Ensign Selfix '20'

c. 1933

Early model

Ensign Ltd

London

England

Lens:

f4.5 100 mm Ensar, iris diaphragm to f32.

Shutter:

Speeds 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, T, B.

Construction:

Metal body.

Format:

8, 6 x 9 cm exposures on Ensign 2 ¼B roll-film.

Focusing:

Front cell to 3 ½ feet. Single extension.

Attributes:

Brilliant and frame view-finders.
Self-erecting front standard. Film advance indicated by red window. Not coupled to shutter.

Identification:

Early version with chequered body covering and open frame finder. Shutter bezel with diagonal lines.

Serial Number:

G12838 .

With:

Instructions. Case. Box.

Ensign Selfix '20'

1936

Late model

Ensign Ltd

London

England

Lens:

f7.7 105 mm Ensar, iris diaphragm to f32.

Shutter:

Speeds 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, T, B.

Construction:

Metal body.

Format:

8, 6 x 9 cm or 16, 6 x 4.5 cm exposures on Ensign 2 ¼B roll-film.

Focusing:

Front cell to 3 ½ feet. Single extension.

Attributes:

Brilliant and direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finders.
Self-erecting front standard. Film advance indicated by red windows. Not coupled to shutter.

Identification:

Late version with ribbed body covering, direct-vision finder and dual format facility. Shutter bezel with zigzag lines.

Serial Number:

J7172 .

With:

16-on masks for film gate and view-finder. Instructions. Box.

Ensign Selfix '20'

1936

Late model

Ensign Ltd

London

England

Lens:

f7.7 105 mm Ensar, iris diaphragm to f32.

Shutter:

Speeds 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, T, B.

Construction:

Metal body, leather bellows.

Format:

8, 6 x 9 cm or 16, 6 x 4.5 cm exposures on Ensign 2 ¼B roll-film.

Focusing:

Front cell to 3 ½ feet. Single extension.

Attributes:

Brilliant and direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finders.
Auto-erecting front standard. Film advance indicated by red windows. Not coupled to shutter.

Identification:

Late version with ribbed body covering, direct-vision finder and dual format facility. Shutter bezel with zigzag lines.

Serial Number:

J19234 .

With:

16-on masks for film gate and view-finder. Instructions. Box.

The Selfix '20' was a very popular camera from when it was introduced around 1933. Early models are single format, 6 x 9 cm, and covered in a very distinctive chequered covering which was replaced by a ribbed design when a new version was released for 1936. The 1936 model was dual format, 6 x 9 cm or 6 x 4.5 cm, the original frame finder was replaced by a direct-vision, optical, finder. Some, probably late, models have leather bellows.

Model numbers

S/1	f7.7 Ensar	Trichro	Synthetic covering
S/2	f6.3 Ensar	Trichro	Synthetic covering
S/3	f4.5 Ensar	Trichro	Synthetic covering
S/3P	f4.5 Ensar	Prontor	Synthetic covering
S/4	f4.5 Ensar	Mulchro	Leather covering
S/4P	f4.5 Ensar	Prontor	Leather covering
S/5	f4.5 Ensar	Compur	Leather covering
S/51	f4.5 Xpress	Compur	Leather covering
S/81	f4.5 Tessar	Compur	Leather covering

The 1934 catalogue shows models 1 - 3 to be available, by 1936 all except S/3P were shown, S/3P was added in the 1937 catalogue. Original models (pre 1936) of the S/1 do not have a frame finder.

References & Notes:

BP 280352/1926. BP 281802/1926. Ensign Cat. 1934, p.16. Ensign Cat. 1936, p.24. Ensign Cat. 1937, p.10.

Company Details:

Houghton-Butcher

Early Photography

Ensign Selfix '20'

c. 1933

Early model

Ensign Ltd

London

England

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Serial Number:

With:

Ensign Selfix '20'

1936

Late model

Ensign Ltd

London

England

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Serial Number:

With:

Ensign Selfix '20'

1936

Late model

Ensign Ltd

London

England

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Serial Number:

With:

Model numbers

References & Notes: