Greiner
Otto Greiner & Söhne was a camera-maker in Neustadt bei Coburg in Germany. The small firm is known for just one camera, the Luxina, a folding camera for 6x9cm, 6x6cm or 4.5x6cm exposures on 120 roll-film; it has three red windows, and the smaller formats are achieved by masks inserted in the film chamber. The camera was introduced in 1952.[1]
At least the top housing and bottom plate of the camera body are moulded of a Bakelite-like resin plastic (these might be part of a single body casting). Various other parts - the front door, struts, catches and hinges and possibly more of the body- are metal. The sides of the camera have leatherette covering, with the name (just 'Luxina'; not the maker's name) impressed in it, above the door when the camera is held vertically. The front door is opened by pressing it; it toggles open/closed.[1][2] It opens on unusual jointed, curved sprung struts.
Few examples have been seen. Several sources state that only 50-60 of the cameras were made.[3][1] Most have a 105mm f/4.5 Rodenstock Trinar, with front-element focusing, in a Prontor-S shutter with speeds to 1/250 second.[4][5] The Deutsches Kamera Museum shows an example with a 105mm f/4.5 Optische Werke Göttingen Westar, in the same shutter, and their notes, again quoting the contemporary company notice, suggest the Trinar was the best lens offered: Depending on the optical and shutter equipment, the price ranges from 89.50 DM to 112 DM. In addition to the Rodenstock-Trinar 1:4.5 in Prontor-S, there are lenses from well-known companies with a light intensity of 1:4.5 for the lower price ranges and 1:6.3 in Pronto and Vario shutters (synchronized) for installation.[1] The camera has a shutter release button on the top housing, with double-exposure lock.[1] When the camera is folded, the release button is withdrawn, flush with the housing.
Cast into the top housing is a reverse-Galilean viewfinder, with a very small eyepiece. The front lens of this is scored with frame-lines for 4.5x6cm. There is also a cold shoe, and the shutter has a PC socket for flash.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Notes on the Luxina at Deutsches Kamera Museum, with an example having Westar lens. The notes cite a company notice that the camera had been exhibited at Photokina 1951, and was now available.
- ↑ German Patent 902818, Springdeckelverschluss (spring lid-closure), filed July 1951 and granted December 1953 to Otto Greiner, describing the toggling mechanism of the camera door; at Espacenet, the patent search facility of the European Patent Office.
- ↑ 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). p372.
- ↑ Luxina with Rodenstock Trinar, with half-frame mask and maker's box, sold at the eighteenth Westlicht Photographica Auction, in December 2010; several photos of the camera.
- ↑ Luxina with Trinar, sold by Breker in March 2010.
Links
- German Patent 848296, Röhrenstativ für Fotoapparate (tubular tripod for cameras), filed July 1950 and granted September 1952 to Otto Greiner, describing a light tripod for small cameras; at Espacenet. The tripod resembles a Zimmer frame. It does not seem to be collapsible, or intended to be portable, though the height is adjustable.
