1952 Graflex Ciro - Flex TLR Camera Kit, Sands Casino Hourglass Cowgirl Logo Note
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:49931840 | Model: Ciro-flex |
| Brand: Graflex | Film Format: 120mm |
Mid-century Time Capsule pulled from family storage unit.
1952 Vintage medium Format camera, and related Sands Casino memorabilia 1952 (opening year)
-Ciro-flex TLR Model E 120mm medium format camera with Wollensak Graflex 85mm lens -Original box, instructions, and Warranty card ( it's the original ...card.. there's no active warranty )-Leather case-Leather neck strap
-General Electric DW-68 Light meter with leather case and original instructions( see pics )
Included is an EMPTY Envelope marked "Heiland research exposure guide - instructions for Synchro-mite" ( seen in the pics next to the leather strap )
Shutter clicks, and everything appears to be in working order. That being said, this is a very old camera that has spent many years in storage.As a display piece, it's ready to go, but if it's being put into service, some maintenance may be required. ( sold AS-IS )
My Cousin's handwritten photography notes, about Kodacolor film type applications, settings, tips, etc. from 1952 It's written on Sands Hotel notepaper, with the Hourglass Cowgirl logo ( very rare, early logo used by the Sands Hotel during Las Vegas' Western era )
The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas was the wildest joint around when Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack were in town, and my cousin liked to go where the action was. He returned home to Los Angeles from Korea in 1952. He took his 1st trip to Las Vegas shortly there-after, and I assume he purchased this camera while visiting.
The original box and warranty card show the model as D, with serial number # 119601Please note that the camera itself is a "Model E" ( I'm not sure what chain of events led to an "E" camera in a "D" box )
The design appears to be based on the Rolleilex camera.Graphex , Graflex, Graftar, and Ciro-Flex names are all printed on the camera in various locations. ( see pics)
The following is some info I found on model variations and the history of Graflex / Ciro-Flex: Graflex Inc.Graflex Inc. purchased Ciro Cameras Inc., in October 1950, and “sponsored” the Ciro-flex camera from 1951 to 1952. The Ciro-flex cameras made before the company was purchased by Graflex were equipped with a Wollensak 85mm, f3.5 Velostigmat or Anastigmat lens (coated, at least by 1946) in Alphax or Rapax shutters. According to the July 1952, Ninth Edition of Graphic Graflex Photography, Graflex installed Graftar or Optar lenses in Century or Graphex shutters on the Ciro-flex, although I have yet to see a Ciro-flex camera with any of these lenses or shutters. In an April 1952 brochure, Graflex states that the Models D and E Ciro-flex were fitted with the Wollensak Anastigmat, and not the Graftar, and it appears that the Anastigmat actually continued to be utilized. The Graftar and Optar lenses in Century and Graphex shutters did make their appearance with the Graflex 22 camera in November 1952. All of these lenses and shutters were still made by Wollensak.Ciro-Flex Models made under Graflex Inc., October 1951 – October 1952. As of the 1952 Ninth Edition of Graphic Graflex Photography:Model Lens ShutterB 85mm f3.5 Graftar Century, 1/10th to 1/200th second, T & B.C 85mm f3.5 Graftar Graphex 1 to 1/400thsecond, T & B.D 85mm 3.5 Graftar Century, 1/10th to 1/200th, T & B. With M & F Sync, E 85mm f3.5 Graftar Graphex, 1 to 1/400th, T & B. With M & F Sync.F 83mm f3.2 Optar Graphex, 1 to 1/400th, T & B. With M-F-X sync.The M & F automatic flash synchronization would synchronize Class F (SM and SF) flash bulbs at all shutter speeds, and Class M (GE 5, 11, 22; Sylvania 25, 0 & 40) at 1/25th second or slower (Shutter speed marking in red). The Graphex Full Synchromatic M-F-X shutter synchronization was adjustable for all classes of flash bulbs and electronic flash, at all shutter speeds, by selecting the appropriate setting. The Graflex serial number book does not list the Ciro-flex or Ciro 35 cameras, and so it seems reasonable to think that they continued to be made at the facility in Delaware, Ohio.
