Mystery Camera

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Printed on: 5/30/2026 8:45:01 PM

Topic

Topic author: fargo fed fan

Posted on: 20100521091944

Can anyone help me identify this camera? I purchased it about 10 years ago while living in Kiev. The only identifing marks are around the lens: "Detective Pokorny". I can find no reference to this camera anywhere.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2152010_photoboard3.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2152010_photoboard4.JPG

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2152010_photoboard4.JPG

jay bjerke

Replies

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20100521094231

Hi Jay,

this looks a lot to me like an Ernemann Box, from H.Ernemann in Dresden, circa 1908-1917, if it has Russian writing (it would be great if you post a close up of the lens so we can see) it is probably a Czarist Russia retailer's trademark on it.

Cheers,
Vlad

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20100521094335

A great and collectible find by the way if it is in fact camera retailed in pre-communist Russia.

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20100521094847

Iosif Pokorniy probably, a very well known Russian retailer of German cameras.

Reply author: fargo fed fan

Replied on: 20100521115709

Thanks, it does look alot like the Ernemann boxes.
Here is a close-up of the lens. Nothing in Cyrillic.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2152010_detective33.jpg

http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2152010_detective33.jpg

jay bjerke

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20100521145447

Very interesting! I've never seen house of Iosif Pokorniy write in latin script.. I can't be sure if it's even of Russian origin. I'll let someone else chime in. But it does look like an Ernemann to me..