Gemflex

1949

Showa Optical Works Ltd.

Tokyo

Occupied Japan

Lens:

f3.5, 25 mm Gem, iris diaphragm to f11. Coated.

Shutter:

Swallow, speeds 1/100, 1/50, 1/25, B. The shutter is set by a lever on the front of the camera.

Construction:

Leather covered metal body.

Format:

10, 14 x 14 mm exposures on 17.5 mm wide paper-backed roll-film.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Reflex viewing through second lens, condenser. Eye-level finder in hood.
Film advance indicated by red window. Not coupled to shutter.
Tripod socket.

Serial Number:

3678 .

With:

Lens hood. Yellow filter.
Ever-ready case.
Box containing 4 rolls of film by Bunka Kigyo Co. Ltd., Tokyo.
Instruction sheet, sales leaflet, both carry the name Miura Trading Co. Ltd., Tokyo.
Box.

This is a well-made miniature twin-lens reflex camera of better quality than, for example, the Hit type of camera from the same period. There are minor differences between early and late models.

The viewing hood is raised by a button on the side of the camera and collapses in one movement.

Early Photography