Difference between revisions of "Wirgin"
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|image_text= This Edixa is similar to an earlier camera model of [[Franka]] | |image_text= This Edixa is similar to an earlier camera model of [[Franka]] | ||
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− | '''Wirgin''' was a German company which is still known for its brands Wirgin and [[Edixa]], and for its camera types like the Edina, the [[Edinex]] or the [[Gewirette]]. It was based in the Hessian capital Wiesbaden and made a line of quite inexpensive 35mm | + | '''Wirgin''' was a German company which is still known for its brands Wirgin and [[Edixa]], and for its camera types like the Edina, the [[Edinex]] or the [[Gewirette]]. It was based in the Hessian capital Wiesbaden and made a line of quite inexpensive [[35mm]] [[SLR]]s from the 1950s to the 1970s, including the [[Edixa Reflex]] and Edixa-Mat Reflex. Wirgin was West Germany's main producer of SLRs with focal plane shutter. It also produced some of the lenses for its cameras, among them several [[M42|M42 screw mount lenses]]. |
− | Wirgin was founded by the brothers Heinrich, Max and Josef Wirgin in 1920. They introduced their first distinctive camera in 1927, the ''Edinex'', which they produced also as ''Adrette'' for [[Adox]]. In 1934 the company surprised the market with a very small viewfinder camera for type 127 film, the [[Gewirette]]. From the mid-1930s it also made Edinex 35mm viewfinder cameras. These came equipped with Wirgin Gewironar lens and [[Compur]] shutter or [[Steinheil]] Culminar lens ( | + | Wirgin was founded by the brothers Heinrich, Max and Josef Wirgin in 1920. They introduced their first distinctive camera in 1927, the ''Edinex'', which they produced also as ''Adrette'' for [[Adox]]. In 1934 the company surprised the market with a very small viewfinder camera for type 127 film, the [[Gewirette]]. From the mid-1930s it also made Edinex 35mm viewfinder cameras. These came equipped with Wirgin Gewironar lens and [[Compur]] shutter or [[Steinheil]] Culminar lens (like a Tessar) with [[Prontor]] shutter. |
In 1938 circumstances in Germany had changed since the brutally dictatorial regime of the Nazi party had reached the peak of its success, pushed by the Olympics in Berlin in 1936 and the economic upswing. In their delusion of grandeur the political leaders decided to start making true all their only ideologically justified abhorrent menaces against minorities in Germany, especially against the Jews. Heinrich and Josef Wirgin still lead their company in Wiesbaden, but with the help of one of their clerks they managed to escape from Germany. Max might have been already in the US, his brothers followed. The Wirgin factory in Wiesbaden became incorporated into the [[Adox]] company. | In 1938 circumstances in Germany had changed since the brutally dictatorial regime of the Nazi party had reached the peak of its success, pushed by the Olympics in Berlin in 1936 and the economic upswing. In their delusion of grandeur the political leaders decided to start making true all their only ideologically justified abhorrent menaces against minorities in Germany, especially against the Jews. Heinrich and Josef Wirgin still lead their company in Wiesbaden, but with the help of one of their clerks they managed to escape from Germany. Max might have been already in the US, his brothers followed. The Wirgin factory in Wiesbaden became incorporated into the [[Adox]] company. | ||
− | After the war Heinrich Wirgin came back from America, now as Henry Wirgin, and refounded the Wirgin company in Wiesbaden. An administrative officer of the American occupied zone of Germany sent [[Heinz Waaske]] as promising aspirant to Wirgin. At that time Waaske had sold his prototype of a miniature camera to the Americans. In 1951 the talented mechanician Waaske became camera constructor. He constructed the company's first [[SLR]], a model with focal plane shutter, the first camera like that in Western Germany. He also constructed a more elegant SLR prototype, and later a complicated electronically controlled SLR with Compur shutter, and a stereo rangefinder camera. | + | After the war Heinrich Wirgin came back from America, now as Henry Wirgin, and refounded the Wirgin company in Wiesbaden. An administrative officer of the American occupied zone of Germany sent [[Heinz Waaske]] as promising aspirant to Wirgin. At that time Waaske had sold his prototype of a miniature camera to the Americans. In 1951 the talented mechanician Waaske became camera constructor. He constructed the company's first [[SLR]], a model with [[focal plane shutter]], the first camera like that in Western Germany. He also constructed a more elegant SLR prototype, and later a complicated electronically controlled SLR with [[Compur]] shutter, and a stereo [[rangefinder camera]]. |
− | In 1962 Henry Wirgin bought [[Franka]]. Several 35mm viewfinder cameras had been made in the Franka-Kamerawerk in Bayreuth/Oberfranken, for example the one visible in the picture at the right side of this page, an ''Edixa'' with | + | In 1962 Henry Wirgin bought [[Franka]]. Several 35mm viewfinder cameras had been made in the Franka-Kamerawerk in Bayreuth/Oberfranken, for example the one visible in the picture at the right side of this page, an ''[[Edixa]]'' with built-in [[selenium meter]] and a lens with selectors for shutter speed, aperture and distance. |
− | Made in Bayreuth and Wiesbaden were the small Edixa cameras for 16mm film with removable coupled or uncoupled [[meter]], all derived from an original model designed by Heinz Waaske in Wiesbaden and developed and produced in Wiesbaden and Bayreuth as ''Edixa 16'', ''Franka 16'', or, for the Karstadt warehouses, as ''alka 16''. | + | Made in Bayreuth and Wiesbaden were the small [[Edixa]] cameras for 16mm film with removable coupled or uncoupled [[meter]], all derived from an original model designed by Heinz Waaske in Wiesbaden and developed and produced in Wiesbaden and Bayreuth as ''Edixa 16'', ''Franka 16'', or, for the Karstadt warehouses, as ''alka 16''. |
Waaske left Wirgin since Henry Wirgin had decided to give up camera production sooner or later. Wirgin granted the rights on a new 35mm viewfinder camera to Waaske. This camera was none less than the prototype of what became the famous [[Rollei 35]]. Waaske had constructed it at Wirgin company. | Waaske left Wirgin since Henry Wirgin had decided to give up camera production sooner or later. Wirgin granted the rights on a new 35mm viewfinder camera to Waaske. This camera was none less than the prototype of what became the famous [[Rollei 35]]. Waaske had constructed it at Wirgin company. | ||
− | In 1967 the Franka-Werk was closed. In 1968 Henry Wirgin closed his original company and continued the production of some camera models in a new smaller plant. In 1971, shortly before its closing, the company introduced a quite modern but heavy | + | In 1967 the Franka-Werk was closed. In 1968 Henry Wirgin closed his original company and continued the production of some camera models in a new smaller plant. In 1971, shortly before its closing, the company introduced a quite modern but heavy SLR camera. |
− | Some cameras sold by Wirgin and its American sales branch Edixa were not made by Wirgin or Franka, mainly the Edixa 8mm movie camera which was made in Japan. | + | Some cameras sold by Wirgin and its American sales branch [[Edixa]] were not made by Wirgin or Franka, mainly the Edixa 8mm movie camera which was made in Japan. |
− | Henry Wirgin died in 1989, in the age of 90 years, in Wiesbaden. He had not only been one of the top entrepreneurs of the West German camera industry, he was also engaged in | + | Henry Wirgin died in 1989, in the age of 90 years, in Wiesbaden. He had not only been one of the top entrepreneurs of the West German camera industry, he was also engaged in recovering normal friendly relationships of non-jewish Germans to jewish citizens as chairman of the Society for German-Jewish co-operation. |
=== 35mm film === | === 35mm film === | ||
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variants of the Edixa Reflex series: | variants of the Edixa Reflex series: | ||
* Edixa-Mat Reflex (with rapid mirror) | * Edixa-Mat Reflex (with rapid mirror) | ||
− | * Edixa Reflex, budget variants S, BV, SV, Kadett, Ba, Ca, Edixa 500 | + | * [[Edixa Reflex]], budget variants S, BV, SV, Kadett, Ba, Ca, Edixa 500 |
* [[Edixa Prismaflex LTL]] (fixed prism) | * [[Edixa Prismaflex LTL]] (fixed prism) | ||
=====bayonet===== | =====bayonet===== |
Revision as of 10:06, 26 March 2008
This Edixa is similar to an earlier camera model of Franka |
Wirgin was a German company which is still known for its brands Wirgin and Edixa, and for its camera types like the Edina, the Edinex or the Gewirette. It was based in the Hessian capital Wiesbaden and made a line of quite inexpensive 35mm SLRs from the 1950s to the 1970s, including the Edixa Reflex and Edixa-Mat Reflex. Wirgin was West Germany's main producer of SLRs with focal plane shutter. It also produced some of the lenses for its cameras, among them several M42 screw mount lenses.
Wirgin was founded by the brothers Heinrich, Max and Josef Wirgin in 1920. They introduced their first distinctive camera in 1927, the Edinex, which they produced also as Adrette for Adox. In 1934 the company surprised the market with a very small viewfinder camera for type 127 film, the Gewirette. From the mid-1930s it also made Edinex 35mm viewfinder cameras. These came equipped with Wirgin Gewironar lens and Compur shutter or Steinheil Culminar lens (like a Tessar) with Prontor shutter.
