Wirgin
Wirgin was a German camera manufacturer best known for its Wirgin and Edixa brands, including inexpensive 35mm SLRs produced in Wiesbaden and, for a period, Bayreuth.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Wirgin was a German camera company established in Wiesbaden in 1920 by the brothers Heinrich, Max and Josef Wirgin. The business became associated with compact and relatively affordable cameras sold under the Wirgin and Edixa names, and with a wide range of formats including 127, 35mm, 120 and 16mm film. Its products included viewfinder cameras, folding cameras, stereo cameras, subminiature cameras, movie cameras and single-lens reflex cameras. The Edixa name became particularly prominent in the postwar period and is now closely associated with West German photographic equipment from the 1950s and 1960s. The company introduced the Edinex in 1927, its first distinctive camera design. A small 127-film viewfinder model, the Gewirette, followed in 1934, while Edinex cameras using 35mm film were developed from the middle of the 1930s. Wirgin also supplied cameras under other names, including Adrette for Adox. Its early products used lenses and shutters from established European suppliers, including Wirgin’s own Gewironar lenses and components from Compur, Prontor and Steinheil. The company’s history was severely disrupted by Nazi persecution. The Wirgin brothers were Jewish, and Heinrich and Josef were forced to leave Germany with assistance from a company clerk. Max had already reached the United States in 1936 and helped his brothers escape. The Wiesbaden factory was subsequently incorporated into Adox. After the Second World War, Heinrich returned to Germany under the name Henry Wirgin and re-established the company in Wiesbaden. Postwar Wirgin became one of West Germany’s leading producers of SLR cameras with focal-plane shutters. In 1951, Heinz Waaske joined the company as a camera designer and constructed Wirgin’s first SLR of this type, as well as later prototypes and mechanisms. The resulting Edixa Reflex family, followed by Edixa-Mat Reflex and numerous related models, formed the core of the company’s photographic identity. Many cameras used the M42 screw mount, while later models employed proprietary or other bayonet arrangements. Wirgin also produced or sold cameras with leaf shutters, electronically controlled shutters and fixed-prism designs. In 1962, Henry Wirgin acquired Franka Kamerawerk in Bayreuth. This expanded production and contributed to the Edixa 16 and related 16mm subminiature cameras, which were sold under names such as Franka 16 and alka 16. The company’s products were also distributed through an American sales operation using the Edixa name, although some branded equipment was manufactured by outside suppliers, including Japanese production of an Edixa 8mm movie camera. Wirgin’s later history was marked by contraction. Franka-Werk closed in 1967. The original Wiesbaden company was closed in 1968, after which production of selected models continued at a smaller plant. A modern but relatively heavy SLR was introduced in 1971, shortly before the company’s final closure. Heinz Wirgin died in Wiesbaden in 1989. Beyond his role in the camera industry, he was involved in efforts to rebuild friendly relations between Jewish and non-Jewish Germans. Today Wirgin is principally remembered by collectors for Edixa SLRs, Edinex and Gewirette cameras, compact 16mm models, and a varied catalogue of German photographic equipment.
History
Wirgin began in Wiesbaden in 1920, founded by Heinrich, Max and Josef Wirgin. Its early development centered on compact film cameras, culminating in the Edinex in 1927 and the small Gewirette for 127 film in 1934. During the 1930s, the company also produced 35mm Edinex viewfinder cameras, often equipped with Wirgin, Compur, Prontor or Steinheil optical and shutter components. Some products were supplied under other brand names, including Adrette for Adox. The company’s original development was interrupted by Nazi persecution of its Jewish owners. Max Wirgin reached the United States in 1936, while Heinrich and Josef later escaped Germany with assistance from an employee. The Wiesbaden factory became part of Adox. After the war, Heinrich returned as Henry Wirgin and rebuilt the business in Wiesbaden. A major postwar turning point came in 1951, when Heinz Waaske joined the company. He designed Wirgin’s first SLR using a focal-plane shutter and subsequently worked on further SLR and electronically controlled camera concepts. The Edixa Reflex line became the company’s best-known product family. It included the Edixa-Mat Reflex, budget Reflex variants, Edixa Rex models, Edixa Prismat cameras and other M42, bayonet-mount, leaf-shutter and fixed-prism configurations. Wirgin became an important West German producer of relatively inexpensive SLR equipment. The company maintained a diverse catalogue beyond standard 35mm cameras. It produced 16mm Edixa 16 subminiature cameras, along with related Franka 16 and alka 16 versions. Its catalogue also included 127-film Gewirette and Reporter models, 120-film folding and reflex cameras, stereo cameras, lenses and accessories. Not all products bearing Wirgin or Edixa names were necessarily made in Wiesbaden or Bayreuth; some were sourced from external manufacturers, including an Edixa 8mm movie camera made in Japan. In 1962, Henry Wirgin acquired Franka Kamerawerk in Bayreuth. The Franka operation participated in the manufacture of several compact and 16mm models, but it closed in 1967. Wirgin closed its original company in 1968 and continued selected production in a smaller plant. A modern but heavy SLR introduced in 1971 was among the company’s late products. Camera production subsequently ended, leaving Wirgin primarily as a historical camera brand. Henry Wirgin died in Wiesbaden in 1989, aged 90. He was also active in German-Jewish reconciliation efforts, serving as chairman of the Society for German-Jewish Cooperation.
- 1989
Henry Wirgin dies
[1]Henry Wirgin dies in Wiesbaden at the age of 90.
- 1971
Late SLR generation introduced
[1]Wirgin introduces a modern but heavy SLR shortly before the company’s final closure.
- 1968
Original Wirgin company closes
[1]The original Wiesbaden company is closed, with limited production continuing at a smaller plant.
- 1967
Franka-Werk closes
[1]The Bayreuth facility is shut.
- 1962
Franka Kamerawerk acquired
[1]Henry Wirgin purchases the Bayreuth-based Franka Kamerawerk.
- 1951
Heinz Waaske joins Wirgin
[1]Waaske becomes a camera constructor and develops the company’s first focal-plane-shutter SLR.
- 1938
Original ownership forced into exile
[1]Heinrich and Josef Wirgin leave Germany, and the Wiesbaden factory is incorporated into Adox.
- 1936
Max Wirgin reaches the United States
[1]Max Wirgin emigrates to the United States as Nazi persecution intensifies.
- 1934
Gewirette introduced
[1]The company launches a very small 127-film viewfinder camera.
- 1927
Edinex introduced
[1]Wirgin presents the Edinex, its first distinctive camera design.
Products and positioning
A German photographic manufacturer associated with broad-format camera production and comparatively affordable 35mm SLRs, particularly the Edixa Reflex family. The brand combined in-house designs with components and production relationships involving other European and Japanese manufacturers.
35mm and 127-film viewfinder cameras · 1927
Edinex
The Edinex was introduced in 1927 and became one of Wirgin’s defining camera families. Early examples included 127-film and later 35mm viewfinder versions. Typical equipment included Gewironar lenses with Compur shutters or Steinheil Culminar lenses with Prontor shutters. An Adox-branded derivative was sold as the Adrette.
127-film viewfinder camera · 1934
Gewirette
Introduced in 1934, the Gewirette was designed as a notably small viewfinder camera for type 127 film. It represented Wirgin’s early emphasis on compact equipment and remains one of the company’s recognizable prewar products.
35mm SLR · 1951
Edixa Reflex
The Edixa Reflex family formed the center of Wirgin’s postwar SLR business. Models included the Komet, budget variants such as the S, BV, SV, Kadett, Ba and Ca, and the Edixa 500. Many versions used the M42 screw mount, while related models adopted bayonet or fixed-prism configurations. The series helped establish Wirgin as a major West German producer of relatively affordable focal-plane-shutter SLRs.
35mm SLR
Edixa-Mat Reflex
The Edixa-Mat Reflex was a development of the Edixa SLR concept, distinguished by a rapid-return mirror. It was part of Wirgin’s effort to offer more capable reflex cameras while retaining the Edixa family’s broad compatibility with interchangeable lenses and accessories.
35mm SLR
Edixa Rex and Edixa Prismat
The Edixa Rex models included the Rex b, Rex d, Rex CdS and Rex TTL, while the Edixa Prismat line included Prismat TTL and Prismat LTL variants. These cameras used bayonet mounts, M42 mounts or combinations of the two depending on the model, and several featured fixed prisms or built-in exposure metering.
35mm SLR
Edixa Electronica
The Edixa Electronica series explored electronically controlled camera operation. Listed variants included the Edixa Electronica with a leaf shutter and fixed prism and the Edixa Electronica TL with a Prontor focal-plane shutter and fixed prism.
16mm subminiature camera
Edixa 16
The Edixa 16 family used unperforated 16mm film in Rollei 16-type RADA cartridges, producing 14×21mm frames and approximately 20 exposures per cartridge. Variants included the Edixa 16, Edixa 16M and Edixa 16MB. Higher-end versions used Schneider Kreuznach Xenar lenses, while other models used Travegar or Trinar lenses. Related cameras were sold as Franka 16 and alka 16.
120-film and folding cameras
Wirgin folding and reflex cameras
Wirgin’s medium-format catalogue included sophisticated bellows cameras and folding models such as the Rofika, a roll-film camera. Export or naming variants included Wirgin Reflex versions related to the Reflecta, Altiflex and Hollywood Reflex families.
Folding camera
Presto
Presto was a simpler folding-camera line associated with Wirgin. It was also sold under the Adox Sport name, illustrating the company’s practice of supplying related cameras under different brand identities.
Brand decisions
1968
Contraction to a smaller production operationStrategyBackground
After the closure of Franka-Werk and pressure on the company’s camera business, Wirgin ended the original Wiesbaden company.
Action taken
The original company was closed while selected camera models continued to be produced at a smaller plant.
Aftermath
A final modern SLR was introduced in 1971, shortly before camera production ended.
1962
Acquisition of Franka KamerawerkM&ABackground
Wirgin sought to expand its camera manufacturing capabilities and acquired Franka Kamerawerk in Bayreuth.
Action taken
Henry Wirgin purchased Franka Kamerawerk and integrated its production into the wider Wirgin and Edixa manufacturing network.
Aftermath
Bayreuth contributed to production of Edixa and compact 16mm cameras, but the Franka facility closed in 1967.
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