| Founded | 1947 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Jack Hannes |
| Defunct | April 23, 2004 [1] |
| Fate | Became FujiFilm Australia, [1] Hanimex name discontinued [2] |
| Successor | FujiFilm Australia Pty Ltd. [1] |
| Website | Hanimex Australia at the Wayback Machine (archived 2004-03-27) |
Hanimex was an Australian distributor and manufacturer, [3] primarily associated with photographic equipment. [4]
The company was founded by Jack Hannes (1923-2005). Born in Germany and educated in England, Hannes' family fled Germany for Australia in 1939. [3] After becoming involved in the import of photographic products in the years following the end of World War II, Hannes formed Hanimex (an abbreviation of "HANnes" "IMport" "EXport") [3] in 1947. [1] [3]
Hanimex was the sole distributor of Fujifilm products in Australia from 1954 [5] until Fujifilm themselves purchased the company in 2004.
In the mid-1950s, Australian import restrictions led Hanimex to begin manufacturing projectors there locally, and by the early 1970s it was the second-largest manufacturer of slide projectors in the world. [3]
Hanimex distributed cameras from a large number of manufacturers under its own name, including those of Praktica, Topcon and others, and eventually grew influential enough to move beyond simple rebranding and into having significant input into the design of such products. [6]
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Hanimex also sold several Pong-style video games consoles [7] (including rebadged designs from Hong Kong manufacturer Soundic) [8] as well as the "Hanimex Pencil II" home computer (also designed by Soundic). [9]
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In August 1971 the company introduced the HC-1000. This was a portable battery operated cassette recorder featuring microphone compartment, carry handle and auxiliary input as well as mains adaptor. The machine was promoted throughout the UK during 1972 as a reduced price offer at petrol stations with 6 vouchers required to secure the offer. It was sold along with an EMI-produced 'musicassette'. As the equipment was very basic (made using plastic) and the market was awash with other manufacturers i.e. Philips, Bush, and ITT manufacturing similar, and better quality, equipment, the model ceased production after just 12 months in August 1972. However, during the early 1970s further models were also manufactured by Hanimex including the HC-2000, HC-2040 cassette recorders and the CT-3030 cassette tape player followed by the HRC (Hanimex Radio Cassette) Model 5020, an 8-Track Stereo Cartridge with AM/FM Receiver and digital Digital Alarm Clock. In 1974 a further production release was the HRC-5070 an AM/FM Radio Cassette Player. Many of the products were built and assembled in Korea to reduce manufacturing costs.
Jack Hannes was awarded the Queens medal for services to Australian industry, and was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the Japanese Photo Industry Association for promoting international friendship and prosperity. [3] He resigned from the company in 1982 [3] following disagreements with a board appointed by its then-majority shareholder that prevented him running it as he wished. [6] In 2005, while on holiday in Switzerland, Hannes died aged 81. [6]
In 1985, Hanimex purchased Vivitar. [4]
In 1989, Hanimex was purchased by Gestetner, [10] which was in turn taken over by Ricoh in 1995. [11]
In 2004, Fujifilm bought Hanimex [5] from Ricoh, [6] following which it became known as FujiFilm Australia Pty Ltd. [1] and the Hanimex name was discontinued. [2]
110 is a cartridge-based film format used in still photography. It was introduced by Kodak in 1972. 110 is essentially a miniaturized version of Kodak's earlier 126 film format. Each frame is 13 mm × 17 mm, with one registration hole. Cartridges with 12, 20, or 24 frames are available on-line. Production variations sometimes have allowed for an additional image.
DX encoding is an ANSI and I3A standard, originally introduced by Kodak in March 1983, for marking 135 and APS photographic film and film cartridges. It consists of several parts, a latent image DX film edge barcode on the film below the sprocket holes, a code on the cartridge used by automatic cameras, and a barcode on the cartridge read by photo-finishing machines.
Medium format has traditionally referred to a film format in photography and the related cameras and equipment that use film. Nowadays, the term applies to film and digital cameras that record images on media larger than the 24 mm × 36 mm used in 35 mm photography, but smaller than 4 in × 5 in.
Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, trading as Fujifilm, or simply Fuji, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, operating in the realms of photography, optics, office and medical electronics, biotechnology, and chemicals.
The Asahi Pentax series of cameras, by the Asahi Optical Co., Ltd., were a pivotal development in modern photography. They were the earliest Pentax cameras.
Instant film is a type of photographic film that was introduced by Polaroid Corporation to produce a visible image within minutes or seconds of the photograph's exposure. The film contains the chemicals needed for developing and fixing the photograph, and the camera exposes and initiates the developing process after a photo has been taken.
Cosina Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer of high-end optical glass, optical precision equipment, cameras, video and electronic related equipment, based in Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
The Gestetner is a type of duplicating machine named after its inventor, David Gestetner (1854–1939). During the 20th century, the term Gestetner was used as a verb—as in Gestetnering. The Gestetner company established its base in London, filing its first patent in 1879. The business grew, remaining within the control of the Gestetner family, and acquiring other businesses. In 1995, the Gestetner company was acquired by the Ricoh Corporation of Japan.
Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. was a joint venture partnership between the Japanese photographic firm Fujifilm Holdings and the American document management company Xerox to develop, produce and sell xerographic and document-related products and services in the Asia-Pacific region. Its headquarters was in Midtown West in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo. Fuji Xerox was the world's longest running joint venture between a Japanese and an American company.
Vivitar Corporation is a manufacturer, distributor, and marketer of photographic and optical equipment originally based in Santa Monica, California. Since 2008, the Vivitar name serves as Sakar International's house brand for digital imaging, optics, mobile accessories, and audio products.
