Escaflex and Rolly Flex
The Escaflex J (エスカフレックスJ型) is a Japanese 6×6 SLR made by Esca Kōgaku in the mid-1950s. It was continued as the Rolly Flex (ローリーフレックス) after the maker changed its name to Rolly Kōgaku.
Contents
The Escaflex J
Description
The Escaflex J is a leaf-shuttered 6×6 SLR. It has a prismatic body with a cubic mirror box protruding at the front. The film runs from left to right and is wound by a knob at the right end of the top plate (as seen by the photographer). There is another knob at the left, whose purpose is unknown. The back is hinged to the left and the film advance is probably controlled by a red window.
The nameplate is in front of the viewing hood and reads ESCAFLEX on a black background. The center part of the hood is retractable, giving place to a sportsfinder, and has an Esca logo. There is also a loupe hinged at the back of the hood. The mirror is moved upwards when the release button is tripped and only comes back when the shutter is wound again.
The fixed lens is a three-element Tri-Lausar 80mm f/3.5, focused by turning the frontmost element. It is mounted in an NKS leaf-shutter giving B, 1–200 speeds. The release button is in front of the mirror box, towards the top, and is actuated by the photographer's right hand. There is a PC synch socket on the opposite side. A wheel or knob is visible to the right, below the lens, but its role is unknown.
Documents and surviving examples
The Escaflex J was announced in Japanese magazines from April 1954; the first advertisements are dated November of the same year and they only run for a short time.[1] The camera was priced at ¥9,800 in the December advertisement in Asahi Camera.[2]
The production volume was certainly very low. One surviving example is pictured in Sugiyama;[3] another is pictured in Lewis and in this page of the JCII collection.[4]
Notes
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 347.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 120.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 2105 (lens no.2344).
- ↑ Lewis, p. 86. The lens number, not fully legible, is not 2344.
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 400 and 1047.
- Camera Collectors' News no. 53. Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
- 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). P. 86.
- 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). Pp. 283 and 860.
- 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 2105 and 2252.
Links
In Japanese:
