Pouva Start - First Model

Specification

Art Deco Credentials

Acceptable: Modest and restricted

• Designed after the main Art Deco period.
• Curvilinear body design in Streamline Moderne style
• Leather pattern in Bakelite
• Horizontal ribbing to Bakelite
• Parallel arcs on faceplate
• Curvilinear edging on faceplate

Description

This Pouva Start is one of a series of cameras with the same name. Starting in 1951 this original Pouva Start has a sports finder but was replaced in 1955 with the reverse galilean viewfinder. Initially, the second version of the Pouva Start was all black but soon afterwards this white version was produced. Other versions of this camera were produced for various other camera makers under licence until 1972. It is estimated that 1.7 million Starts were sold. Here is a nice article (in German) showing all the versions of the Pouva Start - Pouva Start.

The camera is fairly simple. It takes 12 6cm x 6cm pictures on 120 roll film. On the top is the shutter release button with a catch for holding the shutter open. There is also a cable release socket. Also on the top is an optical flip-up sports viewfinder and the film advance wheel. There is a lever on the top for prizing the back off the camera. On the bottom is the tripod mount. On the back is the red exposure counting window. There are small lugs on the side for a strap but these have often snapped off.

On the lens barrel's front plate there is a switch for choosing the Instant (1/25s) 'MOMENT' or Bulb 'ZEIT' function. The aperture is changed by a switch which is annotated with 'TRÜB'(f/8) and 'SONNE' (f/16). The lens is a Duplar having two lenses, one in front and one behind the aperture.

The camera's most characteristic feature is that the lens is deployed by turning the barrel counter-clockwise by 360 degrees. The helical screw moves the lens outward into the working position. It is not possible to fire the shutter until the lens is completely deployed.

How to Use

This camera takes 120 film which easily available from most photographic outlets. Don't forget to cover the red window with black electrical tape except when advancing the film in low light. Modern film is sensitive to red light.