Soligor was originally the trade mark for the American Allied Impex Corporation, used from 1956 for lenses and later cameras imported from Japan. It imported cameras from Japan and also took control of companies in Japan. Among the first products was Miranda T camera and Soligor lenses.
The Pentax K-mount, sometimes referred to as the "PK-mount", is a bayonet lens mount standard for mounting interchangeable photographic lenses to 35 mm single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. It was created by Pentax in 1975, and has since been used by all Pentax 35 mm and digital SLRs and also the MILC Pentax K-01. A number of other manufacturers have also produced many K-mount lenses and K-mount cameras.
A Super 8mm camera is a motion picture camera specifically manufactured to use the Super 8mm motion picture format. Super 8mm film cameras were first manufactured in 1965 by Kodak for their newly introduced amateur film format, which replaced the Standard 8 mm film format. Manufacture continued until the rise in popularity of video cameras in the mid-1970s. In 2014 the first new Super 8mm camera in 30 years was introduced by the Danish company Logmar Camera Solutions. Most other cameras readily available are from the 1960s through the 1980s.
The Pentacon Six is a single-lens reflex (SLR) medium format camera system made by East German manufacturer Pentacon from 1966 to 1992. The Six accepts lenses with the Pentacon Six mount, a breech-lock bayonet mount.
A list of flash guns, for easy comparison of strobes, from different manufactures. The list is intended to supplement the list of photographic equipment makers.
Neopan was originally a family of black-and-white films from Japanese manufacturer Fujifilm for both professional and amateur use. The range now only comprises one film; Neopan ACROS 100 II, a traditional silver halide black and white film re-launched in 2019 and currently sold worldwide.
Sawyer's, Inc. was an American manufacturer and retailer of slide projectors, scenic slides, View-Master reels and viewers, postcards, and related products, based in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1914 as a photo-finishing company, Sawyer's began producing and selling View-Masters in 1939, and that soon became its primary product. It later diversified into other photographic products, mostly related to film transparencies, and established manufacturing plants in Europe, Japan and India. By the early 1960s, Sawyer's was the nation's second-largest manufacturer of slide projectors, and by 1965 slide projectors had surpassed View-Master reels and equipment as a percentage of the company's annual sales. In 1951, the company moved from Portland proper to the unincorporated Progress area in Portland's southwestern suburbs. In 1966, Sawyer's was acquired by New York-based General Aniline & Film (GAF), and its product lines and facilities were taken over by GAF. It was a subsidiary company of GAF until 1968, when it became simply a division of that company, renamed the GAF Consumer Photo Division. For several years thereafter, GAF used "Sawyer's" as a brand name for its slide projectors.
FUJIFILM Australia Pty Ltd came into existence on 23 April 2004 following the sale of the Hanimex Group to Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. [..] Previously, Hanimex Pty Ltd had been the sole distributor of FUJIFILM products in Australia since 1954. Hanimex was founded in 1947 by Jack Hannes, [as] an import and export company
By 1958 Hanimex was a major player in the importing and distribution of photographic equipment in Australia. [..] Hanimex was acquired by Fuji Photo in 2004 and the use of the Hanimex name was discontinued.
Jack Dieter Hannes was born in Berlin on April 12, 1923 [..1934..] sent to Buxton College in Derbyshire England [..1939..] family fled Germany [for] Australia. [Soon after WW2 Hannes] commenced [imports from Italy including] sunglasses and Durst Duca cameras and Durst enlargers this was the beginning of his involvement in the photographic industry. [..1947..] [Hannes founded Hanimex, named] from the first three letters of his name and the words IMport and EXport. [..1956..] [Australian import restrictions led to Hanimex beginning] local manufacturing of slide projectors [By early 70s] Hanimex was the second largest manufacturer of slide projectors in the world [..] In 1982 Jack Hannes resigned from the company. [..] [Awarded] Queens medal for services to Australian industry, [lifetime achievement recipient from] Japanese Photo Industry Association [for] promotion of international friendship and prosperity
in 1985, [Vivitar] was bought by Hanimex Group, an Australian photo products concern that, in turn, was owned by a big Australian real estate developer named Chase Group.
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. has [agreed] to acquire 100% shares of Hanimex Australasia Pty Ltd., the holding company of the Hanimex Group that acts as the distributor for Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. in Australia and New Zealand.
Hanimex became [influential] enough to move beyond [mere imports] to having [design input on] Hanimex-branded cameras. There were some simple rebranding exercises [but] by the mid-1960s Hanimex had its own design department. [..] The Hanimex brand appeared on [cameras] by [Praktica, Topcon, Regula (Germany), Royal Camera (Japan), Finetta (Germany) and Dacora (Germany)] [and on] exposure meters made by Sekonic [..] [Hannes resigned in 1982 after] majority shareholder [..] stacked the board against him and [he] could no longer run Hanimex [how he wanted] on gut instinct and quick responses [to the market] [..] It was from Ricoh that Fujifilm subsequently purchased Hanimex Australasia Pty Ltd in 2004. [..] Hannes died in January 2005, aged 81, while on holiday [in] Switzerland
This Australian computer was in fact built and conceived in Hong Kong by Soundic Electronics, which produced a lot of low-end products at that time.
In 1989 Gestetner Corp. bought the company and in 1996 it was Ricoh.
1995 : Acquired the NRG Group PLC (Nashuatec, Rex-Rotary, Gestetner, formerly Gestetner Holdings PLC) in the UK
