Crown Flex and Veri Flex
The Crown Flex (クラウンフレックス) is a Japanese 6×6 TLR made in 1953. It was perhaps made by Kobayashi and was distributed by Kōyō Shōji.[1] It is not known if it is related to the Crown 6×6 folder.
Description
The Crown Flex has a protruding front standard shaped as on the Rolleicord but has externally coupled geared lenses driven by a focusing tab. The film is advanced by a knob on the photographer's right, and it is certainly controlled by a red window. The viewing hood has a built-in sportsfinder, and the nameplate reads Crown flex. There is an accessory shoe on the photographer's left.
The lenses are Kōyō Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5 made by Tomioka, probably rebadged versions of the Tri-Lausar. The shutter reportedly gives B, 1–200 speeds and has a self-timer and flash synchronization.[2]
Commercial life
The Crown Flex was featured in the September 1953 issue of Ars Camera and in the October 1953 issue of Photo Art. The shutter is certainly mentioned as an NKS in these articles. No other detail is known about its commercial life, which was probably very short.
Surviving example
The only surviving example known so far is pictured in Sugiyama, where the shutter name is reported as "HKS", perhaps a typo for NKS.[3] It has a four-digit taking lens number, perhaps 1749.
Later Crownflex
The name Crownflex was used again a few years later for a name variant of the Toyocaflex (see this page).
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Item 492.
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.468.
- Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Item 2079.
