Difference between revisions of "Gemflex"

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{{Japanese roll film subminiature
 
{{Japanese roll film subminiature
|image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/416320510/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/416320510_861bdf13da_m_d.jpg]<br>''Picture by eBayer econsigna. {{with permission}}''
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|image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/40336990483/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7869/40336990483_d6f2ee0336_m_d.jpg]<br>''Picture by eBayer econsigna. {{with permission}}''
 
}}
 
}}
 
The '''Gemflex''' or '''Gem Flex''' is a subminiature [[pseudo TLR]] camera made by [[Shōwa Kōgaku|Shōwa Kōgaku Seiki]] (昭和光学精機)<ref>According to {{Kokusan}}, Shōwa Kōki (昭和光機).</ref> in November 1949. (It was advertised in Japanese camera magazines dated February to June 1950.)
 
The '''Gemflex''' or '''Gem Flex''' is a subminiature [[pseudo TLR]] camera made by [[Shōwa Kōgaku|Shōwa Kōgaku Seiki]] (昭和光学精機)<ref>According to {{Kokusan}}, Shōwa Kōki (昭和光機).</ref> in November 1949. (It was advertised in Japanese camera magazines dated February to June 1950.)
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/33430383158/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7883/33430383158_2650b766f8_t_d.jpg]
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|| ''SOW maker's plate.<br>{{with permission}}''
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| ''SOW maker's plate.<br>{{with permission}}''
|| ''Paper-backed film.<br>{{with permission}}''
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| ''Paper-backed film.<br>{{with permission}}''
 
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The Gemflex uses paper-backed 17.5mm film, for a frame size of 14×14mm. It has the same layout as that of a conventional 6×6 TLR, with the viewing lens above the taking lens. The taking lens is a 25mm f/3.5 "Gem". The "Swallow" shutter has three speeds (25, 50, 100) as well as bulb. Film wind and aperture knobs are on the right.
 
The Gemflex uses paper-backed 17.5mm film, for a frame size of 14×14mm. It has the same layout as that of a conventional 6×6 TLR, with the viewing lens above the taking lens. The taking lens is a 25mm f/3.5 "Gem". The "Swallow" shutter has three speeds (25, 50, 100) as well as bulb. Film wind and aperture knobs are on the right.
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/416320513/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/416320513_a77777fd5e_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/416320514/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/416320514_d5fbe1985d_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/416321699/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/157/416321699_999f56606b_m_d.jpg]
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/32364381387/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7891/32364381387_9493b113fa_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/46582894174/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7920/46582894174_190884e08d_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/46582907044/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7813/46582907044_5514939020_m_d.jpg]
 
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/416320515/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/133/416320515_896fa877e8_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/416321695/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/123/416321695_b42f47b475_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/416321688/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/416321688_f79a895d65_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/416321692/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/416321692_aab6469db4_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/416321698/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/416321698_792e6ef80b_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/416320520/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/416320520_3babbcf3b2_t_d.jpg]
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/32364428237/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7870/32364428237_75aa3b14c9_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/47306187121/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7840/47306187121_6e37913ec5_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/33430489878/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7835/33430489878_b63a55e47f_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/33430503758/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7848/33430503758_76751a8946_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/40341393913/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7827/40341393913_e19146d2bf_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/33432161908/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7850/33432161908_503f08602d_t_d.jpg]
 
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|-
||''Gemflex no.10612.<br>Pictures courtesy of eBayer econsigna. {{with permission}}''
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|''Gemflex no.10612.<br>Pictures courtesy of eBayer econsigna. {{with permission}}''
 
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{{Flickr_image
 
{{Flickr_image
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alonnso/4103421590/in/pool-camerawiki
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alonnso/4103421590/in/pool-camerawiki
|image= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2661/4103421590_0a82593034_m.jpg
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|image= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2661/4103421590_0a82593034.jpg
 
|image_align= center
 
|image_align= center
 
|image_text= Gemflex, the subminiature TLR
 
|image_text= Gemflex, the subminiature TLR
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* [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/gemflex/index.htm Gemflex] at [http://www.submin.com/ Submin.com]
 
