Elmoflex
The Elmoflex (エルモフレックス) is a series of Japanese 6×6cm TLR cameras, made by Elmo from 1942 to 1956.
Contents
General description
All the Elmoflex have the same general configuration and body casting. The front plate is moved back and forth for focusing, and is driven by a knob on the photographer's right. The film advance automatically stops at each exposure. The advance knob is on the same side as the focus knob, and there is a round exposure counter window at the top of the side plate. The auto-stop mechanism is engaged by a sliding button between the two knobs, and is unlocked after each exposure by pressing the middle part of the advance knob.
The L-shaped back is hinged at the top, and there are two film flanges on the camera's left side. There are short black-painted strap attachments on each side, whose shape was unchanged throughout the camera's production.
Early models
Wartime introduction
The Elmo company claims that the Elmoflex was introduced in 1938.[1] However no original document has been found to confirm this early release date. The camera is notably not mentioned in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941.[2]
The Elmoflex was advertised in the Japanese magazine Shashin Bunka from October 1942 to September 1943, on an intermittent basis.[3] The October 1942 advertisement is the earliest document showing the camera; it mentions an f/3.5 lens and slow speeds to 1s, and gives the price of ¥292.[4]
Elmoflex III
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| Elmoflex III-F. Picture by Elmo Alves. (Image rights) |
Elmoflex III-F
- Lenses: Zuiko 1:3,5 f=7,5cm
- Shutter: Seikosha-Rapid with speeds 1 to 1/500 sec.
Some other Elmoflexes had Lausar lenses.
Elmoflex V and VI
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. Items 29, 411–7 and 1134. (See also the advertisement for item 156.)
- "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku" (国産写真機の公定価格, Set prices of the Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of October 25, 1940 and setting the retail prices from December 10, 1940. Published in Asahi Camera January 1941 and reproduced in 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. Pp.108—9. The Elmoflex does not appear in this document.
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). Pp.60, 62–3, 67, 71, 80, 82 and 87.
- 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.263.
- 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. Items 2006 and 2098–104.
- Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten (私の二眼レフカメラ展, Exhibition of twin lens reflex cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P.27.
Links
In English:
- Japanese TLR page (with the Elmoflex) in Barry Toogood's tlr-cameras.com
- Elmoflex in the camera page of Patty Moussali's website (some pictures of the website were taken with the Elmoflex)
- Elmo company profile (pdf format), at mrelmo.co.uk (mentioning the Elmoflex as released in 1938)
In Japanese:
- Elmoflex IIIF at Puppy's Island
- Elmoflex repair notes at Kan's Room
- Elmoflex at Chotto Pinboke
- Elmoflex IIIF at Doru's bar blog
- Elmoflex in a TLR page in Diwa's photo site
- Elmoflex III-F at Otowa no nigan-refu
- Elmoflex specifications at Japan Family Camera
- Elmoflex at Shashin wo tanoshimu
- Pictures taken with an Elmoflex at Nobuo Honda's website
- Advertisement for the Elmoflex dated 1954, reproduced in Shashin-Bako
- Chronology in the Elmo official website (mentioning the Elmoflex as released in 1938)