1952 Vintage medium Format camera, and related Sands Casino memorabilia 1952 (opening year)
-Ciro-flex TLR Model E 120mm medium format camera with Wollensak Graflex 85mm lens -Original box, instructions, and Warranty card ( it's the original ...card.. there's no active warranty )-Leather case-Leather neck strap
-General Electric DW-68 Light meter with leather case and original instructions( see pics )
Included is an EMPTY Envelope marked "Heiland research exposure guide - instructions for Synchro-mite" ( seen in the pics next to the leather strap )
Shutter clicks, and everything appears to be in working order. That being said, this is a very old camera that has spent many years in storage.As a display piece, it's ready to go, but if it's being put into service, some maintenance may be required. ( sold AS-IS )
My Cousin's handwritten photography notes, about Kodacolor film type applications, settings, tips, etc. from 1952 It's written on Sands Hotel notepaper, with the Hourglass Cowgirl logo ( very rare, early logo used by the Sands Hotel during Las Vegas' Western era )
The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas was the wildest joint around when Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack were in town, and my cousin liked to go where the action was. He returned home to Los Angeles from Korea in 1952. He took his 1st trip to Las Vegas shortly there-after, and I assume he purchased this camera while visiting.
The original box and warranty card show the model as D, with serial number # 119601Please note that the camera itself is a "Model E" ( I'm not sure what chain of events led to an "E" camera in a "D" box )
The design appears to be based on the Rolleilex camera.Graphex , Graflex, Graftar, and Ciro-Flex names are all printed on the camera in various locations. ( see pics)
The following is some info I found on model variations and the history of Graflex / Ciro-Flex: Graflex Inc.Graflex Inc. purchased Ciro Cameras Inc., in October 1950, and “sponsored” the Ciro-flex camera from 1951 to 1952. The Ciro-flex cameras made before the company was purchased by Graflex were equipped with a Wollensak 85mm, f3.5 Velostigmat or Anastigmat lens (coated, at least by 1946) in Alphax or Rapax shutters. According to the July 1952, Ninth Edition of Graphic Graflex Photography, Graflex installed Graftar or Optar lenses in Century or Graphex shutters on the Ciro-flex, although I have yet to see a Ciro-flex camera with any of these lenses or shutters. In an April 1952 brochure, Graflex states that the Models D and E Ciro-flex were fitted with the Wollensak Anastigmat, and not the Graftar, and it appears that the Anastigmat actually continued to be utilized. The Graftar and Optar lenses in Century and Graphex shutters did make their appearance with the Graflex 22 camera in November 1952. All of these lenses and shutters were still made by Wollensak.Ciro-Flex Models made under Graflex Inc., October 1951 – October 1952. As of the 1952 Ninth Edition of Graphic Graflex Photography:Model Lens ShutterB 85mm f3.5 Graftar Century, 1/10th to 1/200th second, T & B.C 85mm f3.5 Graftar Graphex 1 to 1/400thsecond, T & B.D 85mm 3.5 Graftar Century, 1/10th to 1/200th, T & B. With M & F Sync, E 85mm f3.5 Graftar Graphex, 1 to 1/400th, T & B. With M & F Sync.F 83mm f3.2 Optar Graphex, 1 to 1/400th, T & B. With M-F-X sync.The M & F automatic flash synchronization would synchronize Class F (SM and SF) flash bulbs at all shutter speeds, and Class M (GE 5, 11, 22; Sylvania 25, 0 & 40) at 1/25th second or slower (Shutter speed marking in red). The Graphex Full Synchromatic M-F-X shutter synchronization was adjustable for all classes of flash bulbs and electronic flash, at all shutter speeds, by selecting the appropriate setting. The Graflex serial number book does not list the Ciro-flex or Ciro 35 cameras, and so it seems reasonable to think that they continued to be made at the facility in Delaware, Ohio.
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