* [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/gemflex/index.htm Gemflex] at [http://www.submin.com/ Submin.com]
 
* Gemflex among [http://www.subclub.org/shop/175mm.htm 17.5mm cameras] at [http://www.subclub.org/ Subclub.org]
 
* Gemflex among [http://www.subclub.org/shop/175mm.htm 17.5mm cameras] at [http://www.subclub.org/ Subclub.org]
* Gemflex among [http://www.camerasdownunder.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=2 subminiature cameras] at [http://www.camerasdownunder.com/ Cameras Downunder]
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*[http://www.camerasdownunder.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2&pos=27 Gemflex] at [http://www.camerasdownunder.com/ Cameras Downunder]
* Past auctions by [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=3&L=1 Westlicht Photographica Auction]:
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* Past auctions by Westlicht Photographica Auction (now [https://www.leitz-auction.com/auction/en/home Leitz Photographica Auction]):
** [http://www.auction2000.se/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=1&inO=452 Gemflex] serial no. 3464, lot no.452 of [http://www.auction2000.se/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=1 auction no.1 (November 15, 2002)]
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** [https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=1&inO=452 Gemflex] serial no. 3464, lot no.452 of [https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=1 auction no.1 (November 15, 2002)]
** [http://www.auction2000.se/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=5&inO=511 Gemflex], lot no.511 of [http://www.auction2000.se/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=5 auction no.5 (May 29, 2004)]
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** [https://wlpa.auction2000.online/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=5&inO=511 Gemflex], lot no.511 of [https://wlpa.auction2000.online/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=5 auction no.5 (May 29, 2004)]
** [http://www.auction2000.se/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=6&inO=609 Gemflex], lot no.609 of [http://www.auction2000.se/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=6 auction no.6 (November 6, 2004)]
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** [https://wlpa.auction2000.online/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=6&inO=609 Gemflex], lot no.609 of [https://wlpa.auction2000.online/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=6 auction no.6 (November 6, 2004)]
** [http://www.auction2000.se/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=10&inO=600 Gemflex], lot no.600 of [http://www.auction2000.se/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=10 auction no.10 (November 18, 2006)]
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** [https://wlpa.auction2000.online/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=10&inO=600 Gemflex], lot no.600 of [https://wlpa.auction2000.online/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=10 auction no.10 (November 18, 2006)]
** [http://www.auction2000.se/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=17&inO=511 Gemflex] serial no. 4793, lot no.511 of [http://www.auction2000.se/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=17 auction no.17 (May 29, 2010)]
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** [https://wlpa.auction2000.online/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=17&inO=511 Gemflex] serial no. 4793, lot no.511 of [https://wlpa.auction2000.online/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=17 auction no.17 (May 29, 2010)]
* Past auctions by [http://www.auction-team.de/english/index.htm Auction Team Köln]:
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** [http://auction-team.de/new_highlights/2006_05/ph/O0064655.html Gemflex] in the [http://auction-team.de/new_highlights/nh_ph_05_2006.htm highlights of the 20 May 2006 sale]
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* [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/gemflex/gemflex.htm GemFlex PDF manual] from [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/ OrphanCameras.com]
** [http://auction-team.de/new_highlights/2006_03/O0064246.html Gemflex] in the [http://auction-team.de/new_highlights/nh_ph_03_2006.htm highlights of the 25 March 2006 sale]
 
** [http://auction-team.de/new_highlights/2004_04/775.htm Gemflex] in the [http://auction-team.de/new_highlights/nh_ph_04_2004.htm highlights of the 24 April 2004 sale]
 
 
In Swedish:
 
