Gitzo

Gitzo is a French company, founded in 1917. Its name was derived from the founder's name Arsène Gitzhoven. 'Gitzo' was a name given to an early shutter (see below) and later adopted for all products manufactured by the company. Initially Gitzo made camera equipment and precision accessories, especially shutters. After World War II it concentrated on the manufacture of tripods and tripod heads, for which it is renowned today.

Gitzo Logo (Current) (Image rights) (Image rights)

History

Arsène Gitzhoven founded the company in 1917, during the height of World War I, at a time when photographic equipment could no longer be acquired from Germany. In the beginning, the company manufactured wooden as well as metal film backs adapted to the majority of the cameras manufactured in Europe. In the early or middle of the 1920s the company started to produce its own cameras, the Gilax series of 6.5 X 9, 6.5 X 11 and even 24 X 36 cm. In the 1930s Gitzo gave up the manufacture of cameras to concentrate its know-how on a range of precision accessories. Gitzhoven registered a range of patents for shutters both in France. and the United States of America . In addition to shutters the company produced a range of precision accessories such as delayed action mechanisms, flash connectors and cable releases. Gitzo shutters, rproduced at a rate of 750 a day, were used by a wide range of camera manufacturers (see list below). The firm ceased operations from 1942 to 1945. After World War II it continued to produce shutters and precision accessories, but also branched into the production of tripods from 1950. In 1953 Gitzo patented the first rapid column tripod, followed by the world's first carbon fibre tripod in 1994 and the World's first magnesium tripod head in 1996.

In 1960, Arsène Gitzhoven retired and his daughter, Yvonne Plieger, took over the company. Her husband, Roger Pflieger, had been an aviation mechanic during World War II and developed a number of patents associated with tripods and tripod heads. When Gitzo became part of the Vitec Group in 1992, the manufacture of accessories ceased and the company concentrated on tripods and tripod heads. Between 2001 and 2005 the company was gradually transferred from France to Italy. Currently (2008) Gitzo manufactures tripods, tripod heads and photographers' clothing.

Company Logo

The initial logo used by Arsène Gitzhoven were his initials, displayed as a capital 'A' set inside a capital 'G' (called 'AG marking' in the list below). The name 'GITZO' derived from one of the shutter types and became eponymous for all products produced by Gitzhoven. During the Art Déco era both the G and the O of 'GITZO' were stylised, with the 'O' shaped like a Greek ∆. Since the 2002 reorganisation, the company logo is a dark blue square with the word 'GITZO' in the centre.

Breveté

Numerous descriptions of GITZO products in on-line auctions refer to the brand or product line "GITZO BREVETE" or "GITZO BREVETE SGDG." This is based on a misinterpretation. 'Breveté' simply means 'patent,' and "S.G.D.G." is an abbreviation for "Sans garantie du Gouvernement" which means that a patent had been applied for but not yet granted (akin to the 'Patent pending' in UK and USA parlance).

Cameras

The history of Gitzo cameras is very sketchy at present. I seems that there was a Gilax series of 6.5 X 9, 6.5 X 11 and 24 X 36 cm; produced in the 1920s. In addition, solid aluminium bodies seem to have been projected for the 1950s, but the project was abandoned when cheap Japanese camera imports effectively killed the French camera industry.

Shutters

The origins of Gitzhoven's shutter designs are not fully clear. It is worth noting, however, that the early shutters, such as 'Stella' and the 'Gitzo' black disk shutter at lest superficially bear a striking resemblance to the Alfred Gauthier-designed 'Vario' shutter. The Vario Shutter of the late 1910s and early 1920s has a nine-leaf Iris diaphragm similar to the one produced by Gitzhoven. There is little research available on the early days of the Gitzo brand and it is not clear whether shutter production started during or after World War I. It is possible that production started during the war when German patents were in abeyance. After Germany's unconditional surrender in 1918 French manufacturers could use German designs without fear of litigation. Between the 1920s and the 1960s Gitzo was a renowned supplier of shutters for various French and foreign camera manufacturers. From the 1930s onwards, Arséne Gitzhoven held a wide range of patents on shutters and shutter improvements. By 1936 the company reputedly made 750 shutter mechanisms a day. The production of shutters ceased in 1992.

When consulting price catalogues of French camera manufacturers and resellers, such as Photo-Plait, it becomes obvious that Gitzo shutters were cheaper than imported Vario or Compur shutters, presumably indicating a perceived lesser quality. The list below is a compilation of known shutter applications. It is certain that this list is incomplete and thus needs to be regarded as a work in progress.

"PLAVICOS"

black and white disc (settings: 25-50-100-B-T)
reputedly made by Gitzhoven

Used in the following cameras:

• Plavic
  • Pliant (120)(c. 1930)
    • Plavic 120/6.3
  • Pliant (127)

"STELLA"

black and white disc (settings: 25-50-100-B-T, AG marking)

Used in the following cameras:

• Clément
  • Ercé, (120)
    • L. Clément Claror 105/6.3

"GITZO"

TYPE A: settings 1-B-T

(black disc, AG marking).

Used in the following cameras:

• unknown manufacturer (120)
  • Extra-Rapide Aplanat ?/8

TYPE B: settings 25-50-100-B-T

black disc, AG marking, 55mm diameter. Note that at least two versions can be noted, distinguishable by the size of the numerals.

Used in the following cameras:

• Caillon
  • Stereo plate camera, (c. 1920)
    • Krauss Paris Tessar Zeiss 85/4.5

• R. Delarue
  • Erdé
    • Radior 105/6.3

• Héard & Mallinjod
  • Hemax Folding 6 x 9 (c. 1930)
    • Darlot Nemo 105/4.5
  • Hemax Folding 9 x 12 (c. 1930)
    • Itier Itmar 135/6.3
  • Siva (c. 1930)
    • Hermagis Magir 105/6.3

• Manufrance
  • Luminor (c. 1930)
    • Luminor 105/6.3 (120)

• unknown manufacturer (6x9) (Photo-Plait name tag)
  • • Roussel Trylor 105/4.5

• unknown manufacturer (plate camera)
  • • L Clément Triolor 105/4.5
    • Itier Excellor 135/6.4
    • Armor 135/6.3

TYPE C: settings 25-50-100-B-T with aperture lock

red centre with black ring, AG marking This shutter aperture lock, located at the underside of the shutter, was patented by Arsene Gitzhoven in 1930.

VARIANT C1: external diameter 55mm

Used in the following cameras:

• • ??
    • Roussel Trylor 100/4.5

• Balda
  • 9x12 (plate)
    • Boyer Topaz 105/4.5
    • Boyer Topaz 135/6.3

• Héard & Mallinjod
  • Hemax Folding 9 x 12 (c. 1930)
    • Lumiere Nacor 135/6.3

• Merkel
  • 9 x 12
    • Roussel Trylor 100/4.5

• unknown manufacturer (120)
  • • Hermagis Magir 105/6.3
  • Studiolette (name tag Photo-Plait, Paris)
    • Roussel Trylor 120/6.3

VARIANT C2: external diameter 55mm

Used in the following cameras: 67mm shutter

• Héard & Mallinjod
  • Hemax Folding 9 x 12 (c. 1930)
    • Darlot Nemo 135/4,5

GITZ∆

[with art deco face plate]

(settings: T-B-25-50-100, AG marking)

Used in the following cameras:

• Caleb (120)
  • • Berthiot 120/6.3
• Franka (120)
  • Rolfix
    • Armor 105/6.3

GITZ∆ 1

(settings: T-B-25-50-100-125, AG marking)

Used in the following cameras:

• • Rex 6x9
    • Boyer Topaz 100/4.5

GITZ∆ 2R

(settings: T-B-25-50-100-150, AG marking)

Used in the following cameras:

• Boumsell
  • Azur
    • Roussel Trylor 100/4.5
  • Cornu Reyna II (135)
    • Berthiot
• Demaria-Lapierre
  • Dehel 6 x 9
    • Berthiot 105/4.5
• Olbia
  • Type?
    • Roussel 75mm
• Pontiac
  • Bloc Métal 41 (?1941–1948)
    • Berthiot Spécial 105/4.5
    • Boyer Topaz 105/4.5
    • Reported with a Kodak Anastigmat Spécial 105/4.5 (mistake?)

ZOTIC I

(settings: 200-150-100-50-25-B)

Used in the following cameras:

• Pontiac
  • Bloc Métal 45 ('Standard')(c. 1949–1954)
    • Roussel Trylor 105/4.5
    • Berthiot Spécial 105/4.5
    • Berthiot Flor 105/4.5

GITZ∆-PARIS

VARIANT 1: 200-25

Settings: 200-150-100-50-25-B

Used in the following cameras:

• Alsaphot
  • Cyclope
    • Boyer Topaz 105/4.5
  • D'Assas Norlin 6x6 (1953)
    • Boyer Topaz 75/4.5
  • D'Assas 3 (c. 1953)
    • Boyer Topaz 105/4.5
  • Memox 24 x 36 (c. 1949)
    • Saphir 35/3.5

• Tiranty
  • Coronet(c. 1950s)
    • Tiranty Transpar 100/6.3

• Cornu
  • Reyna I (1942)
    • Berthiot Flor 50/3.5

• Demaria-Lapierre
  • Telka I c. 1950
    • Manar 90/3.5
  • Telka XX c. 1950
    • Manar 110/4.5

• Olbia
  • Omega Eikon (Pseudo TLR 6x6) (1947)
    • Roussel Trylor 75/4.5

• Pontiac
  • Lynx I (Lynx) (1942)
    • Berthiot Flor 50/3.5

• Vergne
  • Atlas (120) (c. 1949)
    • Roussel Trylor 75/4.5
  • Atlas 6 x 9 (120) (c. 1949)
    • Roussel Trylor 90/4.5
  • Atlas Automatic (120) (c. 1949)
    • Roussel Trylor 90/4.5

VARIANT 2: 250-25

Settings: 250-200-150-100-50-25-B

Used in the following cameras:

• Olbia
  • Omega Eikon (Pseudo TLR 6x6) (1947)
    •  ???

VARIANT 3: 300-25

Settings: 300-200-150-100-50-25-B

Used in the following cameras:

• Olbia
  • Omega Eikon (Pseudo TLR 6x6) (1947)
    • Roussel Trylor 75/4.5

VARIANT 4: 400-25

Settings: 400-250-200-150-100-50-25-B

Used in the following cameras:

• Olbia
  • Omega Eikon (Pseudo TLR 6x6) (1947)
    • Olbia 75/4.5
    • Berthiot 75/4.5

AZUR - PARIS - FRANCE

Shutter settings: T-B-25-50-100-150.—Used in the following cameras:

• Boumsell
  • Azur (1948)
    • Roussel Triolor 105/4.5

NORCA-PARIS

(settings: T-B-25-50-100-300)

Used in the following cameras:

• Fap
  • Norca A 24 x 36 (1938)
    • Berthiot Flor 50/3.5

Other Products

GITZO produces a wide range of small products for the photographic market, ranging from cable releases to self timers and flash synchronisators.

Cable Releases

A number of cable releases were produced ranging from 50mm to an astounding 1500mm!. In addition, GITZO produced pneumatic cable releases. The production of cable releases ceased in 1992.

to be expanded

Self-Timers

"Auto-retardateurs" were based on a (patented) pneumatic principle and resembled in their shape metal syringes. It allowed for a shutter delay of up to 30 seconds. The production of self timers ceased in the 1980s. Two main tpes of auto retardateurs were produced, the standard model and the 'junior', which lacked the option to control the amount of time elapsed (only allowed for 30secs). The standard model was produced in a number of variants to alow for use with standard (pin) releases, Leica releases and Polaroid releases.

Flash Synchronisators

to be expanded

Tripod Types

Gitzo produced a wide range of tripods. From the 1960s onwards the pattern of tripods was uniform, based on a structure of "series' with increasing tube diameter:

• 00 Table 5/8")
• 0 Weekend 3/4")
• 1 Sport (7/8")
• 2 Reporter/Mountaineer (1-1/8")
• 3 Studex & Inter Pro Studex (1-1/4")
• 4 Pro Studex (1-1/2")
• 5 Tele Studex (1-5/8")

From 1970 onwards the tripods were painted in the distinctive “Noir Decor” hammered finish.

Tripod Heads

The company produced a wide range of tripod heads for still and video cameras. The most innvoative was the off centre ball head, which came in a range of sizes corresponding with the tripod.

Gitzo off centre ball head (current model GH2750QR) (Image rights) (Image rights)