The Vest Pocket Tenax was one of a number of V.P. sized cameras introduced in the 1900s. It proved popular and sold until just after the Zeiss merger of 1926. The Tenax was a strut camera with a focusing wheel on the camera body which moves the whole front standard forward and back. The front standard encloses the shutter giving a streamlined finish, four rigid struts connect the body and camera front.

The Tenax was made in three sizes with a number of lens and shutter combinations, finishes and improvements. Sizes: 4.5 x 6 cm; 6.5 x 9 cm; 45 x 107 mm stereo.

Models

Early model

1909. Only produced in the V.P. size, the shutter has speeds of 1/10 - 1/100 (not a Compound model) and had a limited aperture range. The shutter controls are on the left of the face plate (looking at the front of the camera). Lenses available were the f6.8 Dagor or f6.8 Syntor.

2nd model

1911. This is the familiar Tenax usually seen today. A Compound shutter is fitted, the controls are on large wheels on the right of the face plate. Lenses were the f6.8 Dagor, f6.8 Syntor or f4.5 Celor. From around 1913 the Celor was replaced by the f4.5 Dogmar. The Syntor was dropped prior to 1924. An f3.5 Dogmar was available on V.P. models c. 1924.

Last model

1929. The shutter is now a Compur, this has required the previously flush fitting dials to protrude from the face plate. The f4.5 Dogmar was available on each size and in tropical or normal finish. An f3.5 Dogmar was available on the V.P. size.

Tropical

A tropical finish of green Russia leather in a diced pattern was available in each model and size. Early versions of the tropical had Russia leather bellows and focusing hood, the body was finished in black paint.

Accessories

• Single metal slides for V.P. size. These are nickel with a hinged back to insert the plate.
• Double dark-slides for the larger size and stereo.
• Autochrome slide.
• Film pack adapter.
• Brilliant finder. Some models have a fitting on the front standard for a finder.
• Daylight enlarger for V.P. and 6.5 x 9 cm.
• Paraffin enlarger for V.P. size plates to 5" x 7", this utilises the camera.
• Developing tank.