Date of use : 12 December 1936, Germany
Georg & Max Bink: Photo-Berg u. Wintersport
Commercial correspondence from the 1930s offers far more than a glimpse into the business world of its time. It also provides valuable insight into the technology, trade practices, and everyday life of the era. The card featured in my collection, dated December 12, 1936, is a fine example. Although it appears at first glance to be an ordinary business letter, it tells an interesting story about Georg & Max Bink, a photographic equipment dealer in Munich, and the thriving camera trade of pre-war Germany.
The front of the card is distinguished by the company's striking red circular logo, depicting a mountain landscape surrounded by the words "Photo-Berg u. Wintersport BINK München." The design immediately reveals that the business specialized not only in photographic equipment but also in skiing and winter sports supplies. The firm's address, Fraunhoferstraße 17/19, is printed in the lower left corner. The card was sent to Alfred Kreis of Braunschweig and bears a clear Munich postmark dated December 12, 1936. Together with the one-pfennig postage stamp, the cancellation firmly establishes the document's date.
The reverse side contains a typewritten reply to an earlier inquiry from the customer. The company explains that the requested No. 335 Foth-Derby camera has already been sold and that the Newton finder designed for the Foth-Derby 3×4 model is no longer available. The letter goes on to state that no illustration can be provided for the No. 406 home tripod and that a five-section tripod leg cannot be supplied separately. Instead, the customer is asked to send the complete tripod back to Munich so it can be repaired. The correspondence closes with the traditional phrase "Mit deutschem Gruss" followed by the company's signature. Although brief, the letter demonstrates that Georg & Max Bink offered not only sales but also repair and after-sales support, reflecting a customer-oriented approach that was common among specialist dealers of the period.
Historical records show that Georg & Max Bink had been operating in Munich since at least 1908. Contemporary trade directories describe the firm as a specialist photographic dealer that marketed cameras manufactured by other companies rather than producing its own. Like many respected camera retailers of the time, the Bink brothers built their reputation by supplying quality photographic equipment from well-known manufacturers while providing expert advice and technical support. Their shop on Fraunhoferstraße served both amateur enthusiasts and professional photographers for many years.
The company's printed letterhead, which lists "Photo-Apparate – Feldstecher – Ski- u. Sportausrüstung," illustrates the remarkable breadth of its business. Alongside cameras, lenses, viewfinders, tripods, and binoculars, the shop also sold skiing and winter sports equipment. While this combination may seem unusual today, it was perfectly logical in 1930s Munich. The city's proximity to the Alps meant that photographers, mountaineers, hikers, and skiers often belonged to the same customer base, encouraging specialist retailers to serve all of these interests under one roof.
One of the products mentioned in the correspondence is the Foth-Derby camera, a respected German model known for its solid construction and high-quality optics. Its appearance in the letter suggests that Georg & Max Bink carried equipment aimed at discerning photographers who valued reliable craftsmanship. The Newton finder referenced in the correspondence was an optional optical accessory that made composing photographs easier. During this period, cameras were frequently customized with separately purchased accessories such as viewfinders, filters, cable releases, and tripods, allowing photographers to tailor their equipment to their specific needs.
Perhaps the most revealing part of the letter concerns the repair of the customer's tripod. Rather than sending a replacement component, the company requests that the complete tripod be returned for servicing. This small detail offers valuable insight into the philosophy of photographic equipment during the 1930s. Cameras and accessories were built to last, and repairing them was considered both practical and economical. Long before the age of disposable electronics, skilled technicians routinely restored equipment so it could remain in service for many years.
The correspondence also highlights the importance of mail-order business before the digital era. Without online shopping, email, or even widespread telephone ordering, customers communicated with dealers through letters. Questions about availability, prices, and technical specifications were answered by post, and damaged equipment was shipped back for repair by mail or rail. This modest card captures that entire process in a single piece of correspondence, offering a rare glimpse into how specialist retailers and their customers conducted business nearly ninety years ago.
Today, this small document represents far more than a simple reply to a customer's inquiry. It provides authentic evidence of Georg & Max Bink's business activities, the range of products they sold, their commitment to customer service, and the broader culture of photographic commerce in pre-war Germany. Because it is a genuine business communication rather than a promotional brochure or advertisement, it offers historians and collectors an unusually trustworthy snapshot of everyday commercial life.
Nearly nine decades after it was mailed, this card continues to tell the story of a specialist camera dealer in Munich and the world in which it operated. Through a single piece of correspondence, we gain a deeper understanding of photographic technology, retail practices, and the human connections that shaped the camera trade during one of the most fascinating periods in photographic history.
📜 English Translation of the Original Message
Munich, December 12, 1936
To Mr. Alfred Kreis, Braunschweig
In response to your inquiry, we regret to inform you that the No. 335 Foth-Derby camera has already been sold. The Newton finder for the Foth-Derby 3×4 is no longer available.
Regarding the No. 406 home tripod, we are unable to send an illustration. A five-section tripod leg cannot be supplied separately. Please send us the complete tripod for repair.
With German regards,
Georg & Max Bink
Record Information
Title: Georg & Max Bink: Photo-Berg u. Wintersport
Category: Photographic Retail History / Commercial Correspondence
Subcategory: German Camera Trade / Pre-WWII Retail
Country: Germany (Munich → Braunschweig)
🗺️ Show Route
City: Munich (Sender: Georg & Max Bink) → Braunschweig (Recipient: Alfred Kreis)
Date of use: 12 December 1936
Company (Sender): Georg & Max Bink, Fraunhoferstraße 17/19, Munich. Active since at least 1908. Specialist dealer in photographic equipment, binoculars, and skiing/winter sports equipment.
Recipient: Alfred Kreis, Braunschweig. A customer inquiring about photographic equipment.
Object Type: Commercial correspondence card
Postal Route 🚂: Munich → Braunschweig, Germany (12 December 1936)
Products Mentioned: Foth-Derby camera, Newton finder, No. 406 home tripod
Services Offered: Sales, repairs, and after-sales support
Notable Design: Red circular mountain logo "Photo-Berg u. Wintersport BINK München"
Language: German
Material: Paper card
Archival Significance: This 1936 correspondence card documents the operations of Georg & Max Bink, a Munich-based specialist dealer in photographic equipment and winter sports gear. The letter provides insight into pre-war German retail practices, including mail-order sales, product availability, and repair services, while the Foth-Derby camera and Newton finder references illustrate the photographic technology of the period.
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.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.
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