Mulix

From Camera-wiki.org
Revision as of 18:09, 17 March 2007 by Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (Source / further reading: not in Sugiyama)
Jump to: navigation, search
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 ->
Japanese 6×6 TLR, pseudo TLR and medium format SLR ->
Japanese Semi (4.5×6) and older 6×9 ->

The Mulix (マリックス)[1] is a Japanese 6×6 folding camera, distributed by Kuwata Shōkai from 1940 to 1943.[2] 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 back is hinged to the right and has a single red window in the middle. The back leather is embossed MULIX vertically on the left and the case is also embossed MULIX.

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 and the red window cover are engraved KKS, initials found on other Kuwata products.

All the models are fitted with a front-cell focusing four-element Mulixar lens.[3]

Evolution

An advertisement dated October 1940[4] 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. No price is indicated. This version has not yet been observed and it is not known if it was effectively sold.

Advertisements dated February 1941[5], January 1942[6] and July 1942[7] show a chrome finder front part and a new conical-shaped lens rim, partly hiding the shutter plate. The new lens rim makes focusing possible even with a filter or a hood attached.[8] 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 written in that order, and the shutter plate is curiously marked K.PRONTOR.S at the bottom.

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

Pictures

Notes

  1. The Japanese pronunciation is closer to "Malix", and Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 341, calls the camera "Malix" by mistake.
  2. Dates: advertisements mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 341.
  3. Four elements: Advertisement dated January 1942, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 94, and advertisement dated July 1942, reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
  4. Published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 95.
  5. Published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 77.
  6. Published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 94.
  7. Advertisement from the 29 July 1942 issue of Asahi Graph, reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
  8. Feature described in the advertisements dated January and July 1942.

Source / further reading

The Mulix is not listed in Sugiyama.

Links