Wester 6×6 folders
The Wester (ウエスター) is a series of Japanese folders made by Nishida in the 1940s and 1950s.
Contents
The 4.5×6 model
The original Wester is a 4.5×6 folder, copy of the Nettar with a folding optical finder and a body release. It is advertised from 1941 to 1943 by Nishida. In March 1943[1] it is offered with a Wester lens and a shutter called ノースター with 1–, T, B speeds, in a choice of three combinations:
- f:4.5 lens without self-timer, for ¥103;
- f:4.5 lens with self-timer, for ¥135;
- f:3.5 lens with self-timer, for ¥159.
The two authorized dealers were Yamamoto Shashinki-ten and Kikōdō.
A Semi Wester (セミウエスター) similar looking 4.5×6 folder is advertised around 1942[2] by the distributor Kikōdō, together with the Super Flex Baby.
The 6×6 models
All the other known models were in 6×6 format.
The Wester Chrome Six was a simple viewfinder model. The Wester Chrome Six R was a variant with an uncoupled rangefinder, some had a Zuiko F.C. 75/3.5 lens.
The Super Wester had helical focusing and a coupled rangefinder. The Wester S2 and Wester Autorol (ウエスターオートロール) added automatic film advance, dispensing with the red windows.
The Wester Atlasix was another simple viewfinder model. The lens was a Welcon 1:4.5 7.5cm with a shutter speed to 1/300 of a second.
Notes
- ↑ Advertisement for the Wester, published in the Mar 1943 issue of Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 19.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Super Flex Baby and Semi Wester, visible in Nostalgic Camera, a page of old Japanese ads by Toshio Inamura.
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 19.
Links
General links
In English:
In Japanese:
- Wester Chrome Six at Puppy's Island, with an ad and some sample pictures
- Wester Chrome Six repair notes at Takasaki Motohiro's camera site
- Wester Chrome Six in a post by Arcticchar at his Fishing Diary blog
- Wester Chrome Six R, Wester S-2 and Wester Autorol at Japan Family Camera, with repair notes of the Autorol
- Wester S2 at Vasolza's home page
- Super Wester at doraDD's clacamera blog
- Wester Autorol, article with repair notes, at Orio's camera page
- Wester Autorol at Aya's camera site
- Wester Autorol recorded by Minosan, at Minosan's blog
- Wester Autorol, brief mention with one picture, at Glossostigma's website
- Photo gallery at Wanko's site, including a gallery of pictures taken with a Wester Autorol
Documentation
- Advertisement for the Super Flex Baby and Semi Wester dated between 1942 and 1945, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera, a page of old Japanese advertisements by Toshio Inamura