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.
First model
The first model has no axle for unexposed spool and
no shutter release blockage.
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 ???)
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.
Third model has a new faceplate. Can be found with or
without accessories shoe.
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 :
NICRO VIC of RCA
VICTOR Argentina SAIYC