In 1938 circumstances in Germany had changed since the brutally dictatorial regime of the Nazi party had reached the peak of its success, pushed by the Olympics in Berlin in 1936 and the economic upswing. In their delusion of grandeur the political leaders decided to start making true all their only ideologically justified abhorrent menaces against minorities in Germany, especially against the Jews. Heinrich and Josef Wirgin still lead their company in Wiesbaden, but with the help of one of their clerks they managed to escape from Germany. Max might have been already in the US, his brothers followed. The Wirgin factory in Wiesbaden became incorporated into the Adox company.
After the war Heinrich Wirgin came back from America, now as Henry Wirgin, and refounded the Wirgin company in Wiesbaden. An administrative officer of the American occupied zone of Germany sent Heinz Waaske as promising aspirant to Wirgin. At that time Waaske had sold his prototype of a miniature camera to the Americans. In 1951 the talented mechanician Waaske became camera constructor. He constructed the company's first SLR, a model with focal plane shutter, the first camera like that in Western Germany. He also constructed a more elegant SLR prototype, and later a complicated electronically controlled SLR with Compur shutter, and a stereo rangefinder camera.
In 1962 Henry Wirgin bought Franka. Several 35mm viewfinder cameras had been made in the Franka-Kamerawerk in Bayreuth/Oberfranken, for example the one visible in the picture at the right side of this page, an Edixa with built-in selenium meter and a lens with selectors for shutter speed, aperture and distance.
Made in Bayreuth and Wiesbaden were the small Edixa cameras for 16mm film with removable coupled or uncoupled meter, all derived from an original model designed by Heinz Waaske in Wiesbaden and developed and produced in Wiesbaden and Bayreuth as Edixa 16, Franka 16, or, for the Karstadt warehouses, as alka 16.
Waaske left Wirgin since Henry Wirgin had decided to give up camera production sooner or later. Wirgin granted the rights on a new 35mm viewfinder camera to Waaske. This camera was none less than the prototype of what became the famous Rollei 35. Waaske had constructed it at Wirgin company.
In 1967 the Franka-Werk was closed. In 1968 Henry Wirgin closed his original company and continued the production of some camera models in a new smaller plant. In 1971, shortly before its closing, the company introduced a quite modern but heavy SLR camera.
Some cameras sold by Wirgin and its American sales branch Edixa were not made by Wirgin or Franka, mainly the Edixa 8mm movie camera which was made in Japan.
Henry Wirgin died in 1989, in the age of 90 years, in Wiesbaden. He had not only been one of the top entrepreneurs of the West German camera industry, he was also engaged in recovering normal friendly relationships of non-jewish Germans to jewish citizens as chairman of the Society for German-Jewish co-operation.
Contents
35mm film
SLR
M42
- Edixa Reflex series (beginning with the Komet)
variants of the Edixa Reflex series:
- Edixa-Mat Reflex (with rapid mirror)
- Edixa Reflex, budget variants S, BV, SV, Kadett, Ba, Ca, Edixa 500
- Edixa Prismaflex LTL (fixed prism)
bayonet
- Edixa Rex b, Edixa Rex d, Edixa Rex CdS
- Edixa Rex TTL (fixed prism)
bayonet and M42:
- Edixa Prismat TTL, Edixa Prismat LTL (fixed prism)
leaf shutter
- Edixa Electronica (fixed prism)
Prontor focal plane shutter
- Edixa Electronica TL (fixed prism)
made by Cosina
- Edixa 2 MTL
16mm film
- Edixa 16 series
127 film
120 film
- some sophisticated bellows cameras and several other folding cameras like the Rofika (=Rollfilmkamera)
- Wirgin Reflex (export version of the Reflecta)
- Wirgin Reflex (export version of the Altiflex)
- Wirgin Reflex (name variant of the Hollywood Reflex)
- the simpler camera line Presto, also made as Adox Sport
Links
typical old 35mm compact camera design of Wirgin, image by skagman |
General links
In English:
- History of Wirgin (German version) by Klaus-Eckhard Riess in his camera site
In German:
- Wirgin.de website by Stefan Schaum - Holzappel
In French:
Miscellaneous
In English:
- Edixa SLR cameras in Andrey's M42 pages
- Other manuals at butkus.org's Orphan Cameras:
- Wirgin / Edixa section at Retrography.com by Simon Simonsen, Denmark
- Wirgin camera's in Andrys Stienstra's camera collection
In German:
- Edixa Flex and Edixa-mat Kadett in Klaus-Eckhard Riess' camera site
- Edixa Stereo IA and Edixa Stereo IIIA in Welt der Stereoskopie
In French:
- Cameras and user manuals at www.collection-appareils.com