1956 Simmon Omega 120 KE-8

Opening 2025 I have posted for you...
The opportunity arose so I did partake. Another one off the list.
Today I present you with an oddity. "It resembles an enlarger", you say. You are very correct. Built by Simmon Brothers of Long Island City, NY. and designed by, none other than, Alfred Simmon. Primarily manufacturing enlargers. Company was started in 1935 by Fred and Rudolph Simmon and started manufacturing enlargers. In 1941 they produce enlargers for Army Signal Corps. Then in 1945 they produced their first camera PH-501/PF for the US Army. The second camera was produced in 1953 by the name of Simmon Omega 120 (military issue version, KE-8 primarily for groung level observations and reconnaissance surveillance) which is what we have here. Only a hand full KE-8 were made which included a Halliburton aluminum case, straps, filters, lens hood, rotary flash unit and extra flash assembly. It appears as though the camera it self was unchanged for the military issue, just the accessories, which I have but did not photograph. In 1956 Simmon discontinued this model and in 1958 Simmon sold the patent and merged with Koni whom adopted Omega. You can also see a later model, the Koni Omegaflex M, I have in an earlier posting.

Between 1954-1956 the 120 had three different face plates and different info film backs making this a 1956. Fairly simple viewfinder camera with coupled rangefinder and automatic parallax compensation. Only two lenses offered was the Wollensak Omicron f: 3.5/90mm(which is presented here) and the f:5.6/90mm . Also standard with built-in rapax shutter speed B, 1-1/400s. Film back has detailed operating instructions and film advance pull knob in Simmon style which was adopted by Koni.

F121 Rotary Flash- consisting of six bulbs and attaches to the camera via a tripod style application. Driven by a strategically place bi-pin connector to slots in the winding knob for sync. Powered by batteries in flash base assembly and a capacitor.
It appears as though the example I have has never been used or lightly used since there are almost no signs of wear.