In Swedish:
* Gemflex among [http://www.fotomuseetiosby.nu/hit.html Hit-type cameras] at [http://www.fotomuseetiosby.nu/ Fotomuseet i Osby]
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* Gemflex among [https://web.archive.org/web/20170319222221/http://www.fotomuseetiosby.nu/hit.html Hit-type cameras] (archived) at [http://www.fotomuseetiosby.nu/ Fotomuseet i Osby]
 
In Japanese:
 
In Japanese:
 
* [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?no=103310371104&c=&y1=&y2=&id=&pref=&city=&org=&word=103310371104&p=2 Gemflex] in the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/set_brws_01.php?id=1033 Camera database] of the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/ Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology]
 
* [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?no=103310371104&c=&y1=&y2=&id=&pref=&city=&org=&word=103310371104&p=2 Gemflex] in the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/set_brws_01.php?id=1033 Camera database] of the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/ Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology]

Revision as of 05:43, 16 October 2022

Japanese subminiature
on paper-backed roll film and round film (edit)
17.5mm film Arrow | Baby Flex | Baby-Max | Barlux | Beauty 14 | Bell 14 | Blondy | Baby Colon | Comex | Corona | Croma Color 16 | Epochs | Fuji Kozet | Gamma | Gem 16 | Gemflex | Glico Lighter | Halmat | Hit | Hit-II | Hit-type | Hobby 16 | Homer No.1 | Homer 16 | Honey | Hope | Jenic | Kiku 16 | Kent | Kolt | Kute | Lovely | Mascot | Meteor | Micky | Midget | Mighty | Mini | Moment | Mycro | Myracle | Nikkobaby | Peace | Peace Baby Flex | Peace Small Lef | Pet | Petit | Petty | Prince 16-A | Prince Ruby | Robin | New Rocket | Rubina | Rubix | Saga 16 | Saica | Septon Pen | Sholy-Flex | Snappy | Spy-14 | Sun | Sun B | Sun 16 | Sweet 16 | Tacker | Takka | Tone | Top Camera | Toyoca 16 | Toyoca Ace | Tsubame | Vesta | Vista | Vestkam
20mm film Guzzi | Mycroflex | Top
round film Evarax | Petal | Sakura Petal | Star
unknown Hallow | Lyravit | Tsubasa
cine film see Japanese cine film subminiature
110 film see Japanese 110 film

The Gemflex or Gem Flex is a subminiature pseudo TLR camera made by Shōwa Kōgaku Seiki (昭和光学精機)[1] in November 1949. (It was advertised in Japanese camera magazines dated February to June 1950.)

The Gemflex uses paper-backed 17.5mm film, for a frame size of 14×14mm. It has the same layout as that of a conventional 6×6 TLR, with the viewing lens above the taking lens. The taking lens is a 25mm f/3.5 "Gem". The "Swallow" shutter has three speeds (25, 50, 100) as well as bulb. Film wind and aperture knobs are on the right.

The nameplate reads GEMFLEX with the "G" and "F" larger than the other letters. At the center of the outer cover of the viewing screen (visible from the front when the cover is open for use) is a stylized "SK" monogram.

A 1950 advertisement[2] does not mention the manufacturer but describes the camera as being distributed by Miura Shōji (三浦商事), of Ginza.



Notes

  1. According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, Shōwa Kōki (昭和光機).
  2. Advertisement in Asahi Camera April 1950, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.140.

Sources / 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. Item 532.
  • The Japanese Historical Camera. 日本の歴史的カメラ (Nihon no rekishiteki kamera). 2nd ed. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2004. P.52.
  • 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.68.
  • 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.892.
  • Pritchard, Michael and St. Denny, Douglas. Spy Cameras — A century of detective and subminiature cameras. London: Classic Collection Publications, 1993. ISBN 1-874485-00-3. P.57.
  • 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 5039–40.
  • 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.28.

Links

In English:

In Swedish:

In Japanese: