Quick shots from today. First proof that during the day is really cold. Today was -15 degrees in Celsius scale.
Next three photos I had to take – even though it was thorough the front window of car – it’s the neon of the PZO – Polskie Zakłady Optyczne (Polish Optical Factory). During the PRL (People’s Republic of Poland) times it was one of two factories in Poland which was building cameras, microscopes loupes and other things connected with lens. The second factory was Warszawskie Zakłady Fotooptyczne (WZFO) – which was later in 1960 consolidated with the PZO. Unfortunately during the communism all involved countries divided between them different markets – and industry connected with lens was mostly located in Soviet Union and East Germany. So mostly that’s why those factories were producing mostly microscopes, loupes, projectors and there were only a few polish cameras like Start, Fenix, Ami or Alfa. They also produced optical elements for Polish Army.
After the war it was national company, in 1993 was privatized and in 1997 the building and all machines was sold. So those photos might be the last of the fingerprints left nowadays…
The interesting fact is that during the WWII and German Occupation, the factory was controlled by the Zeiss – Jena. What a pity that they didn’t left the technology and know-how in Poland… :) It would be great to have Polish Rolleiflex :)
Hmm… but what if the Zeiss-Jena left something, documentation or ideas ? Isn’t that strange that first polish camera after the WWII – Start (1954) was TLR type ? Or maybe it’s just an coincidence…
-15 degrees
PZO
PZO
PZO