Post by dmk955 on Nov 16, 2009 20:31:52 GMT -5
I acquired a long-sought addition to my collection last week. A collecting friend in Florida traded a UniveX Vitar for a couple of less-desirable (to me anyway) pieces. Here are a few pics:
Front view
Top view, showing the plug where a body-mounted shutter release would normally be
Back view showing the much-simplified exposure calculator dial
Camera, box, and instruction manual
This camera is one of three models made in 1951 in a last-ditch effort to stay active in the amateur photographic market. The Vitar, the Uniflex III(a TLR), and the Cinemaster H-8 (an 8mm movie camera) were all designed and manufactured using spare parts on hand from previous products. My Vitar has the body and combination viewfinder/extinction meter from the Corsair II, the retractable lens barrel and shutter housing from the Buccaneer, a lens containing elements from the Uniflex II and Roamer cameras, the shutter from a Uniflex I, and film transport knobs and sprockets from the Buccaneer. You'll note that the top view of the camera shows a plug where a body-mounted shutter release would normally be. The reason this feature was not used is simple - they couldn't afford to buy the parts to build it that way. The body-mounted shutter release for a retractable lens/shutter combination was a feature patented by Universal, and they had used it on every camera of that type right up to the Vitar, which was saddled with a simple front-mounted self-cocking shutter with a side release. Contrary to Cynthia Repinski's book, this camera does not have double exposure prevention (it's not possible with this shutter and film advance arrangement).
This camera is in serious need of a cleaning and some repair - the shutter is stuck (but not broken), the lens has fungus, and the film transport gearing is seized, probably due to oxidation of the aluminum/magnesium alloy gears. I'll be undertaking a total overhaul in the future - pics to be posted as it happens.
Dana
Front viewTop view, showing the plug where a body-mounted shutter release would normally beBack view showing the much-simplified exposure calculator dial Camera, box, and instruction manualThis camera is one of three models made in 1951 in a last-ditch effort to stay active in the amateur photographic market. The Vitar, the Uniflex III(a TLR), and the Cinemaster H-8 (an 8mm movie camera) were all designed and manufactured using spare parts on hand from previous products. My Vitar has the body and combination viewfinder/extinction meter from the Corsair II, the retractable lens barrel and shutter housing from the Buccaneer, a lens containing elements from the Uniflex II and Roamer cameras, the shutter from a Uniflex I, and film transport knobs and sprockets from the Buccaneer. You'll note that the top view of the camera shows a plug where a body-mounted shutter release would normally be. The reason this feature was not used is simple - they couldn't afford to buy the parts to build it that way. The body-mounted shutter release for a retractable lens/shutter combination was a feature patented by Universal, and they had used it on every camera of that type right up to the Vitar, which was saddled with a simple front-mounted self-cocking shutter with a side release. Contrary to Cynthia Repinski's book, this camera does not have double exposure prevention (it's not possible with this shutter and film advance arrangement).
This camera is in serious need of a cleaning and some repair - the shutter is stuck (but not broken), the lens has fungus, and the film transport gearing is seized, probably due to oxidation of the aluminum/magnesium alloy gears. I'll be undertaking a total overhaul in the future - pics to be posted as it happens.
Dana