Difference between revisions of "Peace Baby Flex"

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{{Japanese subminiature}}
 
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{{Japanese subminiature}}
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The '''Peace Baby Flex''' is a Japanese subminiature [[pseudo TLR]] made in the late 1940s or early 1950s, using 17.5mm paper backed rollfilm. The '''Peace Small Lef''' and '''Sholy-Flex''' are name variants of the same camera.
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== Description ==
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The Peace Baby Flex has the shape of a regular twin-lens reflex, but in a miniature form. The lens actually has fixed focus and aperture, and the camera is thus a [[pseudo TLR]]. Unlike most other cameras using 17.5mm film, it reportedly takes 12×14mm rectangular pictures (instead of 14×14mm).<REF> Frame size: {{SUG}}, item 5106. </REF>
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The film is advanced by a knob on the photographer's right. The L-shaped back is hinged to the top, and retained by a simple latch at the bottom. It contains an uncovered red window surrounded by a diamond-shaped metal frame. The viewing hood has three ribs, and is very similar to that of the [[Baby Flex]]. The camera's entire front part is covered by a bright metal plate, giving a shiny aspect. The viewing lens has no marking; the taking lens is unnamed, and is only engraved ''20mm'' on the rim, together with a serial number. The self-cocking shutter gives B and I settings. The shutter plate is plain silver with black engravings.
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== Versions ==
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The camera exists in three versions, only differing by the engravings on the shutter plate. The name appears above the lens, either as ''PEACE BABY FLEX'', ''PEACE SMALL LEF''<REF> "Lef" is certainly a misspelling of "Ref", an abbreviation for "Reflex" commonly used in Japan in the 1930s and 1940s. ("Lef" and "Ref" would be pronounced the same by a Japanese locutor.) </REF> or ''SHOLY–FLEX'', and various initials are found under the lens, either ''N.D.N'', ''S.R.N'', ''M.S.N'' or ''S.P.S''. The known combinations are the following, listed in ascending lens order:
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* Sholy-Flex, ''N.D.N'';<REF> Example pictured in [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/babyflex/sholy_flex.htm this page at Submin.com] (lens no.220). </REF>
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* Sholy-Flex, ''S.R.N'';<REF> Example pictured in Pritchard, p.59 (lens no.661). </REF>
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* Peace Baby Flex, ''M.S.N'';<REF> Example pictured in {{MK}}, p.773 (lens no.893). </REF>
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* Peace Small Lef, ''S.P.S'';<REF> Example pictured in [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/babyflex/peace.htm this page at Submin.com] (lens no.1136). </REF>
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* Peace Baby Flex, ''S.P.S''.<REF> Examples pictured in Pritchard, p.59 (lens no.1609), and in [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/babyflex/peace_baby_flex.htm this page at Submin.com] (lens no.2483). </REF>
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== Origin ==
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The Peace Baby Flex is certainly related to the [[Peace and Micky]], and to the [[Baby Flex]] subminiature [[pseudo TLR]]. All these cameras were probably made by the same manufacturer. The lens number found on the Peace Baby Flex perhaps belongs to the same range as that of the [[Peace and Micky|Micky]]. The meaning of the various initials found on the shutter plates is completely unknown.
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== Notes ==
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<references />
  
 
== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.773.
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.773.
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* {{Pritchard}} Pp.58–9.
 
* {{Zukan}} Item 5106.
 
* {{Zukan}} Item 5106.
 
The Peace Baby Flex is not listed in {{Kokusan}}.
 
The Peace Baby Flex is not listed in {{Kokusan}}.
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== Links ==
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In English:
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* [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/babyflex/peace_baby_flex.htm Peace Baby Flex], [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/babyflex/peace.htm Peace Small Lef] and [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/babyflex/sholy_flex.htm Sholy-Flex] at [http://www.submin.com/ Submin.com]
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* Brief mention of the Peace Baby Flex and Sholy-Flex among [http://www.subclub.org/shop/175mm.htm 17.5mm film cameras] at [http://www.subclub.org/ Subclub.org]
  
 
[[Category: Japanese 17.5mm film]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 17.5mm film]]
 
[[Category: Japanese pseudo TLR]]
 
[[Category: Japanese pseudo TLR]]
 
[[Category: P]]
 
[[Category: P]]

Revision as of 21:03, 11 September 2008

Japanese subminiature
8mm film Camera "A" | Camera-Lite | Echo 8 | Kaitenkei
9.5mm film Doryu 1 | Fujica 8×11mm SLR | Yashica Atoron
16mm film Albert | Beauty 16 | Bell 16 | Bell Kamra | Binoca | Camera "B" | CM-16 | Cyclops | Dan 16 | Darling-16 | Doryu 2-16 | Fujica 16mm SLR | Gemmy | Glico Pistol | Konan-16 Automat | Mamiya 16 Automatic | Mica Automat | Micta | Minolta-16 | Minolta-16 EE | Minolta-16 EE II | Minolta-16 MG | Minolta-16 MG-S | Minolta-16 P | Minolta-16 Ps | Minolta 16 QT | Mycro Super 16 | Mykro Fine Color 16 | Nice | Nikon 16 | Poppy | Ramera | Ricoh 16 | Ricoreo 16 | Rubina | Rubix | Seiki 16 | Seiki 16 (pistol) | Shaty 16 | Sonocon 16 | Spy 16 | Steky | Golden Steky | Teleca | Viscawide-16 | Yashica Y16 | Yashica 16 EE | Zany | Zuman Super 16 | Zunow Z16
unknown Matchbox camera
17.5mm film Arrow | Baby Flex | Baby-Max | Barlux | Beauty 14 | Bell 14 | Blondy | Baby Colon | Comex | Corona | Croma Color 16 | Epochs | Fuji Kozet | Gamma | Gem 16 | Gemflex | Glico Lighter | Halmat | Hit | Hit-II | Hit-type | Hobby 16 | Homer No.1 | Homer 16 | Honey | Hope | Jenic | Kiku 16 | Kent | Kolt | Kute | Lovely | Mascot | Meteor | Micky | Midget | Mighty | Mini | Moment | Mycro | Myracle | Nikkobaby | Peace | Peace Baby Flex | Peace Small Lef | Pet | Petit | Petty | Prince 16-A | Prince Ruby | Robin | New Rocket | Rubina | Rubix | Saga 16 | Saica | Septon Pen | Sholy-Flex | Snappy | Spy-14 | Sun | Sun B | Sun 16 | Sweet 16 | Tacker | Takka | Tone | Top Camera | Toyoca 16 | Toyoca Ace | Tsubame | Vesta | Vista | Vestkam
20mm film Guzzi | Mycroflex | Top
round film Evarax | Petal | Sakura Petal | Star
unknown Hallow | Lyravit | Tsubasa
110 film see Japanese 110 film
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The Peace Baby Flex is a Japanese subminiature pseudo TLR made in the late 1940s or early 1950s, using 17.5mm paper backed rollfilm. The Peace Small Lef and Sholy-Flex are name variants of the same camera.

Description

The Peace Baby Flex has the shape of a regular twin-lens reflex, but in a miniature form. The lens actually has fixed focus and aperture, and the camera is thus a pseudo TLR. Unlike most other cameras using 17.5mm film, it reportedly takes 12×14mm rectangular pictures (instead of 14×14mm).[1]

The film is advanced by a knob on the photographer's right. The L-shaped back is hinged to the top, and retained by a simple latch at the bottom. It contains an uncovered red window surrounded by a diamond-shaped metal frame. The viewing hood has three ribs, and is very similar to that of the Baby Flex. The camera's entire front part is covered by a bright metal plate, giving a shiny aspect. The viewing lens has no marking; the taking lens is unnamed, and is only engraved 20mm on the rim, together with a serial number. The self-cocking shutter gives B and I settings. The shutter plate is plain silver with black engravings.

Versions

The camera exists in three versions, only differing by the engravings on the shutter plate. The name appears above the lens, either as PEACE BABY FLEX, PEACE SMALL LEF[2] or SHOLY–FLEX, and various initials are found under the lens, either N.D.N, S.R.N, M.S.N or S.P.S. The known combinations are the following, listed in ascending lens order:

  • Sholy-Flex, N.D.N;[3]
  • Sholy-Flex, S.R.N;[4]
  • Peace Baby Flex, M.S.N;[5]
  • Peace Small Lef, S.P.S;[6]
  • Peace Baby Flex, S.P.S.[7]

Origin

The Peace Baby Flex is certainly related to the Peace and Micky, and to the Baby Flex subminiature pseudo TLR. All these cameras were probably made by the same manufacturer. The lens number found on the Peace Baby Flex perhaps belongs to the same range as that of the Micky. The meaning of the various initials found on the shutter plates is completely unknown.

Notes

  1. ↑ Frame size: Sugiyama, item 5106.
  2. ↑ "Lef" is certainly a misspelling of "Ref", an abbreviation for "Reflex" commonly used in Japan in the 1930s and 1940s. ("Lef" and "Ref" would be pronounced the same by a Japanese locutor.)
  3. ↑ Example pictured in this page at Submin.com (lens no.220).
  4. ↑ Example pictured in Pritchard, p.59 (lens no.661).
  5. ↑ Example pictured in McKeown, p.773 (lens no.893).
  6. ↑ Example pictured in this page at Submin.com (lens no.1136).
  7. ↑ Examples pictured in Pritchard, p.59 (lens no.1609), and in this page at Submin.com (lens no.2483).

Bibliography

  • 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). P.773.
  • Pritchard, Michael and St. Denny, Douglas. Spy Cameras — A century of detective and subminiature cameras. London: Classic Collection Publications, 1993. ISBN 1-874485-00-3. Pp.58–9.
  • Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Item 5106.

The Peace Baby Flex is not listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi.

Links

In English:

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