Introduction | Lionel Linex 16mm (B) | Lionel Linex 16mm (BRT) | Case | Film | Flash | Slides | Viewer
The Linex 16mm stereo camera was manufactured by Lionel Manufacturing Corporation in 1954.
In Christmas of 1949, the Lionel President Joshua Lionel Cowan received from his son a Stereo Realist camera as a gift. After using the camera he found that it was too complicated and so decided to attempt to capture the low-cost end of the amateur stereo photography market with a simple, fixed-focus stereo camera. Lionel Mfg. Co. was the foremost makers of electric toy trains.
The Linex is cast metal. The stereo pairs being 16x20mm with the cartridge holding 8 exposures. The view finder housing is Bakelite and the rubberised lens hoods and long low profile give it a very distinct appearance. The large thumb slide on the top of the camera opens up the view finder and primes the camera.
It has only two aperture settings f6 and f8.3 and the single speed shutter is not coupled to the film advance and has to be armed before each exposure.
The large size box sets include flash, stereo viewer, film and a yellow, grey and black tartan zip up carry case. There is also a special coupling flash unit that bridges the top of the camera. The complete outfit sold for 44.50USD in 1954. Various production problems and unfavourable reviews resulted in a disaster, in terms of sale. The product was abandoned in 1955; even so 85,000 units were made.
At least two variations exist, the labelling of the aperture lever is B or or BRT on the top of the camera.
The cartridges have different instructions and details as part of the moulded plastic and at least two variations exist. The cartridges where only supplied by Lionel and tied in the users to purchasing film from the manufacturer. The original film was Anscochrome.
| Model | Viewfinder stereo camera |
| Manufacturer | Linex Corporation, 15 E. 26th Street, New York 10, NY |
| Year Introduced | About 1953 |
| Film | Unperforated 16 mm-film in special cartridge |
| Size | 167 x 48 x 73 mm (W x H x D) |
| Weight | 491 grams (580 grams with film cartridge) |
| Lens Separation | 69.74 mm |
| Image Format | 13.72 x 15.24 mm (W x H) |
| Image Window Separation | 69.94 mm |
| Lenses | Matched achromats (glass), 1:6.1/32 mm, no filter thread |
| Diaphragms | Pinhole diaphragms between the lenses, two settings: f/6.1 (N = normal) and f/8.3 (B = bright) |
| Focusing | Fix focus |
| Shutter | Mechanical Guillotine type shutter, behind the lenses. Cocked with separate lever. |
| Shutter Speeds | 1/25 sec. |
| Viewfinder | Newton viewfinder (approx. 0.5x) |
| Film Loading | Manual, special film cartridge |
| Film Transport | Manual, by pulling out a plastic strap |
| Frame Counter | Printed onto plastic strap (1 to 8) |
| Flash Contact | Special flash contact |
| Tripod Socket | ¼“ / 20 TPI, in the centre |
| Special Features | latches for carrying-strap |
| Accessories | Operating instructions, case, viewer, flash |
Sample photographs taken with a Linex are at RALPH'S 3D PAGE http://phsne.org/ralphs_3d_page/camera/linex_par.html
Other links:-
http://www.ksurf.net/~photocam/L.htm
See also the article in Stereo World, 23.6, pages 4-13, by Gary S. Mangiacopra STEREO WORLD for January - February 1997. Official Publication for the National Stereoscopic Association ( NSA ). Featuring: THE LIONEL LINEX: A Stereo Camera Derailed.
