The Iris is constructed of heavy cast metal with a crinkle finish created in the casting, not by any finish applied to the body. The shutter release, lens mounting plate and viewfinder have had special attention by designers who gave them simple art deco features. The shutter release is interesting because it shows what can be designed by stylists when the engineers are out on vacation. It is a rather silly folding affair that swings out when the lens has been extended to its operating position. However, this assembly incorporated a mechanical flash synchronization. This example was actually sold as the Iris Flash but is identical in design to that used on the chrome and leatherette deluxe model and the aluminum-bodied Zenith model, all of which were marketed at the same time.
The Iris model took 6 exposures on special Univex #00 film which was supplied by Gevaert, a Belgian manufacturer until late 1939 when the war made it impossible to obtain film from Europe. The Ilex shutter has a single speed marked I (instantaneous) besides T and B and is similar to those supplied to Argus (Ilex owned the patents to the Compur shutter design but licensed them to Deckel). The shutter and lens assemblies were supplied by Ilex, who in turn used Wollensak lenses, in this example, a Vitar 50mm f/7.9.
A special light weight aluminum-bodied version was also produced in 1938-39 called the Zenith. Also, an Iris Deluxe was offered that was covered with black leatherette but did not sport that remarkable shutter release arm. This latter deluxe model is unusually rare, especially given the fact that Universal sold so many cameras during their life.
Art deco features on this and many other inexpensive and simple cameras of the 1930's made them more stylish than functional. Here are a couple images of the Kandor (called by some who did not appreciate fine design the Sardine Can Cameras) produced during the same years by Univex's New York City neighbor and competitor, the Irwin Corporation. These and other New York City camera manufacturers did capture a curious NY art deco style that make them quite charming and interesting to collectors today.