Victor folders
The Victor folders are Japanese 4.5×6 and 6×6 folding cameras, made between 1937 and 1939 by the company Motodori Shashin Kikai Kōgyō-sho, that was later called Nissan Kōgaku Kōgyō-sha and sometimes used the name Victor Camera Works.[1] The original Victor was the successor of the nearly identical Semi Lester and the series was followed by the similar Condor folders.
General description
All the models are copies of the Baldax. When held vertically by the photographer, the advance knob is at the top right and the viewfinder is at the middle left. The back is hinged to the left and there is a strap at the right end of the body.
Evolution
The original Victor (ビクター) has a folding optical finder and no body release. The front leather is embossed VICTOR. In an advertisement by Motodori dated October 1937[2], the following variants are listed, all with a front-cell focusing lens and a variant of the Rulex shutter by Neumann & Heilemann:
- Delter[3] Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens, Rulex D shutter, 25–150, B, T speeds (¥50);
- Delter Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens, Rulex B shutter, 5–150, B, T speeds (¥58);
- Delter Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens, Rulex A shutter, 1–200, B, T speeds (¥65);
- Quick[4] Anastigmat 75/3.5 lens, Rulex A shutter, 1–200, B, T speeds (¥78).
In a later advertisement dated June 1938[5], the camera is called Semi Victor (セミビクター). It is presented together with the Auto Victor rigid model and the Victor Six is announced as coming soon. The list of variants has the following addition:
- Quick Anastigmat 75/2.9 lens, Rulex A shutter, 1–200, B, T speeds (¥95).
The Victor Six (ビクターシックス), released in 1938, is a 6×6 version with a body release. The front leather embossed VICTOR SIX. Two versions exist, one has red window advance like the Semi Victor, the other has an auto-stop film advance device with an exposure counter. This device is externally similar to the one mounted on the Plaubel rollfilm backs and on the Roll-Op II camera.
The Semi Victor received a body release at the beginning of 1939.[6] In an advertisement dated January 1939[7], the following list of models is offered:
- Semi Victor, Delter Anastigmat 75/4.5, Rulex B shutter (¥63);
- Semi Victor, Delter Anastigmat 75/4.5, Rulex A shutter (¥70);
- Semi Victor, Quick Anastigmat 75/3.5, Rulex A shutter (¥83);
- Victor Six without exposure counter, Delter Anastigmat 75/4.5, Rulex B shutter (¥65);
- Victor Six without exposure counter, Delter Anastigmat 75/4.5, Rulex A shutter (¥73);
- Victor Six without exposure counter, Quick Anastigmat 75/3.5, Rulex A shutter (¥85);
- Victor Six with exposure counter, Delter Anastigmat 75/4.5, Rulex B shutter (¥70);
- Victor Six with exposure counter, Delter Anastigmat 75/4.5, Rulex A shutter (¥78);
- Victor Six with exposure counter, Quick Anastigmat 75/3.5, Rulex A shutter (¥90).
In mid 1939, the Victor folders were replaced by the similar Condor folders. However a "Semi Victor II" is said to be advertised by Ueno Shōten in the October 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, with an Adler f/4.5 lens and a Rulex B shutter.[8] The lens could indicate that there is a relationship with some of the Adler models by Riken.
Notes
- ↑ Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 339.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 84.
- ↑ Name inferred from the katakana デルター and reported in McKeown, p. 945.
- ↑ Name inferred from the katakana クイック appearing in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 339. The October 1937 advertisement reads クツク, a probable typo.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 85.
- ↑ Date: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 339.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 84.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 339.
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 188–9 and 191. (See also the advertisement for item 190.)
- 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. 945.