Details
Studio Minex camera
A. Adams & Co., London; polished mahogany body, lacquered-brass fittings, rack and pinion focus controls, focal-plane shutter, internal 45-degree mirror, with an Aldis Bros. Triplet Anastigmat f/5.6 20 inch lens no. 85201, on an Adams Minex adjustable mahogany studio stand
Literature
British Journal Photographic Almanac 1914, p. 711-714.

Lot Essay

The Studio Minex camera was advertised in 1913 and 1914 and would appear to be a development of the proposed Studex camera which Adams claimed they would introduce 'early in 1909'. From the tone of the advertisements the Studex had yet to be produced and it would seem that it probably was not. The Studio Minex probably supersceded it.

The Studio Minex provided a reflex camera for the studio-based portrait photographer. It provided reflex viewing from the side of the camera, 'it is, indeed, a notable contribution to the craft of camera making and designing, since the reflex construction has been cleverly applied to facilitate the operation of the ordinary studio camera.'

The BJPA claimed that the camera offered a number of notable advantages: the mirror was silent in its operation, easy to raise and visible at whatever the height of the camera; the camera was easy to adjust and operate with the photographer within a large focusing hood. The review concluded: 'Apart from being a technical triumph of camera design, the instrument is one which confers immense new facilities in photographic portraiture, and we can imagine that many photographers will take an opportunity of making themselves acquainted with it at first hand'.

The whole-plate camera cost, without lens but with one darkslide, £35, with the stand at £11 11s.

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