Gemflex

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

SOW maker's plate. (Image rights)	Paper-backed film. (Image rights)

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. Some of the examples seen at auctions (see the links below) have a different rear plate to the one pictured above, reading GEM FLEX. I (i.e. GEM FLEX written as two words), Showa Opt. Works, Ltd. below, and still with Made in Occupied Japan.

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

Gemflex no.10612. Pictures courtesy of eBayer econsigna. (Image rights)

Gemflex, the subminiature TLR image by alonnso (Image rights)

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

image by sivartk (Image rights)

In English:

• Gemflex at Submin.com
• Gemflex among 17.5mm cameras at Subclub.org
• Gemflex at Cameras Downunder
• Past auctions by Westlicht Photographica Auction (now Leitz Photographica Auction):
  • Gemflex serial no. 3464, lot no.452 of the first auction (November 15, 2002)
  • Gemflex with leather case, lot no.511 of the fifth auction (May 29, 2004)
  • Gemflex with original lens-hood, lot no.609 of the sixth auction(November 6, 2004)
  • Gemflex with leather case and yellow filter, lot no.600 of the tenth auction (November 18, 2006)
  • Gemflex serial no. 4793, lot no.511 of the seventeenth auction (May 29, 2010)
  • Gemflex serial no. 6783, lot no.383 of the 32nd auction (March 2018)
• GemFlex PDF manual from OrphanCameras.com

In Swedish:

• Gemflex among Hit-type cameras (archived) at Fotomuseet i Osby

In Japanese:

• Gemflex in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology