Difference between revisions of "Greiner"
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'''Otto Greiner & Söhne''' was a camera-maker in Neustadt bei Coburg in Germany. The small firm is known for just one camera, the '''Luxina''', a folding camera for 6x9cm, 6x6cm or 4.5x6cm exposures on 120 roll-film; it has three [[red window]]s, and the smaller formats are achieved by masks inserted in the film chamber. The camera was introduced in 1952.<ref name=DKM>[https://kameramuseum.de/objekte/greiner-luxina/ Notes on the Luxina] at [https://kameramuseum.de/ Deutsches Kamera Museum], with an example having Westar lens. The notes cite a company notice that the camera had been exhibited at Photokina 1951, and was now available.</ref> | '''Otto Greiner & Söhne''' was a camera-maker in Neustadt bei Coburg in Germany. The small firm is known for just one camera, the '''Luxina''', a folding camera for 6x9cm, 6x6cm or 4.5x6cm exposures on 120 roll-film; it has three [[red window]]s, and the smaller formats are achieved by masks inserted in the film chamber. The camera was introduced in 1952.<ref name=DKM>[https://kameramuseum.de/objekte/greiner-luxina/ Notes on the Luxina] at [https://kameramuseum.de/ Deutsches Kamera Museum], with an example having Westar lens. The notes cite a company notice that the camera had been exhibited at Photokina 1951, and was now available.</ref> | ||
| − | At least the top housing and bottom plate of the camera body are moulded of a [[Bakelite]]-like resin plastic (these might be part of a single body casting). Various other parts - the front door, struts, catches and hinges and possibly more of the body- are metal. The sides of the camera have leatherette covering, with the name (just 'Luxina'; not the maker's name) impressed in it, above the door when the camera is held vertically. The front door is opened by pressing it; it toggles open/closed.<ref name=DKM/> It opens on unusual jointed, curved sprung struts. | + | At least the top housing and bottom plate of the camera body are moulded of a [[Bakelite]]-like resin plastic (these might be part of a single body casting). Various other parts - the front door, struts, catches and hinges and possibly more of the body- are metal. The sides of the camera have leatherette covering, with the name (just 'Luxina'; not the maker's name) impressed in it, above the door when the camera is held vertically. The front door is opened by pressing it; it toggles open/closed.<ref name=DKM/><ref name=P902818>[https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DDE902818C German Patent 902818], ''Springdeckelverschluss'' (spring lid-closure), filed July 1951 and granted December 1953 to Otto Greiner, describing the toggling mechanism of the camera door; at [https://worldwide.espacenet.com/ Espacenet], the patent search facility of the European Patent Office.</ref> It opens on unusual jointed, curved sprung struts. |
Few examples have been seen. Several sources state that only 50-60 of the cameras were made.<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p372.</ref><ref name=DKM/> Most have a 105mm f/4.5 [[Rodenstock]] Trinar, with front-element focusing, in a Prontor-S shutter with speeds to 1/250 second.<ref name=WPA>[https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Greiner-Luxina/AI-18-11661 Luxina] with Rodenstock Trinar, with half-frame mask and maker's box, sold at the [https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Cameras/Past-Auctions/Auction-18/ eighteenth Westlicht Photographica Auction], in December 2010; several photos of the camera.</ref><ref>[http://auction-team.de/new_highlights/2010_03/ph/047.html Luxina] with Trinar, sold by [http://auction-team.de/ Breker] in March 2010.</ref> The Deutsches Kamera Museum shows an example with a 105mm f/4.5 [[Optische Werke Göttingen]] Westar, in the same shutter, and their notes, again quoting the contemporary company notice, suggest the Trinar was the best lens offered: ''Depending on the optical and shutter equipment, the price ranges from 89.50 DM to 112 DM. In addition to the Rodenstock-Trinar 1:4.5 in Prontor-S, there are lenses from well-known companies with a light intensity of 1:4.5 for the lower price ranges and 1:6.3 in Pronto and Vario shutters (synchronized) for installation.''<ref name=DKM/> The camera has a shutter release button on the top housing, with double-exposure lock.<ref name=DKM/> When the camera is folded, the release button is withdrawn, flush with the housing. | Few examples have been seen. Several sources state that only 50-60 of the cameras were made.<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p372.</ref><ref name=DKM/> Most have a 105mm f/4.5 [[Rodenstock]] Trinar, with front-element focusing, in a Prontor-S shutter with speeds to 1/250 second.<ref name=WPA>[https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Greiner-Luxina/AI-18-11661 Luxina] with Rodenstock Trinar, with half-frame mask and maker's box, sold at the [https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Cameras/Past-Auctions/Auction-18/ eighteenth Westlicht Photographica Auction], in December 2010; several photos of the camera.