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**Baard-Einar** · 02-14-2014, 01:43 PM

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Hey

Are there anyone who knows about the number of cameras that were produced and marked as Ashiflex and sold in South Africa? I also found an ad that states it was named Asahiflex also in Finland.

thanks!

**Canada_Rockies** · 02-14-2014, 03:11 PM

Axahiflex was Asahi Optical's single lens reflex preceding the Pentax. It had a waist level viewfinder. The name was world wide. In 1957 they put a Pentaprism on it, enlarged the mount to M42-1 and called it the Pentax.

**boriscleto** · 02-14-2014, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by Canada_Rockies

The name was world wide.

except the US where it was sold by Sears under the Tower brand name.

**Moe49** · 02-14-2014, 03:30 PM

No, I believe Baard is asking about this type of Asahiflex ( from a recent eBay sale ):

Asahiflex H2 H 2 Asahi Pentax S2 55 2 Takumar RARE for South African Market | eBay

I saw this ad and someone else was quicker than I to hit the button!

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

Last edited by Moe49; 11-12-2014 at 05:21 PM.

**boriscleto** · 02-14-2014, 03:42 PM

Originally posted by Moe49

No, I believe Baard is asking about this type of Asahiflex ( from a recent eBay sale ):

Asahiflex H2 H 2 Asahi Pentax S2 55 2 Takumar RARE for South African Market | eBay

I saw this and someone was quicker than me to hit the button!

The Contax trademark was still recognized by South Africa, so no Pentax for Asahi there...

**Canada_Rockies** · 02-15-2014, 09:05 AM

Thanks, Boriscleto - I did not know that one. Definitely a pentaprism on that one. Thanks.

LesDMess · 02-15-2014, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by boriscleto

The Contax trademark was still recognized by South Africa, so no Pentax for Asahi there...

According to Screwmount, Pentax was registered by Pentacon in South Africa so Pentax used Asahiflex or Pentar (not Pentax). Pictures in there too.

I have no idea about the numbers though.

Last edited by LesDMess; 02-15-2014 at 11:36 AM.

**Baard-Einar** · 02-15-2014, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by Moe49

No, I believe Baard is asking about this type of Asahiflex ( from a recent eBay sale ):

Asahiflex H2 H 2 Asahi Pentax S2 55 2 Takumar RARE for South African Market | eBay

I saw this ad and someone else was quicker than me to hit the button!

Well, It might have been I who got that one....

There was one up for auction last week as well, that one went for more than 500USD.

**Baard-Einar** · 02-15-2014, 12:19 PM

Here is the ad where it states that Asahi Pentax H2 (mainly in Europe) (or even Asahi Pentax S2 (Japan, Europe), as well as Heiland Pentax H2 (US market)) was branded Asahiflex H2 in south Africa, Finland and some other markets.

Does anyone have any other documentation about this?

**boriscleto** · 02-15-2014, 12:27 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by LesDMess

According to Screwmount, Pentax was registered by Pentacon in South Africa so Pentax used Asahiflex or Pentar (not Pentax). Pictures in there too.

I have no idea about the numbers though.

Originally posted by Baard-Einar

Here is the ad where it states that Asahi Pentax H2 (mainly in Europe) (or even Asahi Pentax S2 (Japan, Europe), as well as Heiland Pentax H2 (US market)) was branded Asahiflex H2 in south Africa, Finland and some other markets.

Does anyone have any other documentation about this?

Asahi acquired the Pentax trademark in 1957, two years before Pentacon was formed. At the end of WWII all German trademarks and patents were voided by the Allies. But some countries, like South Africa and Finland, continued to recognize them. Pentacon was formed from the merger of several Dresden camera manufacturers, including VEB Kamerawerke Freital which had originally been Contax Zeiss Ikon Kamerawerke of Dresden.

**Baard-Einar** · 02-15-2014, 12:40 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Asahi acquired the Pentax trademark in 1957, two years before Pentacon was formed. At the end of WWII all German trademarks and patents were voided by the Allies. But some countries, like South Africa and Finland, continued to recognize them. Pentacon was formed from the merger of several Dresden camera manufacturers, including VEB Kamerawerke Freital which had originally been Contax Zeiss Ikon Kamerawerke of Dresden.

Thanks, that was useful information

**Baard-Einar** · 05-14-2015, 04:02 PM

This came up on ebay and was sold for a nice price, AU $870

Note the text on the prism Penta Asahiflex

Never seen this before. Can anyone shed some light on this?

K David · 05-14-2015, 05:56 PM

They had to use Asahiflex in some countries early on due to a claim on the name Pentax by a German company (I forget which. That's why South African bodies, for instance, are called Pentars.

I would assume this to be a fairly rare bird.

**Baard-Einar** · 05-15-2015, 03:16 PM

Originally posted by K David

They had to use Asahiflex in some countries early on due to a claim on the name Pentax by a German company (I forget which. That's why South African bodies, for instance, are called Pentars.

I would assume this to be a fairly rare bird.

The model called S or K was sold as Pentar in South Africa. The model S2 was sold as Asahiflex in South Africa and some other markets. This was due to the fact that Pentax was already a registered trademark of Pentacon of East Germany.

