Elbowflex
The Elbowflex (エルボー・フレックス) is a Japanese 6×6 TLR series, distributed by Elbow Camera Firm, which is unlikely to have been its manufacturer.
All models of the Elbowflex noted so far focus by moving the entire lens assembly, and have 80mm f/3.5 viewing and taking lenses.
Contents
Logo
The logo of an interlinked G and K (could be C and K, but G more probable) appears on the finder hood, ever-ready case, box and instruction manual of all the cameras observed, as well as on some of the advertisements for them.
The meaning of this logo remains obscure. No name starting with G has yet been linked with these cameras. C could stand for Cosmo (see below), but if so K would not be explained.[1]
Models as described in advertisements
The Elbowflex II has semi-automatic film advance, Correct Anastigmat 80/3.5 viewing and taking lenses, a magnifying glass, a TSK shutter (B, 1–200), self-timer, and flash synchronization. Japanese advertisements for it were placed in magazines dated March–August 1955; at least some of these specify Tōyō Seiki Kōgaku as the manufacturer and Elbow Shōkai as the distributor.[2]
The Elbowflex III is similar to the II other than using a red window for film advance. Advertisements for it appear in Japanese magazines dated April–August 1955, pricing it at ¥9,000.
The Elbowflex IIIA is the same as the III other than for its Ceres shutter (B, 1–300). An advertisement in a magazine dated September 1955 prices it at ¥9,500, specifies Kosumo Kamera (Cosmo Camera) Seisakusho as the manufacturer, names Elbow Shōkai without specifying its role (presumably distributor), and gives Zentsū and Nittō Shashin Yōhin as authorized dealers.[3]
The Elbowflex IIB is the same as the II other than for the Ceres shutter of the IIIA.[4] An advertisement for this, dated February 1956[5], names no manufacturer, merely naming Elbow Shōkai and, as authorized dealer, Zentsū.
No record of a Model I has been found yet.
Examples in the real world
Some examples have also been observed that do not correspond to the descriptions above:
- One example corresponds to the description of the model IIIA except that it is equipped with Eleger Anastigmat 8.0cm/3.5 viewing & taking lenses.[6] The lenses are marked H.C. in red, surely for Hard Coated (a marking also observed on the Correct Anastigmat lenses of some other examples). Eleger Anastigmat lenses are mounted on at least some Elegaflex cameras.[7]
- Other examples correspond to the description of the model II or IIB with a Rectus shutter (B, 1–300). This particular example, unlike others, has the serial number above the name plate.[8]
At a Yahoo Japan auction, an example with exposure counter has been observed with a box and user manual. The box was labeled Elbow flex Model III — of course, a model identified above as lacking an exposure counter — and it was marked ELBOW CAMERA FIRM CO. LTD. in English. The user manual was marked Elbow Shōkai (エルボー商会).
There are some variations in the shape of the bottom latch and of the shutter release.[9] It seems that all the models have a synchro post at the bottom right of the left hand plate (none has been observed with a synchro post directly mounted on the shutter). It also seems that all have an accessory shoe.
Other similar cameras
The Elbowflex with exposure counter is very similar to the Prince Junior camera, and they share the same TSK, Ceres and Rectus shutters.
The model with red window looks very similar to the Elegaflex, at least to the example presented in this page of Aya's Camera site.
Notes
- ↑ Further, the logo does not appear on the two advertisements within Kokusan kamera no rekishi (pp. 121, 136) that name Kosumo Kamera (Cosmo Camera) Seisakusho; only on the pair that do not (pp. 121, 224).
- ↑ The particular advertisement referred to was placed in the April 1955 issue of Camera Mainichi and is reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 121. These and the following specifications are from Kokusan kamera no rekishi (which does not mention any version or variant with an Eleger lens or Rectus shutter).
- ↑ Placed in Camera Mainichi and reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 121.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi mentions a variant with the TSK shutter; the difference between this and the II is unclear.
- ↑ Advertisement in the February 1956 issue of Camera Mainichi, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi p. 224.
- ↑ This example, at Japan Family Camera. The logo has fallen from the finder hood.
- ↑ See this page and this page of Aya's Camera website, also McKeown p. 738.
- ↑ This example, within the "other Japanese" page of tlr-cameras.com. Another such example is pictured in McKeown, p. 262.
- ↑ Compare for example this example at Minosan's blog with this example at Japan Family Camera.
Source/ further reading
- 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. Items 406–408, 1133. (See also the advertisement for item 511.)
- 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. 262.
Links
In English:
In Japanese:
- Elbowflex (presumably an Elbowflex II) at Minosan's blog
- Elbowflex and Elbowflex specifications at Japan Family Camera
