Romax (6×6)

The Romax 6×6 folding camera is only known from Kokusan kamera no rekishi. It was distributed by Itō Shōkai in 1941 and 1942.

Advertising

The Romax (ロマックス) was featured in a column of the October 1941 issue of Asahi Camera and advertised in the March 1942 issue of Hōdō Shashin. The company Itō Shōkai is mentioned as the distributor (発売元) and Misuzu Shōkai and Ōmiya Shashin-yōhin are mentioned as authorized dealers. The name Romax or Lomax (ロマックス) was used by Misuzu for plate folders at an earlier plate.

Description of the body

The Romax is a horizontal folding camera. The body has round edges. The top plate supports the advance knob at the left end, the folding optical finder in the middle and probably a body release.

Lens and shutter equipment

The lens was a Romax Anastigmat 75/3.5, advertised as a triplet. There was a choice of two shutter options:

• K.L. Kōsoku II, T, B, 1–200 speeds, self-timer (¥140);
• Kōsoku II, T, B, 5–200 speeds, self-timer not mentioned (¥92).

In the advertising picture, the shutter plate is inscribed K L at the top and PLEASE II at the bottom.

No surviving example has been observed so far.

Bibliography

• 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 343.

This camera is not listed in Sugiyama.