Gelveta c.1935

Designer and creator A.O. GELGAR

The camera's name is a diminutive of its creator's but at present no camera with that engraving has been discovered.

The "Gelveta", later the "Sport" , is a "monument" on more than one level. While surrounded by mystery for a long while, the Sport, in its mass produced version, was also considered the Exakta's rival for the title of "World's first 35-mm reflex camera." We now know that series production of the Sport occurred after Ihagee had begun. However , the camera illustrating the article in the January, 1935 issue of "Sovetskoe Foto" is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, a prototype or pre-series camera. It is the Gelveta. An elegant design appears on the lens cap. It seems to bear the name "Gelveta".

From the best book of last time "The Authentic Guid To Russian And Soviet Cameras" J.L. Princelle

perhaps fewer than 300 units.