General Auction including Antiques & Collectables, Gold & Silver.
A German-made medium format folding camera featuring a metal body with a black textured leatherette covering and chrome-finished hardware. The baseplate bears an embossed banner-shaped mark containing the text AGFA BILLY above the phrase MADE IN GERMANY. The upper housing of the camera is finished with a diamond-shaped mark containing the script letters Agfa. This model is equipped with an Agfa Agnar 105mm lens, as indicated by the printed text Agfa Agnar 1:6,3 / 105 on the front bezel. The lens is mounted in a Gauthier Pronto leaf shutter, which displays the name PRONTO at the bottom of the faceplate and provides shutter speeds of 200, 100, 50, 25, and a B setting. The shutter also includes a V setting, typically used for a self-timer mechanism. The distance scale is marked in feet with increments from 3 to 50 and an infinity symbol. The camera incorporates black fabric or leather bellows and is fitted with a black leather carrying strap attached to the top housing. A threaded tripod socket is visible on the baseplate.
Condition report:
The camera shows signs of age-related wear throughout. There is visible oxidation and surface pitting on the chrome-plated folding struts (photo 1) and around the metal housing for the viewfinder (photo 2). The leatherette covering remains intact across the body but shows surface dust and requires cleaning (photo 5). The black bellows appear to be in good physical condition without visible tears or significant wear to the folds (photo 3). The front lens element shows surface dust and signs of internal haze or light fungus, which may impact image contrast (photo 2). The viewfinder contains significant internal dust and debris (photo 2). All mechanical functions, including the shutter and aperture blades, are untested. No measurements are possible as no scale is visible in the photographs.
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