Mulix

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

Description

KKS logo
on the folding struts.
(Image rights)

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.

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.

Mulix II, Mulixar Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens, speeds from 1s to 1/200.
Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)

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

• 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 256. (See also the advertisement for item 133.)

Links

• Advertisement from the 29 July 1942 issue of Asahi Graph, reproduced in the 120 film camera page of the Gochamaze website

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.