The Tengoflex is a twin-lens box camera manufactured in extremely small numbers by Zeiss Ikon between 1941 and 1942. Its Zeiss catalogue number is 85/16. It takes twelve 6×6cm exposures on 120 film.
It is fitted with a single-element Frontar 80mm f11 lens, with a choice of f11 or f16 apertures.
A Proxar close-up lens is built into the camera. A lever allows the photographer to select between two focusing ranges: 1 to 3 metres and 3 metres to infinity. It is also equipped with a double-exposure prevention mechanism.
According to published references, the existence of the Tengoflex remained unknown until the first example was discovered in the early 1970s. The camera appears to have become more widely known after it was featured in a book published in the mid-1970s by the late Michel Auer, the renowned Swiss camera collector who was also a good friend of our shop.
It would be one thing for such an obscure camera to have emerged from one of the many small-scale manufacturers that appeared in Japan and elsewhere after the war. But to discover a virtually unknown model made by the great Zeiss Ikon, once Europe’s largest camera manufacturer—that is true romance.
It is believed that no more than slightly over 100 examples survive today. Among them, this particular camera is in exceptionally fine condition. A truly desirable piece for the serious Zeiss collector.
Previously sold by our shop, this camera has now returned to us after being carefully used by its owner.
Its condition remains much the same as when we last sold it. There are a few light scuffs on the black-painted areas, but the body shows little sign of use and remains exceptionally clean. A small amount of dust is visible inside the finder, but the finder glass and lens are both clean. All functions are working properly.
We have always had a fondness for the Box Tengor series and have collected many different examples over the years, but opening the back of this Tengoflex proved surprisingly tricky and took us quite some time to figure out.
The back is opened as follows:
1. Slide the small black tab above the red window downward.
2. While pulling the film advance knob outward, turn it clockwise until it extends.
3. Once the film advance knob has been pulled out, slide the rear section of the camera body away.
On the top of the camera, E is the shutter release and T is the time exposure setting. The small control on the side of the body is the shutter lock, and the shutter can be released when it is set to the red position.
The Tengoflex appears to have been introduced in the early 1940s, as Europe was being engulfed by war. It was apparently never exported, received little or no advertising, and production seems to have ended at an early stage as wartime conditions worsened.
This particular example is likely among the finest surviving Tengoflex cameras. Despite having been made under wartime conditions, the construction and finish are remarkably good, while its Art Deco-inspired design is exceptionally stylish.
A superb addition to any collection.
An extremely rare camera.
Reference: Camera Review Special Edition, Classic Camera Special No. 6, Secrets of Famous Cameras
