Difference between revisions of "Mulix"

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{{Japanese Six}}
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{{Japanese Six
The '''Mulix''' (マリックス) was a Japanese 6×6 folding camera. It is an ordinary copy of the [[Ikonta B]], with a folding finder, a key to advance the film, strap lugs and a body release. The camera was fitted with one or other four-element "Mulixar" lens.
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|image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/99204584@N00/314365528/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/114/314365528_65581f6f51_m_d.jpg]<br>''Picture courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. {{with permission}}''
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}}
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The '''Mulix''' (マリックス) is a Japanese 6&times;6 folding camera, distributed by [[Kuwata|Kuwata Shōkai]] from 1940 to 1943.<REF> Dates: advertisements mentioned in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;341. </REF> It was perhaps made by Kuwata itself.
  
Some advertisements show two versions (not distinguished by name in any way) with a choice between (a) an f:4.5 lens and speeds of 1/5 to 1/250 and (b) an f:3.5 lens and speeds of 1 to 1/500.
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== Description ==
  
In other advertisements, model '''I''' was offered for &yen;93, with a f:4.5 lens and slow speeds to 1/5s, model '''II''' with slow speeds to 1s and was offered with a f:3.5 lens for &yen;154; model '''III''' with a f:4.5 lens and slow speeds to 1/5s for &yen;125. (Oddly, these advertisements do not mention ''top'' speeds.) Various Mulix filters were offered to go with the camera, each at &yen;5.80.
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<div class="floatleft plainlinks" style="text-align: center;">
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/99204584@N00/314371415/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/107/314371415_83930c6bff_t_d.jpg]
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<br>''KKS logo on the folding struts.''
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<br>''{{with permission}}''
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</div>
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The Mulix is an ordinary copy of the [[Ikonta]] 6&times;6, with a folding finder, a key at the top left to advance the film, strap lugs and a body release.
  
The only company name is [[Kuwata|Kuwata Shōkai]], probably the distributor's name.
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The body is extremely similar to the [[Lyra Six|Lyra Six III and Lyra Six F]], to the point that it can be suspected that it was made by [[Fuji Kōgaku]]. However the folding struts are engraved ''KKS'', initials found on other Kuwata products.
  
In this article, the katakana script マリックス (''marikkusu'') has been romanized as "Mulix", because a camera has been advertised for sale by a reputable dealer as a Mulix Six with a 75mm f3.5 Mulixar. No other information has been found. Meanwhile, the advertisement anthology described below calls it "Malix".
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All the models are fitted with a front-cell focusing four-element Mulixar lens.<REF> Four elements: Advertisement dated January 1942, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;94, and [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/Ma1.jpg advertisement] dated July 1942, reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. </REF>
  
==Source / further reading==
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== Evolution ==
 +
An advertisement dated October 1940 shows two versions (not distinguished by name in any way) with a choice between (a) an f/4.5 lens and T, B, 5&ndash;250 speeds and (b) an f/3.5 lens and B, 1&ndash;500 speeds. In the advertising picture, the finder's front part is black and the shutter plate is written ''KKS'' at the top.
  
*''Asahi Camera'' (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. ''Shōwa 10&ndash;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&ndash;1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7 Item 256.
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Advertisements dated January 1941, January 1942 and July 1942 show a chrome finder front part and new conical-shaped lens rim, partly hiding the shutter plate. Three models were offered:
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* '''Mulix II''': f/3.5 lens, slow speeds to 1s ({{yen|79|1941}} in 1941, {{yen|93|1942}} in 1942);
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* '''Mulix III''': f/4.5 lens, slow speeds to 1s ({{yen|110|1941}} in 1941, {{yen|125|1942}} in 1942);
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* '''Mulix I''': f/4.5 lens, slow speeds to 1/5s ({{yen|135|1941}} in 1941, {{yen|154|1942}} in 1942).
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Various Mulix filters were offered to go with the camera, each at &yen;5.80. Oddly, the model numbers don't follow a logical progression and these advertisements do not mention ''top'' speeds. The camera pictured in this page has 200&ndash;1, B, T speeds engraved in that order.
  
==External link==
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All the advertisements give [[Kuwata|Kuwata Shōkai]] as the sole company name.
* [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki27.jpg Advert from 29 July 1942 issue of ''Asahi Graph''] (from [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki.htm this site])
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<div class="plainlinks" style="text-align: center;">
 +
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/99204584@N00/314365528/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/114/314365528_65581f6f51_m_d.jpg]
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/99204584@N00/314365530/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/81/314365530_99795eac0b_m_d.jpg]
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/99204584@N00/314365532/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/116/314365532_1609b9829f_m_d.jpg]
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<br>''Mulix II, Mulixar Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens, speeds from 1s to 1/200.''
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<br>''Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. {{with permission}}''
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</div>
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== Name ==
 +
In this article, the katakana script マリックス (''marikkusu'') has been romanized as "Mulix", because of the Mulixar lens name. However, the advertisement anthology described below calls it "Malix".
 +
 
 +
== Source / further reading ==
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* {{Showa10}} Item 256. (See also the advertisement for item 133.)
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== Links ==
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* [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/Ma1.jpg Advertisement] from the 29 July 1942 issue of ''Asahi Graph'', reproduced in the [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki-b.htm 120 film camera page] of the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]
  
 
[[Category: Japanese 6x6 viewfinder folding]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 6x6 viewfinder folding]]
 
[[Category: M]]
 
[[Category: M]]

Revision as of 22:59, 4 December 2006

Japanese Six (6×6)
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
folding
Adler Six | Bonny Six | Clover-Six | Condor Six | First Six | Gelto Six | Gotex | Green | Lyra Six | Super Makinet Six | Mamiya Six | Miyako Six | Mulber Six | Mulix | National Six | Neure Six | Oko Six | Olympus Six | Pilot Six | Romax | Ugein | Vester-Six | Victor Six | Weha Six
collapsible
Ehira Chrome Six | Minolta Six | Shinko Super | Weha Chrome Six
unknown
Freude Six | Heart Camera | Konter Six | Tsubasa Six
Postwar models (edit)
folding
Aires Viceroy | Angel Six | Aram Six | Astoria Super Six | Atom Six | Balm Six | Baron | Beauty Six (1950) | Beauty Six (1953) | Calm Six | Carl Six | Centre Six | Crown | Crystar Six | Daido Six | Dorima Six | Doris Six | Ehira Six | Elbow Six | First Six | Flora Six | Fodor Six | Frank Six | Fujica Six | Super Fujica Six | Futami Six | Gotex | Grace Six | Kohken Chrome Six | Kyowa Six | Liner Six | Lyra Six | Mamiya Six | Middl Six | Mihama Six | Mine Six | Minon Six | Mizuho Six | Motoka Six | Mount Six | Muse Six | Super Naiku | Ofuna Six | Olympus Six | Olympus Chrome Six | Orion Six | Oscar Six | Pigeon Six | Planet | Please Six | Pluto Six | Poppy Six | Press Van | Press Van-120 | Proud Chrome Six | Proud Super Six | Renown Six | Ricoh Six | Ruvikon | Ruvinal | Sanon Six | Silver Six | Sisley 1 | Sisley 2 & 3 | Sister Six | Tenar Six | Toho Six | Tomic | Toyoca Six | Ugein Six | Wagen Six | Walcon 6 | Welmy Six | Wester | Windsor Six
rigid or collapsible
Dia Six | Ehira Chrome Six | Enon Six | Flora | Flashline | Fujipet | Harmony | Mikono-6 | Orion | Ponix | Rich-Ray-6 | Shumy | Weha Chrome Six
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo models ->
Japanese 3×4 and 4×4, 4×5 and 4×6.5, 4.5×6 and older 6×9 ->

The Mulix (マリックス) is a Japanese 6×6 folding camera, distributed by Kuwata Shōkai from 1940 to 1943.[1] It was perhaps made by Kuwata itself.

Description

The Mulix is an ordinary copy of the Ikonta 6×6, with a folding finder, a key at the top left to advance the film, strap lugs and a body release.

The body is extremely similar to the Lyra Six III and Lyra Six F, to the point that it can be suspected that it was made by Fuji Kōgaku. However the folding struts are engraved KKS, initials found on other Kuwata products.

All the models are fitted with a front-cell focusing four-element Mulixar lens.[2]

Evolution

An advertisement dated October 1940 shows two versions (not distinguished by name in any way) with a choice between (a) an f/4.5 lens and T, B, 5–250 speeds and (b) an f/3.5 lens and B, 1–500 speeds. In the advertising picture, the finder's front part is black and the shutter plate is written KKS at the top.

Advertisements dated January 1941, January 1942 and July 1942 show a chrome finder front part and new conical-shaped lens rim, partly hiding the shutter plate. Three models were offered:

  • Mulix II: f/3.5 lens, slow speeds to 1s (¥79 in 1941, ¥93 in 1942);
  • Mulix III: f/4.5 lens, slow speeds to 1s (¥110 in 1941, ¥125 in 1942);
  • Mulix I: f/4.5 lens, slow speeds to 1/5s (¥135 in 1941, ¥154 in 1942).

Various Mulix filters were offered to go with the camera, each at ¥5.80. Oddly, the model numbers don't follow a logical progression and these advertisements do not mention top speeds. The camera pictured in this page has 200–1, B, T speeds engraved in that order.

All the advertisements give Kuwata Shōkai as the sole company name.

Name

In this article, the katakana script マリックス (marikkusu) has been romanized as "Mulix", because of the Mulixar lens name. However, the advertisement anthology described below calls it "Malix".

Source / further reading

Links

  • Dates: advertisements mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 341.
  • Four elements: Advertisement dated January 1942, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 94, and advertisement dated July 1942, reproduced in the Gochamaze website.