Silverflex
From Camerapedia.org
The Silverflex (シルバーフレックス) is a Japanese 6×6 TLR made in 1953–4 by Nippon Kōki. This company was also making the Silver Six 6×6 folder around the same time.
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General description
The Silverflex is a plain copy of the Ricohflex VI. It has externally geared lenses for focusing, and the distance scale and depth-of-field indications are engraved on the upper lens. The viewing hood contains a large magnifying lens. The film is advanced by a knob on the photographer's right. The advance is controlled by a red window in the back, protected by a vertically sliding cover. The exposure chamber comes out together with the spool holders for film loading.
The lenses are 80mm f/3.5, and the marking is SILVER ANASTIGMAT on the taking lens and SILVER VIEWER on the viewing lens. The shutter is of the setting type and the release lever is attached to the shutter casing itself.
It is said that the build quality of the Silverflex is poor, far from that of the Ricohflex.[1]
The Silverflex S
The Silverflex S was featured in Japanese magazines dated September 1953.[2] An advertisement in Asahi Camera of the same month gives the price of ¥8,500 and says that the shutter has 25, 50, 100 speeds and is synchronized for flash.[3] In an advertisement in the January 1954 issue of the same magazine, the price is unchanged and the range of speeds has become B, 10–200.[4] In both advertisements, the camera is only called "Silverflex" (シルバーフレックス) but the nameplate reads SILVERFLEX MODEL S.
The cameras observed so far have an NKS shutter (B, 10–200) with flash synchronization, marked NKS at the bottom of the speed rim and at the top of the shutter plate.[5] The early cameras have an ASA synch post and later ones have a PC synch socket.[6]
The Silverflex LII
  
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| Silverflex Model LII, Silver Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5 lens no.6328. Pictures by waynecogan@gmail.com. (Image rights) |
One example of the Silverflex has been observed with a nameplate inscribed SILVERFLEX MODEL LII.[7] The only visible difference from the previous model is the shutter name ending in "S.S.", and the presence of a self-timer. (The shutter might be the S.S.S. also observed on an example of the Carl Six.) The later lens number indicates that the model LII went after the model S.
Notes
- ↑ On p.443 of Kokusan kamera no rekishi, Orima Isamu (織間勇), who was an engineer at Riken from the 1950s, says that the build quality of the Silverflex was appalling. The same kind of comments also appear in this page by Oozusi.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.352.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.140.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.140. The same advertisement is reproduced here at Shashin-Bako.
- ↑ See the pictures here at Oozusi's site.
- ↑ ASA synch post: example pictured in Sugiyama, item 2255 (lens no.2xxx). PC synch socket: example pictured here at Oozusi's site (lens no.4120).
- ↑ Example observed in an online auction.
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. Item 536. See also the advertisement for items 537–8 and the interview of Orima Isamu (織間勇) on p.443.
- 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), ISBN 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P.82 (brief mention only).
- 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.721.
- 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 2255.
Links
In English:
- Silverflex S at Barry Toogood's tlr-cameras.com
In Japanese:
