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Kunik Tuxi
France Version française
Photos by Jacques Bratières text by Bernard Muraccioli. From the collection of Bernard Muraccioli. Last update 2023-12-28 par Michel Rochevalier.

Manufactured or assembled in Germany from (Circa) 1959 to (Before) 1962.
Index of rarity in France: Infrequent (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 14158

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Kunik 

Walter Kunik was born in 1914 in Beuthen, Upper Silesia, then in Germany and now in Poland. In 1949, he joined his father-in-law's wholesale food trading company. He showed creativity by wanting to replace metal packaging with plastic and even filed a patent on the subject. However, he was ahead of his time, and the idea did not catch on. Manfred Hermann (Photographica Cabinett No. 37) mentions a possible connection with the company manufacturing the Filius, which was made of plastic.
It was only later that he ventured into the distribution of miniature cameras at affordable prices. While these cameras followed the trend of being miniature, such as the Minox, they also innovated by sometimes having a dual purpose (compact powder case, lighter). Kunik's exact role in the history of these cameras is unclear. It is unknown who manufactured them, the exact timing (1956 or 1959), or the quantity produced. The camera sales company Kunik was registered starting from 1959, but only until 1962.
According to Manfred Herrmann's research, it appears that two different companies with the same name, by chance, were involved in the manufacturing of certain models. Again, it is not clearly established whether this manufacturing pertained to the cameras themselves or their secondary uses (lighter, compact powder case, etc.). Both of these companies were named Teuber.
The distribution methods of the cameras remain another mystery. Based on advertisements, it seems that a significant portion of the cameras was exported.
Walter Kunik passed away on May 30, 1986.

The product range is limited. We should mention the models with compact powder cases or lighters, which are based on the Petie for the photographic part.

  Shutter Lens  

Petitax polaroid Single speed 11/25 mm
 
Petie polaroid Single speed 9/25 mm
 
x2 RJ Ompex polaroid Single speed 9/25 mm as Petie
Mickey Mouse Camera polaroid Single speed 9/25 mm as Petie
Tuxi polaroid I, P 7,7/25 mm
Synchro-flash
Tuximat polaroid I, P 7,7/25 mm
as Tuxi, with lightmeter
__________

The Tuxi camera is more advanced than the Petie, as it features an aperture selector, a sync socket for flash, and a brighter lens. The shutter offers a "bulb" mode for long exposures, which is not available on the Petie. On the top cover, the dummy right-side dial does not rotate, but its internal threading allows for tripod attachment.

The body is the same for both the Tuxi and the Petie.

The Tuximat and the Tuxi share the same lower part, but the Tuximat's top cover is significantly different to incorporate a selenium light meter.

Kunik Tuxi





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