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Bronzavia Type 10
France Version française
Photos by Arnaud Saudax text by Arnaud Saudax. From the collection of Arnaud Saudax. Last update 2024-01-30 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in France from (Circa) 1938 to (After) 1938.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 10489

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Bronzavia 

Inhaler Mask Bronzavia 1939

Bronzavia was a company specialized in the manufacturing of aviation equipment, including individual pilot gear providing oxygen and heating (1939), carburetors (for the Potez 63-11 aircraft), gas generators (1943), and more.

At least one patent filed by Bronzavia is found in the field of photography. This is Patent No. 820,091, published in 1937, concerning improvements made to focal-plane shutter cameras, particularly those used for aerial photography. The diagrams show a resemblance to the Type 70 cine-machine gun.



En 1938, the newspaper "L'Instantané" mentions "The Bronzavia camera, lightweight, handheld, with 3 lenses instantly interchangeable with focal lengths of 65, 100, and 160 mm, respectively." This may indeed refer to the Type 10.

The Nazi occupation is a dark period for the company, as its management committed to collaboration. Part of the equipment is relocated to Germany.

1941 Information and Propaganda Bulletin (The location of the factory is not specified).
Der Deutsche Wegleiter für Paris 1941 Ads from april 1944

As the liberation approached, the company became a target of the Resistance.



The F.F.I. Operation in One Week (Rafales Journal, July 1944)

The information below was gathered from enemy sources. This makes it even more valuable.


At the Bronzavia Factories

Around 7:30 PM, a group of about fifty "terrorists" forcibly entered the said factories through the gates on Chemin des Alouettes and Chemin de Grange-Rouge, just as the maintenance and supervisory staff were preparing to leave. These "terrorists," armed with submachine guns, initially incapacitated the five guards of the factory, as well as three requisitioned individuals assigned to guard a transformer. They then gathered in the factory hall around twenty employees, along with the guards and requisitioned individuals, whom they bound and held at gunpoint. Meanwhile, a number of "terrorists" compelled an employee to accompany them to the workshops, where they placed the explosive devices they had with them. They planted one device at each engine, and by 10:40 PM, 67 explosions had already occurred, with the first occurring around 9:30 PM.

The five guards of the factory, along with the supervisory and maintenance staff, had to surrender their identity cards to the "terrorists," who stated that they would send them by mail before leaving.

Before departing, the "terrorists" declared that the explosions would continue until 2 or 3 in the morning.

The Bronzavia factory telephone operator was instructed to call the duty officer every half-hour to report any incidents that may have occurred. However, at 7:35 PM, the operator failed to make the call, prompting the on-duty sergeant to call the Bronzavia factories himself. At 8:30 PM, the operator informed the sergeant that he had forgotten to make the call. Subsequently, until 9:30 PM, the communication was consistently maintained by the "terrorists" who had taken over for the telephone operator.

After 9:30 PM, a fire was reported on Chemin de Grange-Rouge to the duty officer, who immediately dispatched a first patrol to the scene, followed by a second a few minutes later.

The fire, which had broken out in the annex of the factory where wood and packaging materials were stored, and which had been set by the "terrorists," was easily controlled by the firefighters.

Bronzavia employs 680 workers or employees and specializes in packaging aviation engines and equipment. They work on behalf of the Germans.

The damage caused by this attack is estimated at several million francs. Primarily, electric welders and grinders were damaged by the explosions.

Due to this attack, the factory will not be able to operate at full capacity for some time. The damaged machines were reportedly irreplaceable.

Before leaving the factory, the "terrorists" had a young employee write the following under their dictation:

"To the Management of Bronzavia Factories"

Gentlemen,

Your establishments have received a visit from a unit of the French Forces of the Interior.

The destruction of the German war machine is an absolute necessity for the liberation of France. The destruction of the machines and products in your factory intended for the services of Germany is indispensable.

Our action has, as its primary result, prevented an aerial bombardment of the region, thus saving French lives that are precious to us all.

If there remains in you, despite your role as suppliers to the 'Boches,' even the slightest trace of patriotism, you will be the first to understand us.

VIVE LA FRANCE!


At the Liberation, the company and its leaders faced sanctions.

Bulletin Municipal Officiel de Paris from july 1945 Le Populaire 1949

In 1946, Bronzavia had six factories and employed 4,000 people. There were six specialized departments, each with its own design office: radio department, engine power supply department, optics department (including photography), aeronautical boiler making department, general mechanical equipment on-board department, and electrical department. The CDH 44 cine-machine gun was mentioned among the flagship products, considered as a world-class product at the time.

The building in Courbevoie in 1937

The Courbevoie plant, established in 1932, closed between 1989 and 1994. The name disappeared during the same period, following the merger with Air Equipement, and after the name change to Lucas Aerospace Flight Control System..

__________

This is a description of a Type 10 perforated 70 mm aerial reconnaissance camera (No. 20) producing 6 x 7cm negatives. The large retractable sports viewfinder is tri-focal. Indeed, this monstrous camera features a turret with interchangeable lenses. One mount accommodated a 160mm focal length, while the other could hold either a 100mm or 250mm lens. The rotary shutter has a variable sector adjustable by a large unmarked button. The cocking mechanism is linked to the film advancement, achieved by pulling the right handle laterally, and the triggering is done by operating the trigger in front of the handle.

Bronzavia Type 10
Lens "Bronzavia Courbevoie Anastigmat F/3.2 F:160 Type B No. 11". Aperture from 3.2 to 9. The standing lens is a "Bronzavia Courbevoie Anastigmat F/4.5 F:250 Type C No. 29" with focusing capabilities and a C-mount, which appears to be a recycling of the original 250.




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