Leicas were always expensive cameras - I think in the 30s we're talking the equivalent of a months wages, so these were never made and marketed as consumer prod

Leicas were always expensive cameras - I think in the 30s we're talking the equivalent of a months wages, so these were never made and marketed as consumer products for the average consumer. The professionals at the time were using 5x4, so things like the Crown Graphic for press photography, or rolleiflex TLRs shooting to 120 format film. There were a number of relatively cheap TLRs about, and the folding cameras you refer to, both using 120 format (which I think Kodak launched in 1901, so predating Barnack's work). It's not clear to me when 35mm became ubiquitous. The growth of cheap consumer cameras came post world war II from Japan and Germany as their hi-tech industry was repurposed. In addition, post WWII people as a whole didn't have disposable income for consumer purchases, and we're really looking at the mid to late 50s before things start booming.