Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Jan 11, 2012 2:32:41 GMT -5
I got a pretty strange TLR from an auction today and wonder, if anybody has more information. It suppose to be a "Special MEICA" ( that's what is written on it ) and it's obviously taking 24x24 mm pictures on roll film ( not 126 or 35 mm cartridges, film like 120 on two film spools, just smaller ). There has been a film inserted, that's why I know it ... but I have never seen such a film type yet. I also can't find anything in the internet about this camera and even the almighty camerapedia keeps its silence Any ideas ? It looks horrible on the picture ( not refurbished yet ), but seems to work still. Berndt
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jan 11, 2012 3:27:44 GMT -5
Berndt,
Could it be 828 roll film? Spool Length - 1.370" Flange Diameter - .750"
Mickey
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Jan 11, 2012 4:40:58 GMT -5
That could be, Mickey. There has been a film still in this camera ( or better, the backing paper of it ) and as I researched a little bit, it should have been the film on the attached picture.
I am very excited about trying this weird little TLR ( probably I try to re-spool 35 mm film for that then ) ... and I would really like to know, what camera it is and when it has been made.
The only thing, I could find is, that the maker "Meica" obviously manufactured a toy camera in the 60s, but it looks completely different from mine.
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Jan 11, 2012 14:49:21 GMT -5
Try this link: www.tlr-cameras.com/index.htmMight not have the exact model but if you contact him he's looking to buy this model/make so might have more info.
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Jan 11, 2012 18:54:24 GMT -5
Thanks for the link, Curt !!! I know Barry ( the owner of this TLR homepage ) and of course, I contacted him as well. He's a kind guy, but he said, that he also has no idea and couldn't find any reference to this camera. Must be something very rare, he wrote.
Very mysterious. It's an amazingly detailed designed camera, having all features of a normal TLR ( so not just a toy camera ). All made from metal, but like a miniature ( the camera has the size of a pack of cigarettes ). So, somebody must have put some effort in designing and manufacturing it.
I also searched the japanese net by using keywords in japanese letters ( people are still not using our alphabet even for non-japanese words ). There are a lot of camera maniacs here, writting blogs about everything ... but no hint.
Barry also said, that the name of the camera/maker doesn't need to be "Meica" as well ( just the lens ), because there might have been a name plate on the camera, which could be missing now.
How little we know sometimes. Same as for my three large format cameras. The maker must be "Hansa", but there can be nothing found about that this company produced large format cameras ever.
There seem to be still a few "empty spaces" in camera history.
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Jan 11, 2012 22:41:53 GMT -5
Had to do something to keep my mind busy. Page 267 The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 1950 Tougo-do Co. Museflex. Special Meica f4.5 50mm-front element focusing. Diaphragm-B, 1/25 second-1/150 second. Image size-28mmx28mm on Bolta-size film. Fixed focus viewing lens.
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Jan 12, 2012 0:25:50 GMT -5
Wow ... Curt ... you are THE camera archaeologist !!! Museflex ... the description fits. Is there a picture shown in this Collector's Guide ? I could only find one picture of a Museflex in the internet. The camera there looks different from mine, but it might be a different model, I guess. www.cameraguild.jp/nekosan/muse.htmThe Museflex IIa, which is shown there, seems to have the lenses coupled, but mine has a fixed focus viewing lens, same as in the desription, you found. Thanks a lot, Curt. You are genius !!!
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jan 12, 2012 1:06:27 GMT -5
Curt,
I agree with Berndt. I searched and could find nothing at all. I did find "Meica" but nothing about that camera.
It will be interesting to see it refurbished.
Your information led me to Tougodo in McKeowns. It is a fascinating old company that is quite innovative in designing unique cameras, Meicas included. But not Berndt's Meica. It seems his may be very rare.
