Speed Reflex

This is a work in progress.

The Speed Reflex (スピードレフレックス) is a Japanese SLR made in the 1920s by Kuribayashi, and distributed by Saneidō and Sone Shunsuidō.

Description

The Speed Reflex 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 with double extension bellows, certainly driven by a knob on the photographer's left. The removable lensboard is attached to a plate sliding vertically in the front standard, allowing vertical movements and locked in position by a wheel.

The main body has a large viewing hood, hinged to the front or to the rear, and strap lugs on both sides. There is a self-capping focal plane shutter, wound and set by a knob on the photographer's right. The mirror is raised and the shutter is tripped by a lever placed on the same side. The camera has a revolving back, allowing to take vertical and horizontal pictures.

Evolution

Many sources say that the Speed Reflex was introduced in 1919. However an advertisement in Asahi Camera March 1928 says that the camera was introduced three years before. It is said that the camera was first released in tefuda-size (8×10.5cm) as the Speed Reflex, and later in meishi-size (5.5×8cm) as the Speed Reflex Junior.

The advertisement by Saneidō in Asahi Camera September 1925 presents the camera as the "Speed Reflex, renaming of the Junior" (ジュニオル改称スピードレフレックス), in both tefuda and meishi formats. In the picture, the viewing hood is hinged to the rear. The shutter is said to give 1/10 to 1/1000 speeds. The camera was supplied with three plate holders and one film pack holder. The following versions are listed:

• Royal lens, tefuda size, ¥100;
• Royal lens, meishi size, ¥90;
• body only, tefuda size, ¥80;
• body only, meishi size, ¥70.

The same advertisement also mentions a Photoman Special Reflex for ¥125, about which nothing is known.

Advertisement in Ars Camera February 1927. (Image rights)

In the advertisement by Saneidō in Ars Camera February 1927, the camera is simply called Speed Reflex. Three models are available, in tefuda (8×10.5cm), meishi (5.5×8cm) and atom (4.5×6cm) formats. The pictured camera is certainly the larger tefuda model. The lensboard is covered by a flap and a small SPEED REFLEX nameplate is attached immediately above. The following versions are listed:

• tefuda size, body only, ¥80;
• tefuda size, Dallmeyer Speed f/4.5 lens, ¥135;
• tefuda size, Carl Zeiss Tessar f/4.5 lens, ¥175;
• meishi size, body only, ¥75;
• atom size, body only, ¥85.

Advertisement in Asahi Camera March 1928. (Image rights)

In the advertisement by Saneidō in Asahi Camera March 1928, the camera is said to be a commercial success. It is said that many points were unsatisfactory when the camera was released three years before, and that they were corrected thanks to the unremitting support of the public. The same three formats are offered, and the pictured camera is perhaps the middle meishi model. The following versions are listed:

body size	atom	meishi	tefuda
lens
Tessar f/3.5	¥185
Tessar f/4.5	¥158		¥180
Krauss Tessar f/4.5		¥155
Xenar f/4.5			¥130
Ernoplast f/4.5		¥120	¥125
Kenngott f/4.5		¥110	¥115
Royal f/4.5		¥88	¥93
body only	¥85		¥80

Advertisement in Asahi Camera May 1929. (Image rights)

In the advertisement by Saneidō in Asahi Camera May 1929, it is said that the camera received the First Prize at the Fair commemorating the Imperial Coronation, held in the Ueno Park in Tokyo. No other detail is given and the illustration is the same as in March 1928.

Advertisement in Asahi Camera September 1929. (Image rights)

The advertisement for the Speed Reflex in Asahi Camera September 1929 does not show any company name. The stylish illustration shows some changes in the camera body. The viewing hood is now hinged to the front and has an ES logo. It seems that the small SPEED REFLEX nameplate has moved to the main body, just below the viewing hood. The range of shutter speeds is given as 1/15 to 1/10000, obviously a typo for 1/15 to 1/1000. The following versions are listed:

body size	atom	meishi	tefuda
lens
Carl Zeiss Tessar f/2.7		¥270	¥320
Ernotar f/2.7	¥170
Carl Zeiss Tessar f/4.5		¥140	¥152
Xenar Anastigmat f/3.5			¥150
Xenar Anastigmat f/4.5		¥115	¥120
Kenngott Anastigmat f/4.5		¥107	¥115
body only	¥58	¥75	¥80

Bibliography

• Ars Camera. Advertisement in February 1927. No page number.
• Asahi Camera. Advertisements in March 1928 (p.A21), May 1929 (p.A31) and September 1929 (p.A30).
• Baird, John R. Collectors guide to Kuribayashi-Petri Cameras. Grantsburg, WI (USA): Centennial Photo Service, 1991. ISBN 0-931838-16-9. Pp.13 and 39–42.
• 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.
• 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.575.
• 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.
• 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. Items 2028–9.