Simplex Reflex

This is a work in progress.

The Simplex Reflex (シンプレックスレフレックス) is a Japanese SLR distributed and perhaps made by Kyūreidō in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It exists in two formats: the larger model is in daimeishi size (6.5×9cm) and the smaller model is in atom size (4.5×6cm). No surviving example is known so far.

Daimeishi model

(Image rights)

The daimeishi model has a boxy shape, inspired by English models such as the Thornton-Pickard Ruby Reflex, the Marion Soho Reflex or the Houghton Ensign Reflex. The front standard is mounted on a rack-and-pinion device, certainly driven by a knob on the photographer's left; it seems to allow vertical movements controlled by a lever actuated by the photographer's right hand. The lens is protected by a flap hinged at the top.

The main body has a viewing hood hinged at the front; the hood cover is smaller than usual on this kind of cameras, and has a logo embossed on the leather covering. There are strap lugs on both sides of the body. There is a focal plane shutter on the rear, giving 20–1000 speeds and controlled by various knobs and levers visible on the right. It seems that the shutter speeds are explained in a table attached to the right side.

Advertisements in Ars Camera June 1926 and February 1927 and in Asahi Camera March 1928. (Image rights)

The daimeishi model was advertised alone in the June 1926 issue of Ars Camera. It was supplied with six plate holders and one film pack holder, for ¥70 without a lens and for ¥150 with a Krauss Tessar 105mm lens. In the February 1927 issue of Ars Camera, the larger model is advertised as meishi-size (normally 5.5×8cm), but it seems that Kyūreidō used the words meishi and daimeishi indifferently for 6.5×9cm format. The picture is the same as in the June 1926 advertisement. The following options are listed:

• Anticomar f/4.2, ¥120;
• Heliar f/4.5, ¥155;
• Heliar f/3.5, ¥163;
• Helioplan f/6.8, ¥80;
• body only, ¥70.

In the March 1928 issue of Asahi Camera, the larger model is listed again as meishi-size. It is offered with a Carl Zeiss Tessar 120/4.5, an Anticomar 120/4.5 or without a lens, and no price is indicated.

Atom model

(Image rights)

The atom model is a downsized version of the daimeishi model, pictured in the March 1928 advertisement in Asahi Camera. The February 1927 advertisement in Ars Camera already lists the atom model with the following options:

• Ruō (ルオー) f/2.5 lens by an unidentified maker, ¥135;
• Helioplan f/4.5 lens by Meyer, ¥110;
• body only, ¥70.

The March 1928 advertisement in Asahi Camera has the following options:

• Carl Zeiss Tessar 90/4.5, ¥150;
• body only, ¥70.

The same options appear in the May 1929 advertisement by Kyūreidō in Asahi Camera. The advertisements in Asahi Camera in July, August and September 1929 and in February 1930 have the same options at different prices:

• Carl Zeiss Tessar 90/4.5, ¥120;
• body only, ¥56.

None of these 1929 and 1930 advertisements has a picture of the Simplex Reflex.

Bibliography

• Ars Camera. Advertisements by Kyūreidō in June 1926 and February 1927. No page numbers.
• Asahi Camera. Advertisement by Kyūreidō in March 1928 (p.A12), May 1929 (p.A14), July 1929 (p.A12), August 1929 (p.A13), September 1929 (p.A12), February 1930 (p.A13).
• Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P.36.
• Morishita Hajime (森下肇). "Atomu-han kamera no subete" (アトム判カメラのすべて, All of Atom-size cameras). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.22, September 1992. No ISBN number. Airesu no subete (アイレスのすべて, special issue on Aires). Pp.55–70.

The Simplex Reflex is not listed in Sugiyama.