Gitzo
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Gitzo is a French company, founded in 1917. Its name comes from the founder's name Arsène Gitzhoven.[1] Initially the company made camera equipment and precision accessories, especially shutters. Later it concentrated on the manufacture of tripods and tripod head, for which it is renown today.
History
In the beginning, the company manufactured wooden as well as metal film backs adapted to the majority of the cameras manufactured in Europe. In the early or middle of the 1920s the company started to produce its own cameras, the Gilax series of 6.5 X 9, 6.5 X 11 and even 24 X 36 cm. In the 1930s Gitzo gave up the manufacture of cameras to concentrate its know-how on a range precision accessories. Gitzhoven registered a range of patents for shutters both France and the United States of America [2]. In addition to shutters the company produced as range of precision accessories such as delayed action mechanisms, flash connectors and cable releases. Gitzo shutters, rproduced at a rate of 750 a day, were used by a wide range of camera manufacturers (see list below). The firm ceased operations from 1942 to 1945. After World War II it continued to produce shutters and precision accessories, but also branched into the production of tripods from 1950. In 1953 Gitzo patented the first rapid column tripod, followed by the world's first carbon fibre tripod in 1994 and the World's first magnesium tripod head in 1996.
In 1960, Arsène Gitzhoven retired and his daughter, Yvonne Plieger, took over the company. When Gitzo became part of the Vitec Group in 1992, the manufacture of accessories ceased and the company concentrated on tripods and tripod heads. Between 2001 and 2005 the company was gradually transferred from France to Italy. Currently (2008) Gitzo manufactures tripods, tripod heads and photographers' clothing.[3]
Cameras
Gilax series of 6.5 X 9, 6.5 X 11 and 24 X 36 cm.
Shutters
"STELLA"
black and white disc (settings: 25-50-100-B-T, AG marking)
Used in the following cameras:
- Clément
- Ercé, (120)
- L. Clément Claror 105/6.3
- Ercé, (120)
"GITZO"
VARIANT 1: black disc
(settings: 25-50-100-B-T, AG marking)
Used in the following cameras:
- Caillon
- Stereo plate camera, (c. 1920)
- Krauss Paris Tessar Zeiss 85/4.5
- Stereo plate camera, (c. 1920)
- R. Delarue
- Erdé
- Radior 105/6.3
- Erdé
- unknown manufacturer (plate camera)
- L Clément Triolor 105/4.5
- Itier Excellor 135/6.4
VARIANT 2: red centre with black ring
(settings: 25-50-100-B-T, AG marking)
Used in the following cameras:
- ??
- Roussel Trylor 100/4.5
- ??
- Balda
- Héard & Mallinjod
- Merkel
- 9 x 12
- Roussel Trylor 100/4.5
- 9 x 12
- unknown manufacturer (120)
- Hermagis Magir 105/6.3
GITZ∆
[with art deco face plate]
(settings: T-B-25-50-100, AG marking)
Used in the following cameras:
- Caleb (120)
- Berthiot 120/6.3
- unknown manufacturer (120)
- Armor 105/6.3
Type 1
(settings: T-B-25-50-100-125, AG marking)
Used in the following cameras:
- Rex 6x9
- Boyer Topaz 100/4.5
- Rex 6x9
Type 2R
(settings: T-B-25-50-100-150, AG marking)
Used in the following cameras:
- Boumsell
- Olbia
- Type?
- Roussel 75mm
- Type?
- Pontiac
ZOTIC I
(settings: 200-150-100-50-25-B)
Used in the following cameras:
- Pontiac
- Bloc Métal 45 ('Standard')
GITZ∆-PARIS
VARIANT 1: 200-25
Settings: 200-150-100-50-25-B
Used in the following cameras:
- Demaria-Lapierre
- Telka XX c. 1950
- Manar 110/4.5
- Telka XX c. 1950
- Olbia
- Omega Eikon (Pseudo TLR 6x6) (1947)
- Vergne
VARIANT 2: 250-25
Settings: 250-200-150-100-50-25-B
Used in the following cameras:
- Olbia
- Omega Eikon (Pseudo TLR 6x6) (1947)
- ???[9]
- Omega Eikon (Pseudo TLR 6x6) (1947)
VARIANT 3: 300-25
Settings: 300-200-150-100-50-25-B
Used in the following cameras:
- Olbia
- Omega Eikon (Pseudo TLR 6x6) (1947)
VARIANT 4: 400-25
Settings: 400-250-200-150-100-50-25-B
Used in the following cameras:
AZUR - PARIS - FRANCE
Shutter settings: T-B-25-50-100-150.—Used in the following cameras:
- Boumsell
- Azur (1948)
- Roussel Triolor 105/4.5
- Azur (1948)
NORCA-PARIS
(settings: T-B-25-50-100-300)
Used in the following cameras:
- Fap
- Norca A 24 x 36 (1938)
- Berthiot Flor 50/3.5
- Norca A 24 x 36 (1938)
Self-Timers
"Auto-retardateurs" in the shape of syringes. Pneumatic delay mechanism up to 30 seconds
Tripod Types
Gitzo produced a wide range of tripods. From the 1960s onwards the pattern of tripods was uniform, based on a structure of "series' with increasing tube diameter:
- 00 Table 5/8")
- 0 Weekend 3/4")
- 1 Sport (7/8")
- 2 Reporter/Mountaineer (1-1/8")
- 3 Studex & Inter Pro Studex (1-1/4")
- 4 Pro Studex (1-1/2")
- 5 Tele Studex (1-5/8")
Notes and References
- ↑ History page of the GITZO official website [1]
- ↑ Shutter for photographic apparatus - United States Patent 1953556 [2]
- ↑ GITZO official website [3]
- ↑ Sylvain Halgand 'Hemax Folding 6 x 9' [4]
- ↑ Sylvain Halgand 'Hemax 9 x 12' [5]
- ↑ Sylvain Halgand 'Siva' [6]
- ↑ Sylvain Halgand 'Hemax 9 x 12' [7]
- ↑ Olbia 6x6 [8]
- ↑ Olbia 6x6 [9]
- ↑ e-bay nº 230232028350
- ↑ Olbia 6x6 [10]
- ↑ Olbia 6x6 [11]