Wardflex (metal)
Wardflex II image by KKinOK (Image rights) |
There were two different versions of this camera - the Wardflex and later Wardflex II.
The 1955-type Wardflex was built in Japan by Taiyōdō Koki (TKK), and is a rebranding of a Beautyflex T model. This model has a TKK shutter and Telmer 80mm f/3.5 lenses.
In 1957, Wards offered a higher-spec Wardflex II, which is a rebranding of the Beautyflex D. The viewing lens is a Tri-Lausar and the taking lens is a Biokor f/3.5. The five bladed Syncro MX shutter has speeds of 1-1/300 of a second with bulb mode and eight stops at 1, 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/300 of a second. This can be adjusted on the right hand side of the taking lens. The left hand side of the taking lens has the aperture adjustments. While the bottom has a self timer with a 10 sec delay.
Links
- Wardflex and Wardflex II PDF manuals at Michael Butkus Jr.'s Camera Manual Library
- Study on Taiyodo Koki TLR's including the Wardflex on Barry Toogoods TLR Cameras Website
Mid-50s Wardflex with TKK shutter image by Shutter Tripper (Image rights) |