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Horvex Light Meter


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Condition: Very Good

Horvex Light Meter 

Good condition, see photographs, the silvering on the mirror has tarnished

Neddle not moving!

General Horvex Meter Information

Maker: Metrawatt
Model: Horvex
Circa: 1938
Designer: A. Bernhard and G. Beyrich
US Patent: 2,245,522
Cell type: Selenium
Measure type: Reflecting/Averaging

People call this the H60, as it says H60 on the meter face in the bottom right corner. That may be its true name, but in all the advertising I've seen, it was simply the "Horvex" and there were no other models with the same name, so I simply refer to this as the "Horvex."

All the main Horvex meters have something in common: a really nifty add-on in the form of an additional sensor. Selenium sells are photovoltaic, which means they generate electricity when light strikes them. The more light that hits them, the more electricity. But also—the larger the sensor, the more electricity, and the more sensitive it is to low light. I believe this is one of the reasons why Westons and Norwoods were so well regarded: they had larger sensors than most.

Anyway, a Horvex's main sensor was a slim rectangle mounted near the front of the meter, like most meters of the time. But you could add the secondary sensor which plugged directly into the circuit and added more juice. The sensor sat perpendicular to the meter and faced in the same direction as the front edge, so both sensors saw the same light. You compensated for it on the calculator dial.

This one has a couple of interesting kinks: first, the sensor is mounted on the back, similar to a Weston. But rather than hold it eye-level, there's a door on a hinge you open and it has a mirror. When the door is open, a mirror is set at 45° and reflects the light up onto the sensor, so you still hold the meter at chest-level. I have no idea what the advantage of this would be, but there you are. When the door is closed, a little bit of light can still get in, so door open (mirror down) is for poorer light, and door closed (mirror up) is for bright light.

On the calculator dial: when the door is closed you use the pointer on the left with the II symbol (on my photo, it's pointing at 18); with the door open you use the pointer toward the right that has the I/ symbol (on my photograph above, that pointer is aimed at 3.2); with the booster you use the pointer on the far right with the booster symbol (mine is pointing to 1.5 in the photo above).

The other unusual feature is that the scale under the meter glass (just above the needle) is connected to the calculator dial, so that when you turn the calculator dial, the inner meter scale rotates with it. So what you do is set the calculator dial to your preferred aperture and direct-read the shutter speed (or frames-per-second) on the meter dial.

Camera House Price: £10.00

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The Horvex Light Meter is shown in Accessories > Vintage Camera Accessories.

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Delivery will be made by Yodel Direct, you will be able to track your order online to find your scheduled delivery date. Any deliveries scheduled to arrive on the Saturday or Bank Holiday will be delivered the following working day. We aim to dispatch your order within 24 hours of the time the order has been placed.

Looking after your camera

Use a Camera Bag

A camera bag does more than just protect the camera against scratches and dust: It keeps it safe from rain because many are waterproof on the outside.

Be Very Careful Around the LCD Screen and Camera Lens

Use only special equipment to clean your camera’s LCD screen and camera lens. Buy a special cleaning kit that includes liquid solutions, microfiber cloths and brushes that have been specially designed to clean your camera lens.

Never Leave Your Batteries in Your Camera for Too Long
Many camera batteries are now alkaline or lithium formats. If you keep your camera with the batteries inside of it in a moist area, then the batteries can get corrosive. So if you’re thinking about just putting your camera on the shelf for several months, do yourself a favor and remove them.

Turn Your Camera Off Prior to Doing Anything

Before you do anything to your camera, always keep in mind that it should be turned off first. No matter what it is—swapping lenses, changing memory cards or disconnecting or attaching cables—your camera should be turned off.

Cold and Wet Weather Can Wreak Havoc on Your Camera Body
Take your camera out only in a waterproof bag. If the weather’s unusually cold, just wrap your camera in a plastic bag that has silica desiccant packets for the reduction of moisture. It’s also a smart idea to have a soft towel with you to wipe off any moisture, just in case it should get on your camera.

Good Memory Card Care Is Good Camera Care

Only transport your memory cards inside of a protective caseMake sure the memory cards stay dust-free at all times. When removing memory cards, make sure you do so indoors or in non-dusty situations.
Make sure that you keep memory cards only in cool places. Never keep them in places where they may heat up, like dashboards or glove compartments.
Never place your memory cards close to magnetic sources. Examples of magnetic sources are things such as audio speakers, TV monitors and actual magnets.

Use a Filter to Protect Your Camera Lens

The lens of your camera is naturally fragile. As such, it’s susceptible to scratches, cracks, dents…you name it. A UV filter will not only will you give your lens a fighting chance, but you’ll also enhance the quality of your pictures.

Condensation Can Be Controlled

Condensation normally happens when you move your camera between different temperatures.
Allow your camera a chance to naturally get used to the hotter environment. Don’t place it inside a closed plastic bag when transporting it between different temperatures! Just let the camera sit in the humid temperature for a while, until condensation disappears.
If this still doesn’t get rid of all of it, you can utilize a soft cloth to wipe away any remaining moisture and marks left behind from the condensation.

 

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