Elliotte
The Elliotte Ace is a 6×6 pseudo TLR camera, made in Japan around 1952.
Maker and distributor
The Elliotte Ace is attributed to Aloha Optical Works by Sugiyama and McKeown.[1] The former source says that it was distributed by Ōhashi Takeji Shōten,[2] but Kokusan kamera no rekishi attributes the camera to the distributor Chiyoda Shōkai.[3]
The camera was featured in a news column of Ars Camera in January 1952, where it was perhaps called "Elliotte Flex" or "Elliotte Ref" (エリオットレフ).[4]
Description
The Elliotte Ace is shaped like a twin lens reflex but the viewing lens is not used for focusing. The advance knob is on the top of the right hand sideplate. The viewing hood has an ACE logo and the name Elliotte is inscribed in cursive letters above the front plate. The viewing lens is engraved ELLIOTTE.
The only surviving example observed so far[5] has Torionar Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5 lens and an Apus shutter by Rokuoh-sha. The lens is focused by turning the front element. The Apus is dial-set and gives T, B, 25–100 speeds; the release lever is directly attached to the front of the shutter casing. The lens and shutter certainly come from pre-1945 stocks of parts, and they are perhaps not original.
Notes
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Item 402.
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P. 45.
- Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Item 2097.
Links
In Japanese: