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Andalousia 2006

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ULTRAFEX

6x9

ULTRA FEX model was made in 1947 and continued til 1962. A lot of variants did exist as for faceplates, buttons, finders, shutter release... because FEX was not always working with the same subcontractors for the manufacturing of small metal pieces.

All have extension tube (made of bakelite or metal) and use 620 film.

fex ultrafex first model.jpg (28792 octets) First model

The first model has no axle for unexposed spool and no shutter release blockage.

fex ultrafex first model modified2.jpg (30254 octets) fex ultrafex first model modified3.jpg (28963 octets)

fex ultrafex first model modified1.jpg (23579 octets)

This is an interesting early ULTRAFEX model which was modified by the owner with features that appeared on later models;

like shutter release security and axe for unexposed spool. (or may be it is a kind of prototype ???)

             

fex ultrafex_w_box.jpg (55179 octets)

Second model has axle for the unexposed spool. This was an inconvenient on the first model as film could sometimes jam into the camera. This was used as a commercial argument against  the principal competitor, the PHOTAX camera who had not any axle.

fex ultrafex 2.jpg (49384 octets)

Third model has a new faceplate. Can be found with or without accessories shoe.

 

fex ultrafex himalaya w box.jpg (57069 octets)

Model 4 has a new faceplate design, more square. Top has changed and include shutter release.

Some of the models n°3 or 4 have a small marking 'Himalaya' instead of 'France' on the front left bottom. FEX was the sponsor for a traking in Himalaya in 1951. A young student from Lyon requested FEX as a sponsor. An Ultrafex camera was then brought on the world's roof... At the second expedition, the student was alas lost and died in the moutain. An Ultrafex camera is somewhere in the Himalaya moutains and still for may be centuries or more ! (This was reproted to me by Mr BOUCHETAL one of the head manager of  FEX mfg).  Pictures made during the trip were used as advertising as shown on the Ultrafex Himalaya box (see picture).

The ULTRAFEX body was used on a lot of other cameras as UNIFEX, SPORTFEX, 6x9, TOURING, TOURIST, SPRING,... as described on the next article.

Molds were sold after the end of 620 era, in South America (according to Mr BOUCHETAL) I presume these were sold in Argentina, as i found traces of cameras which are almost clones in design and size of the Ultrafex... look at this one :

fex nicro vic ulmtrafex clone argentina.jpg (67973 octets)

NICRO VIC of  RCA  VICTOR Argentina SAIYC

 

 

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 Last update : 21 avril 2008                                                     V3/MAR2005   End V2 counter at 11482