Accura reflex housing
The Accura reflex housing was made in Japan, certainly in the late 1950s.
Contents
Description
The Accura reflex housing consists of a mirror box and interchangeable finders.
Common features
The main mirror box has an all black hammertome finish, and is inscribed ACCURA at the front. The mirror control mechanism is covered by a cylindrical part on the right, with a serial number, a logo which might read SW, and the word Japan. The release lever protrudes at the front of the cover, and there is a male thread at the top, to attach a cable coupling the mirror box with the camera's shutter release. The device has two tripod threads, at the bottom and on the right.
The Accura reflex housing has only been observed in Leica screw mount, and has another 39mm screw mount at the front. The film-to-flange register is certainly the same as on the Leitz PLOOT or Visoflex I.
The mirror box has a bayonet mount at the top, surrounded by a black and chrome knurled row, to attach a viewfinder.
Versions
At least two versions of the Accura reflex housing are known, mainly differing by their incompatible viewfinder attachments.
The example no.5631, pictured below, has a silver ACCURA marking and a silver plate on the mirror mechanism cover. The coupling cable shown in the pictures is presumably original, and has a thread at the end which can be plugged onto the shutter button of Leica cameras and certainly Leica copies (though coupling problems have been reported by the owner, specifically with Leotax cameras).
   
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| Accura reflex housing no.5631 and Accura III eye-level finder, alone or with a short mount Sun Telephoto 13.5cm f/3.8. Pictures by David Murphy. (Image rights) |
The device comes with an eye-level finder, which reminds the Leitz PAMOO right-angle magnifier for the Visoflex I. It has a peculiar spherical shape, with a large facet at the front, displaying a large roman numeral III and the name ACCURA. It contains a single mirror, and provides a vertically reversed image, meaning that people will look upside down. The viewing screen is reportedly fairly bright, with reasonable vignetting.
The example no.5700, pictured below, has no silver filling in the front ACCURA engraving, and has an all black cover for the mirror mechanism. This reflex housing comes with a loupe finder, shaped as a cylindrical chimney with a magnifying lens at the top.
   
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| Accura reflex housing no.5700 and loupe finder, alone or with a short mount Sun Telephoto 13.5cm f/3.8. Pictures by David Murphy. (Image rights) |
Manufacturer and date
The Accura brand was used by an unknown distributor. The actual manufacturer of the device is unknown too, though the logo on the side might help to identify it. No original document showing the Accura reflex housing has yet been found. The device notably does not appear in the June 1955 special issue of Photo Art, entirely dedicated to camera accessories, which lists the Mirax by Orion Seiki and the Kenko reflex housing. This might indicate that the Accura was not yet available at the time, or that the device was strictly made for export.
Bibliography
- Photo Art rinji zōkan: Kamera akusesarī zensho (フォトアート臨時増刊・カメラアクセサリー全書, Photo Art special issue: All the camera accessories). June 1955, no.80 of the magazine. The Accura reflex housing does not appear in this magazine.
Links
In English:
- Accura reflex housing in a page on the Visoflex at Gary's elshaw.tripod.com