</ref><ref>[http://auction-team.de/new_highlights/2010_03/ph/047.html Luxina] with Trinar, sold by [http://auction-team.de/ Breker] in March 2010.</ref> The Deutsches Kamera Museum shows an example with a 105mm f/4.5 [[Optische Werke Göttingen]] Westar, in the same shutter, and their notes, again quoting the contemporary company notice, suggest the Trinar was the best lens offered: ''Depending on the optical and shutter equipment, the price ranges from 89.50 DM to 112 DM. In addition to the Rodenstock-Trinar 1:4.5 in Prontor-S, there are lenses from well-known companies with a light intensity of 1:4.5 for the lower price ranges and 1:6.3 in Pronto and Vario shutters (synchronized) for installation.''<ref name=DKM/> The camera has a shutter release button on the top housing, with double-exposure lock.<ref name=DKM/> When the camera is folded, the release button is withdrawn, flush with the housing. | ||
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==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
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| + | ==Links== | ||
| + | *[https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DDE848296C German Patent 848296], ''Röhrenstativ für Fotoapparate'' (tubular tripod for cameras), filed July 1950 and granted September 1952 to Otto Greiner, describing a light tripod for small cameras; at ''Espacenet''. The tripod resembles a Zimmer frame. It does not seem to be collapsible, or intended to be portable, though the height is adjustable. | ||
[[Category:Camera makers]] | [[Category:Camera makers]] | ||
[[Category:Germany]] | [[Category:Germany]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:55, 26 March 2024
Otto Greiner & Söhne was a camera-maker in Neustadt bei Coburg in Germany. The small firm is known for just one camera, the Luxina, a folding camera for 6x9cm, 6x6cm or 4.5x6cm exposures on 120 roll-film; it has three red windows, and the smaller formats are achieved by masks inserted in the film chamber. The camera was introduced in 1952.[1]
At least the top housing and bottom plate of the camera body are moulded of a Bakelite-like resin plastic (these might be part of a single body casting). Various other parts - the front door, struts, catches and hinges and possibly more of the body- are metal. The sides of the camera have leatherette covering, with the name (just 'Luxina'; not the maker's name) impressed in it, above the door when the camera is held vertically. The front door is opened by pressing it; it toggles open/closed.[1][2] It opens on unusual jointed, curved sprung struts.
Few examples have been seen. Several sources state that only 50-60 of the cameras were made.[3][1] Most have a 105mm f/4.5 Rodenstock Trinar, with front-element focusing, in a Prontor-S shutter with speeds to 1/250 second.[4][5] The Deutsches Kamera Museum shows an example with a 105mm f/4.5 Optische Werke Göttingen Westar, in the same shutter, and their notes, again quoting the contemporary company notice, suggest the Trinar was the best lens offered: Depending on the optical and shutter equipment, the price ranges from 89.50 DM to 112 DM. In addition to the Rodenstock-Trinar 1:4.5 in Prontor-S, there are lenses from well-known companies with a light intensity of 1:4.5 for the lower price ranges and 1:6.3 in Pronto and Vario shutters (synchronized) for installation.[1] The camera has a shutter release button on the top housing, with double-exposure lock.[1] When the camera is folded, the release button is withdrawn, flush with the housing.
Cast into the top housing is a reverse-Galilean viewfinder, with a very small eyepiece. The front lens of this is scored with frame-lines for 4.5x6cm. There is also a cold shoe, and the shutter has a PC socket for flash.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Notes on the Luxina at Deutsches Kamera Museum, with an example having Westar lens. The notes cite a company notice that the camera had been exhibited at Photokina 1951, and was now available.
- ↑ German Patent 902818, Springdeckelverschluss (spring lid-closure), filed July 1951 and granted December 1953 to Otto Greiner, describing the toggling mechanism of the camera door; at Espacenet, the patent search facility of the European Patent Office.
- ↑ 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). p372.
- ↑ Luxina with Rodenstock Trinar, with half-frame mask and maker's box, sold at the eighteenth Westlicht Photographica Auction, in December 2010; several photos of the camera.
- ↑ Luxina with Trinar, sold by Breker in March 2010.
Links
- German Patent 848296, Röhrenstativ für Fotoapparate (tubular tripod for cameras), filed July 1950 and granted September 1952 to Otto Greiner, describing a light tripod for small cameras; at Espacenet. The tripod resembles a Zimmer frame. It does not seem to be collapsible, or intended to be portable, though the height is adjustable.