But a camera marked Penta Asahiflex is really rare. I found one sold at Christies auction i 1998(!) for USD948 (!!!). And then this one that I posted about yesterday that came for sale at ebay that also was sold for a high price.

There is a Asahiflex H2 for sale now on eBay, without the Word Penta.

02-14-2014, 01:43 PM	#1
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964	Asahiflex H2 Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. Hey Are there anyone who knows about the number of cameras that were produced and marked as Ashiflex and sold in South Africa? I also found an ad that states it was named Asahiflex also in Finland. thanks!

05-14-2015, 04:02 PM	#12
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964 Original Poster	This came up on ebay and was sold for a nice price, AU $870 Note the text on the prism Penta Asahiflex Never seen this before. Can anyone shed some light on this? Attached Images

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02-14-2014, 03:11 PM	#2
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Axahiflex was Asahi Optical's single lens reflex preceding the Pentax. It had a waist level viewfinder. The name was world wide. In 1957 they put a Pentaprism on it, enlarged the mount to M42-1 and called it the Pentax.

02-14-2014, 03:28 PM	#3
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Originally posted by Canada_Rockies The name was world wide. except the US where it was sold by Sears under the Tower brand name.

02-14-2014, 03:42 PM	#5
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Originally posted by Moe49 No, I believe Baard is asking about this type of Asahiflex ( from a recent eBay sale ): Asahiflex H2 H 2 Asahi Pentax S2 55 2 Takumar RARE for South African Market \| eBay I saw this and someone was quicker than me to hit the button! The Contax trademark was still recognized by South Africa, so no Pentax for Asahi there...

02-15-2014, 09:05 AM	#6
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Thanks, Boriscleto - I did not know that one. Definitely a pentaprism on that one. Thanks.

02-15-2014, 09:48 AM	#7
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	Originally posted by boriscleto The Contax trademark was still recognized by South Africa, so no Pentax for Asahi there... According to Screwmount, Pentax was registered by Pentacon in South Africa so Pentax used Asahiflex or Pentar (not Pentax). Pictures in there too. I have no idea about the numbers though. Last edited by LesDMess; 02-15-2014 at 11:36 AM.

02-15-2014, 11:56 AM	#8
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964 Original Poster	Originally posted by Moe49 No, I believe Baard is asking about this type of Asahiflex ( from a recent eBay sale ): Asahiflex H2 H 2 Asahi Pentax S2 55 2 Takumar RARE for South African Market \| eBay I saw this ad and someone else was quicker than me to hit the button! Well, It might have been I who got that one.... There was one up for auction last week as well, that one went for more than 500USD.

02-15-2014, 12:27 PM - 1 Like	#10
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Originally posted by LesDMess According to Screwmount, Pentax was registered by Pentacon in South Africa so Pentax used Asahiflex or Pentar (not Pentax). Pictures in there too. I have no idea about the numbers though. Originally posted by Baard-Einar Here is the ad where it states that Asahi Pentax H2 (mainly in Europe) (or even Asahi Pentax S2 (Japan, Europe), as well as Heiland Pentax H2 (US market)) was branded Asahiflex H2 in south Africa, Finland and some other markets. Does anyone have any other documentation about this? Asahi acquired the Pentax trademark in 1957, two years before Pentacon was formed. At the end of WWII all German trademarks and patents were voided by the Allies. But some countries, like South Africa and Finland, continued to recognize them. Pentacon was formed from the merger of several Dresden camera manufacturers, including VEB Kamerawerke Freital which had originally been Contax Zeiss Ikon Kamerawerke of Dresden.

02-15-2014, 12:40 PM	#11
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964 Original Poster	Originally posted by boriscleto Asahi acquired the Pentax trademark in 1957, two years before Pentacon was formed. At the end of WWII all German trademarks and patents were voided by the Allies. But some countries, like South Africa and Finland, continued to recognize them. Pentacon was formed from the merger of several Dresden camera manufacturers, including VEB Kamerawerke Freital which had originally been Contax Zeiss Ikon Kamerawerke of Dresden. Thanks, that was useful information

05-14-2015, 05:56 PM	#13
K David Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,437	They had to use Asahiflex in some countries early on due to a claim on the name Pentax by a German company (I forget which. That's why South African bodies, for instance, are called Pentars. I would assume this to be a fairly rare bird.

05-15-2015, 03:16 PM	#14
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964 Original Poster	Originally posted by K David They had to use Asahiflex in some countries early on due to a claim on the name Pentax by a German company (I forget which. That's why South African bodies, for instance, are called Pentars. I would assume this to be a fairly rare bird. The model called S or K was sold as Pentar in South Africa. The model S2 was sold as Asahiflex in South Africa and some other markets. This was due to the fact that Pentax was already a registered trademark of Pentacon of East Germany. But a camera marked Penta Asahiflex is really rare. I found one sold at Christies auction i 1998(!) for USD948 (!!!). And then this one that I posted about yesterday that came for sale at ebay that also was sold for a high price. There is a Asahiflex H2 for sale now on eBay, without the Word Penta.