Gossen Blendux Exposure meter
 

Gossen Blendux exposure meter.

The Blendux was introduced after the Ombrux, Paul Gossen's first exposure meter. The Ombrux was introduced on the fair of  Leipzig in 1933. it was the first photo electric exposure meter build by Paul Gossen. With this meter he founded the Gossen company which is still existing. The Ombrux was made for photography while his counterpart the Blendux was made for movie (cine) purposes.

The measuring element is a selenium photovoltaic cell and the big lens on the front was taken from a flashlight manufactured in that time in Germany. The meter is accompanied by 2 aluminum plates holding tables and information about use frames/second, aperture and film types. The users guide is printed on a aluminum plate inside the case and on the back of the meter.

It seems the Blendux has weak base plate because I came across a number of meters with a nasty crack from side to side in the base plate dividing this plate completely. It does not show from the outside but when opening the meter for maintenance or repair you have to be very careful otherwise you are left with parts on the table and possibly damaging the meter. See example
 
 
  Technical data:

07.20.2010
  Manufacturer
Name
Introduction
Sensor
Measurement
 application		 P. Gossen & Co, Erlangen Germany
Blendux
aprox 1933
Selenium photo cell
reflected
Cine
  Angle of measurement:
Aperture range

Exposure time		 Reflected light °
 Red scale (button pressed) f/  1.5 ~ 8
 Black scale (button released) f/  5.6 ~ 32
16 frames / sec.
  Size
Weight
Power		 60 x 75 x 28 mm.
175g. with case 245g.
 none
   
 
 
       
 
 
 

The aluminum plates holds tables for use of different film types cq film brands reversal and negative, speed in frames per second and apertures.
The given aperture is for an exposure time of 16 frames/second = 1/32 sec.

Table A is for direct readout for reversal film Agfa Pan, Kodak Pan, Pathe SS. Negative film Mimosa finogran, Geveart-Ortho, Agfa-Feinkorn  Perutz-Feinkorn and Schleussner-tempo films. (Feinkorn = fine grain)

Table B is for reversal film Kodak-SS, Agfa-Novopan. Negative film Agfa-Pankine G and Geveart-Superchrome. Requires to use next smaller aperture than designated by the meter.

Table C is for reversal film Agfa-ortho, Geveart-ortho, Mimosa-finigran and Schleussner. Negative film Geveart-feinkorn and zeiss-ikon-F.K. Requires next larger aperture than designated by the meter.

Normally the read-out value is the black scale. When the light is dim, the red button has to be pressed and the read-out is the red scale.

 
 


 
       
 
   
       
 

Example of a broken base plate with the Blendux meters. I had this problem with a number of meters and only with the Blendux so far.
Copyright © E. van der Aa 2010, All rights reserved.