidinger Photohaus, Linz a. D., Schmidtstraße 2

Object Type: Commercial postcard / business correspondence / repair service communication

Product Featured: 16 mm film projector (illustrated, likely Siemens, Lytax Klangton, or EKA model)

Postal Features: Propaganda cancellation: "Mit dem Führer zum Sieg!" (With the Leader to Victory!)

Business Note: Repair completion notice for a stand (stativ), unavailable 5x5 wooden inserts

Language: German

Material: Printed card stock

Dimensions: Standard postcard format

Collection Theme: Austrian photographic trade, WWII commercial networks, cinema technology history, propaganda in daily commerce

Archival Significance: This 1942 postcard from Photo-Union Gebrüder Lorenz documents the wartime operations of a Viennese photographic equipment supplier and its commercial relationship with the F. J. Weidinger Photohaus in Linz. The illustrated 16 mm film projector reflects the importance of cinema technology in the period, with manufacturers like Siemens, Lytax Klangton, and EKA producing projectors for home and educational use. The repair notice for a stand and the mention of unavailable wooden inserts provides rare insight into the practical challenges of maintaining photographic equipment during wartime. The propaganda cancellation "Mit dem Führer zum Sieg!" starkly illustrates how Nazi ideology permeated even routine commercial correspondence. This item is a primary source for understanding the Austrian photographic trade under the Greater German Reich, the supply chains connecting Vienna to Linz, and the intersection of business with the pervasive propaganda apparatus of the Nazi state. The card also documents the material culture of cinema technology and the service networks that supported photographic and film equipment users during World War II.

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.