The Perfex fifty five was a solid beast of a 35mm camera from the 1940s, made by Camera Corp. of America in Chicago, Illionois.
It featured a cloth focal plane shutter, coupled split image rangefinder with very wide base, hotshoe, slow speed dial, top speed of 1/1250, Wollensak f:2.8/50mm lens, and a body cast from solid metal.

I found this example in an antique and flea market building midway across Missouri.
Cosmetically the camera was in very poor condition and very grimy. The original leatherette skin was hardened, curled, and ugly, and had to be stripped away. I then recovered the cleaned off areas with a nice rich brown vinyl, cut from an executive day planner cover.

With a roll of store brand ASA 200 print film loaded into the chamber, I visited the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis County.

Please click on thumbnail images to see enlarged.
All images are ©2011 E.J.Kowalski.