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Lot Essay
The Ensign Multex camera was made in two models between 1936 and circa 1938 in what appears to be limited numbers. The camera was first announced by Ensign Ltd in their 1936 catalogue. The Multex was described as 'a precision miniature camera of unrivalled merit without any of the disadvantages of extreme long length of film, necessitating a large number of exposures before developing'. The camera made fourteen exposures on 127-rollfilm. It had a coupled rangefinder and lens focusing down to 21 inches and a folding optical viewfinder. The shutter was speeded to 00 second. The camera had black enamelled top and baseplates and was fitted with either an Ensar Anastigmat f/3.5, Ross Xpres f/2.9, Ross Xpres f/.9 or Zeiss Tessar f/2.8 lens at a cost of £16 16 0 for the Ensar rising to £26 10 0 for the Zeiss.
The Multex II camera was announced in the 1937 Ensign Photographic Catalogue. The camera refined the features of the original model. The camera's top and baseplates were finished in a lustre chrome, the pop-up finder was replaced by a fixed enclosed optical finder and the shutter was speeded up to 000 second. The catalogues offered five lenses: an Ensign Multar Anastigmat f/3.5, a Ross Xpres f/2.9, a Ross Xpres f/1.9, a Zeiss Tessar f/2.8 and a Zeiss Sonnar f/2 lens at a cost of £19 10 0 rising to £40 0 0. The earlier model was only listed with an Ensar Anastigmat f/3.5 lens.
The Multex camera was not listed in the 1938 and subsequent Ensign catalogues.
The British Journal Photographic Almanac of 1938 carried only a descriptive review of the Multex II suggesting that a camera had not been handled or that it failed to appeal. Miniature Camera World in October 1937 reported it had handled a camera and, again, provided a factual review without any opinion being expressed. It reported: 'A guarantee is enclosed with every camera showing that Messrs. Ensign Ltd. are willing to back their goods to the fullest extent possible'.
An analysis of known serial numbers of the Multex would suggest that fewer than 1000 examples were made with the range record between H21026 and H21928 and two examples in a H24xxx range. With even the basic model with the Ensar lens costing the same as a basic Leica model and the top-of-the-range Sonnar model costing the same or more than many Leica cameras it would seem that the camera's cost limited demand.
The Multex II camera was announced in the 1937 Ensign Photographic Catalogue. The camera refined the features of the original model. The camera's top and baseplates were finished in a lustre chrome, the pop-up finder was replaced by a fixed enclosed optical finder and the shutter was speeded up to 000 second. The catalogues offered five lenses: an Ensign Multar Anastigmat f/3.5, a Ross Xpres f/2.9, a Ross Xpres f/1.9, a Zeiss Tessar f/2.8 and a Zeiss Sonnar f/2 lens at a cost of £19 10 0 rising to £40 0 0. The earlier model was only listed with an Ensar Anastigmat f/3.5 lens.
The Multex camera was not listed in the 1938 and subsequent Ensign catalogues.
The British Journal Photographic Almanac of 1938 carried only a descriptive review of the Multex II suggesting that a camera had not been handled or that it failed to appeal. Miniature Camera World in October 1937 reported it had handled a camera and, again, provided a factual review without any opinion being expressed. It reported: 'A guarantee is enclosed with every camera showing that Messrs. Ensign Ltd. are willing to back their goods to the fullest extent possible'.
An analysis of known serial numbers of the Multex would suggest that fewer than 1000 examples were made with the range record between H21026 and H21928 and two examples in a H24xxx range. With even the basic model with the Ensar lens costing the same as a basic Leica model and the top-of-the-range Sonnar model costing the same or more than many Leica cameras it would seem that the camera's cost limited demand.