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Stunning  Ica / Zeiss Ikon 10x15cm \'Tropica\' Tropical Plate Camera Outfit c.1926
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Stunning Ica / Zeiss Ikon 10x15cm \'Tropica\' Tropical Plate Camera Outfit c.1926
Price: GB $1044.71
The Ica Tropica truly deserves it\'s name as a tropical camera. It was built for serious work in difficult climates. The body is made of top quality teak and it is extensively reinforced with matt nickel plated brass. The hood to the viewing screen is teak rather than leather and has it\'s own reinforcing strips. All the screws fixing the various items of metal work are nickel plated and all can be tightened up should they work lose. For example the front of the camera when closed (photo 8) shows no less than 22 screws including 6 with circular locking nuts which hold the focussing track to the baseboard.
This example is in the uncommon 10x15cm plate size and while it has an Ica badge on the inside of the body the lens is marked Zeiss Ikon. It is not unusual to find that just after the creation of Zeiss Ikon in 1926 some cameras from constituent companies were double marked.
The camera is double extension, has a drop front for wide-angle work, has interchangeable lenses, is fitted with a revolving back and has a rise and cross front. It utilises the Ica plate holding system (also found in the Ideal) whereby dark-slides can simply be pressed into place on the back and released by pressing the tab just above the focussing screen . No sliding plate holders in from the side. A much more elegant system.
The lens on the camera is a f4.5 Tessar which is in excellent condition with no scratches or fungus. The shutter, unfortunately, is not in excellent condition. It can be used on \'B\' & \'T\' but on \'I\' the wind lever refuses to move and the speed setting dial will not turn. Not usable.
There is one other negative to the camera. The front is released by pressing the button at the top of the left hand side (photo 4). Evidently someone in the past did not realise this and opened it up by jamming a screwdriver or similar along the top front. This has damaged the wood and is shown in photo 11.
Otherwise the camera is in very nice condition , as hopefully the photos show. The matt nickel metal work is not rubbed and the lacquer on the woodwork is in good order. There are marks on the base and front where it has been used on a tripod but they do not detract too much. The most wear is seen on the black paint of the revolving back especially on the left hand side where it is rubbed off and marked for all the length. I forgot to photo this but you can get an idea from the wear shown on photo 6. The focussing screen cover has several marks on it and is missing two screws. Inside the paintwork on the shutter is rubbed and there are two small areas rubbed on the focussing track. The rest of the paintwork and nickel is good.
Overall this is a splendid camera which looks most impressive on display.
It comes with three original double dark-slides and an outfit case which has one flap loose and some tearing on the hinge.
Being a very well made camera it is heavy. The outfit weighs 4.75 kg before packing and it will be very well packed. Postage/shipping costs are consequently rather high. Let me know of any cheaper methods that might be suitable.

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