Mickey
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Jan 12, 2012 1:50:00 GMT -5
Thanks to Curt's hint, I could find this picture ... www.cameraguild.jp/nekosan/december.htm... showing a lot of different Museflexes. Mine should be second from left. I will use this picture as a template for refurbishment. The good news are: Shutter is still working and the lenses are clean like new. So, it just needs some refurbishment from outside. Definitely want to use it ( even just once for a try ). 828, Bolta film ( never heard of that before ) ... 35 mm should work as well. Just ... how do I get it developed then I just asked in a photo shop in the neighbourhood. They develop 35 mm film by themselves, but they only accept it within the standard canister/container because its an automatized process. Any ideas on that ? Except the glorious idea of starting to develope film by myself
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jan 12, 2012 5:57:31 GMT -5
berndt,
Surely in Tokyo, of all places in the world, there is somebody that could process that film.
Mickey
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Jan 12, 2012 8:21:30 GMT -5
Mickey, it's probably the same in the biggest city or in the smallest town ... everything is possible, if you pay an "exclusice price" for it. In general, the tendency goes more into the direction "standard and mass production" ... everywhere. I don't know, if it is just my feeling, but it gets tougher and tougher to get something, that is just slightly different from what is "standard". And especially here in Japan, the "flexibility" is famous. No exceptions from the rules. People prefer to spend half an hour to apologize for the impossibility of something over deflecting just slightly from what supposes to me "normal". One of the million funny ( and true ) stories, I could tell: A friend of mine is always eating Spaghetti at his regular haunt. He tried to order a slice of lemon for it for three years ... and the waiter always apologized and refused. One day, he ordered a Coke and in there, there was a slice of lemon. He asked, if he can have two and the waiter said "of course" ... but with the Spaghetti, it has been impossible ... hahaha ... believe me, I make similar experiences just every day
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Post by aceroadholder on Jan 12, 2012 23:10:03 GMT -5
Berndt, it isn't too much trouble to put the camera into a light bag, remove the film and put it back into the 35mm canister it came from... practice doing it with a strip of negative film in the light and then doing it in the bag will be easy... remember your friend who is blind will roll around laughing if you complain that this is a difficult task!
If you can reuse the backing paper you have (see rewinding 120 roll film to 620 spools) you can use the camera normally. For a test, you could cover the counter window with tape and experiment with a strip of negative 35mm film and count wind turns required to avoid exposed frame overlap.
The camera is a real find.... we want photographs!
Orlin in SC/USA
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Jan 13, 2012 9:38:05 GMT -5
Thanks Orlin, but ... ... how do I do that ? The only way to open a 35 mm canister, I could find in the internet is ... breaking it. So it can't be used anymore However, it seems that there are special refillable 35 mm film canister, but I couldn't find any supplier for getting them. An actually much easier way would be, cutting the film of and tape it again to the end on the canister ( and then rewinding it in again ), but I don't know if this method would damage the machines, which they are using in this photo shops for processing. Today, I asked at all big camera stores in Tokyo ... no canister, no developing It seems, that they all use the same technology/machines. Only once, my film was broken ( the perforation got ripped into pieces, because the camera didn't work well ) and the lab developed it on request ( obviously by hand then ). It was more expensive than the camera though
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jan 13, 2012 11:40:58 GMT -5
berndt, To quote a famous person; "Any ideas on that ? Except the glorious idea of starting to develope film by myself "It is not too difficult IF you can find a developing tank, thermometer and chemicals. Some spring clothespins or film clips and a hair dryer would be cool. I gave it up a long time ago when the rubber band around my Kindermann tank stretched too much but I am sure some of the TCC members are still involved and can help/advise. Mickey
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jan 13, 2012 14:15:11 GMT -5
Berndt,
There used to be plenty of suppliers of reusable cassettes, but I don't expect they sell too many these days, so they are not a worthwhile stock. I've got a few - I'd have to check to see how many. If you are really stuck I could post you some. One trouble, though, is if the processors don't/won't give you the cassette back you will soon run out again.
Dave
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