When Rollei was still made in Braunschweig

Cameras that look like something out of an old western film, mostly with two lenses and a light shaft instead of a viewfinder or even a display:the Rollei camera company, founded on February 1, 1920 in Braunschweig as the "workshop for precision engineering and optics, Franke &Heidecke", had a reputation like Donnerhall. "Hundreds of companies around the world have copied the technology developed by Rollei," says Frank Peter Hoffmann. And he should know - because up until a few years ago, Hoffmann owned perhaps the largest Rollei collection in the world. And not only more than 1,000 cameras from the cult brand - almost every model from almost every year of manufacture - but also mountains of original documents, instructions and repair manuals.

Rolleiflex:The famous "two eyes"

It is thanks to the famous Rolleiflex that the company was able to develop an international reputation within the first few decades. In the 1950s it was considered "the" camera, especially for professionals. By mid-decade, the company had already sold a million cameras. However, the camera with the name Rolleiflex was introduced much earlier:at the end of the 1920s there was already a first Rolleiflex that was continuously improved. Due to its great success, the old factory in Braunschweig quickly became too small. Around 24,000 cameras were built there by 1932 - a little more than what was to be produced at the new location in Salzdahlumer Straße in just one year.

Second World War:telescopic sights instead of cameras

During the Second World War, the situation also became difficult for Rollei. Instead of new camera models, the focus was on war-related products. You should have produced for the Wehrmacht, says Hoffmann, it was the same with Voigtländer in Braunschweig. The "Zweiauge" was discontinued in the meantime, debts abroad could no longer be collected - Rollei went through a difficult time. Optics for binoculars and telescopic sights were now being manufactured in Braunschweig, and there was only little money and capacity left for the development of cameras and accessories. At the end of the war there was also considerable war damage from bombing raids - more than half of the Braunschweig plant was destroyed.

Innovations secretly in the drawer

Hoffmann says that there were innovations only later, for example with the first - then single-lens reflex camera, the SL 35. A technical development against which there was initial resistance, however:"The old Mr. Heidecke said:'Only over my dead body,'" says Hoffmann. "But when he was then buried, the engineers pulled the secretly developed plans for new cameras out of the drawer," says Hoffmann with a smile. "The advantage was that you could take more pictures, plus the interchangeable lenses, telephoto and wide angle, the built-in exposure meter. You didn't have that with the twin-lens cameras." Taking photos has become much easier, says Hoffmann.

The collection went to Austria for a six-figure amount

Frank Peter Hoffmann still has a few of the old Rolleiflex darlings in his possession - around 50, as he says. He didn't exactly count. However, most of his once gigantic and unique collection is gone. "After more than 30 years of collecting mania, it was good for a while," he says. It's been about six years since he sold most of his inventory to Austria - for a six-figure sum. "When I sold everything, it had to be driven with two trucks," Hoffmann recalls. "So you can imagine how much that was with all the packaging."

Rollei, a childhood dream

Even as a child, it was clear to him that Frank Peter Hoffmann wanted to have his own Rollei at some point. He used to do it at school. As soon as he had the money together, he bought his own lens. The first camera a little later. "She could do everything," says the 63-year-old, who for a long time was the managing director of a repair service for - of course - cameras. "What is called a system camera today was actually already there back then, incredibly flexible." From 1978 onwards, Hoffmann also worked at the Rollei factory in Braunschweig and repaired defective equipment. "We were 100 men at the time and screwed the whole day." It was a dream that came true for him back then, he says. At least until 1981. That was the end of classic Rollei production, and the camera manufacturer had to file for bankruptcy. The rights to the name and the production under the Rollei label passed on, but this had little to do with the company founded by businessman Paul Franke and technician Reinhold Heidecke. "It was a sad day," says Hoffmann today.

Rollei-Mann also likes to use the digital successors

Real Rollei cameras are definitely history:the brand name now belongs to a company based in Hamburg. However, it specializes in tripods, photo filters, flash units and other camera accessories - cameras are only available there as action cams. The medium format cameras based on the classic models under the name Rolleiflex were still available from a company in Braunschweig for a while. But that's over now too. Only a very small group of people repair old cameras there, says Hoffmann.

Nowadays, when he wants to take a photo, Hoffmann usually uses a digital camera. However, it is then mainly about documenting repairs in the company for customers or sending a quick holiday photo to relatives. Every now and then it's nice to pick up an old Rolleiflex - but it's not as important to him as it used to be.

From the Rollei to the scooter

However, Hoffmann still collects - albeit cars, motorcycles and scooters. When asked whether he lives out his passion for collecting the same way he did with the old Rolleis, he laughs:"If I tell you that I now have seven garages full, then I think the question has been answered."