Tanyflex
The Tanyflex (タニーフレックス) is a Japanese SLR using 120 film, briefly made in 1950–1 by Taniyama Camera Kōgyō.
General description
The Tanyflex has a large wooden body with a roughly cubic shape. It is noticeably bigger than other 6×6 SLRs, and the concept is close to the later 6×9cm Rittreck. The choice of 6×6cm format instead of 6×9cm seems unfortunate, given the overall size and the lenses' focal length (105mm to 210mm), though 6×9cm format would have required a larger focal-plane shutter and a revolving back and would have rendered the camera more complex.
The front standard is mounted on rack-and-pinion structure with bellows and moves back and forth for focusing; it is driven by knobs placed on each side at the bottom. The camera can take lenses from 105mm to 210mm focal length; they are is mounted on a removable lens board, recessed for the short focal lengths and protruding for the longer lenses. The body was not sold with a particular lens, and the owner had to provide his/her own.[1]
The non-interchangeable viewing hood is above the body, surrounded by two strap lugs. To the photographer's right is a control panel with various knobs and buttons, certainly to wind and release the shutter and mirror, and to adjust the shutter speed. The film runs vertically, certainly from bottom to top, and is advanced by a knob placed at the top right.
The camera has a built-in flash plug, placed at the top of the left-hand side plate. It takes a small flash bulb holder and a reflector. These accessories are pictured in the advertisements for the Tanyflex and they were certainly supplied with the camera.[2] It is said that the flash batteries (6× AA) are contained in the camera body itself.[3] This peculiarity partly accounts for the bulky size, it is shared with very few other cameras, among which the Dawe Nelrod Liteflash.
Evolution
The Tanyflex was probably made on an artisanal scale, and there were a number of changes during the short time it was produced.
The original Tanyflex was advertised in Japanese magazines from October 1950, but some sources say that it was released in July of the same year.[4] In the November 1950 advertisement in Asahi Camera, the shutter speeds were given as T, B, 10, 20, 40, 60, 100, 200, 300, and a very small picture was provided.
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. Items 589–90.
- 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). Pp. 71 and 76.
- 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. 914.
- 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 2262.
Links
In Japanese:
