Ako folders
The company Ako Shōkai sold a 4.5×6 folder under three different names in 1941 and 1942. It is a copy of the Ikonta with a folding optical finder and a body release.
The Semi Ace (セミエース) is advertised in 1941[1] and 1942. In March 1942[2] it is offered with an Ako Anastigmat 75mm f:4.5 lens and a 5–200, T, B shutter for ¥86. Kokusan kamera no rekishi mentions other lens names (メール and ヒトナー) and a shutter name (ダレチ), probably found in other advertisements.
The Semi Ako (セミアコー) is advertised in December 1941[3], with a choice of two lens/shutter combinations:
- an Ako Anastigmat 75mm f:4.5 lens and a 5–200, T, B shutter for ¥74;
- an Ako Anastigmat 75mm f:3.5 lens and a 1–300, T, B shutter for ¥98.
The Semi Metax (セミメタックス) is advertised in 1942[4] together with the Semi Ace, with an Ako Anastigmat 75mm f:3.5 lens and a 1–300, T, B shutter for ¥114.
Two authorized dealers are mentioned in the advertisements: Nihon Shōkai and Mizuno Shashinki-ten (水野寫眞機店 in old writing).
Notes
- ↑ Advertisements as early as March 1941 are mentioned by Kokusan kamera no rekishi.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Semi Metax and Semi Ace, published in the Mar 1942 issue of Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 28 and item 284.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Semi Ako, published in the Dec 1941 issue of Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 3. Kokusan kamera no rekishi does not mention any other advertisement.
- ↑ March 1942 advertisement cited above. The only other advertisement mentioned by Kokusan kamera no rekishi is dated April 1942.
Printed 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. Items 3, 28 and 284.