Weha plate folders
The Weha (ウエハー) plate folders were distributed in the early 1930s by Yamamoto Shashinki-ten, owner of the Weha brand. Yamamoto later distributed the Weha Chrome Six and Weha Six made by Ehira, but the plate folders were probably not made by the same company.
See also the Weha Idea, a rebadged version of the Idea by Konishiroku.
Wooden body
The early models have a wooden body. Two surviving examples have been observed so far, recognized by the name WEHA embossed in the leather handle, but they have a different body.
The presumably earliest one has split folding struts, vertical and horizontal movement ability, a small focusing wheel on the photographer's right, a folding brilliant finder and a wireframe finder attached on two points.[1] It has an Ibsor shutter (1–125, T, B) and a Heliostar Anastigmat München 130mm f/4.5 lens. The focal length probably indicates that it takes tefuda (8×10.5cm) plates.
The presumably later one is in 6.5×9cm format.[2] It has plain folding struts (similar to those of the Kokka), no movement ability, a focusing wheel on the right, a rigid brilliant finder and a different wireframe finder attached on one point. It might have the same handle lugs as the previous example. This particular example has a rim-set Compur shutter (T, B, 1–250) and an Anastigmat Trioplan 10.5cm f/4.5.[3]
Metal body
The later models have a metal body and plain folding struts with a peculiar shape. An advertisement dated April 1933 presents the metal Weha Light B (ウエハーライトカメラB型) in daimeishi size (6.5×9cm), with double extension bellows.[4] The picture shows a brilliant finder and wireframe finder, and perhaps a focusing wormscrew, but no bubble lever. The camera was supplied with three plate holders and one film pack holder. The following options are listed, all with a Heliostar lens:
- f/6.3, Koilos, ¥35;
- f/6.3, Neuheil B, ¥45;
- f/4.5, Koilos, ¥45;
- f/4.5, Neuheil B, ¥50;
- f/6.3, Neuheil A, ¥55;
- f/4.5, Neuheil A, ¥60.
The same advertisement also presents the Weha Idea (ウエハーアイデヤカメラ), a single extension daimeishi model manufactured by Rokuoh-sha, certainly corresponding to a rebadged Idea.
Three surviving examples have been observed so far with a body similar to that of the Weha Light B, except for the focusing control. All have a plain rectangular eyepiece. for the wireframe finder and a bubble lever on the side of the brilliant finder. The simplest example has a Vario shutter (25, 50, 100, B, T) and a lens reported as a Weha-Aplanat 105/6.8; no focus control is visible and the camera is perhaps focused by manually moving the front standard.[5] Another has a Neuheil shutter made by Neumann & Heilemann and a Heliostar Anastigmat München 105mm f/6.3 lens; again no focus control is visible.[6] The third has a Lidex shutter (T, B, 5–200) by Molta, a Heliostar Anastigmat München 105mm f/4.5 lens and a focusing wheel on the photographer's right.[7]
Another lens and shutter unit has been reported as coming from a Weha Light.[8] It consists of an Anastigmat Wekar 10.5cm f/4.5 lens made by Kenngott mounted on a Pronto (25, 50, 100, B, T) shutter.
McKeown attributes the "Weha Light" to Ehira, certainly by mistake, and lists a "Light" plate folder in a separate entry.[9] The latter is reported as a copy of the Maximar, with a Heliostar 105/4.5 lens and a Neuheil shutter (25–150), and certainly corresponds to the Weha Light too.
Notes
- ↑ Example observed in an online auction.
- ↑ Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 1264.
- ↑ Shutter speed and lens name reported in Sugiyama, item 1264.
- ↑ Advertisement published in the April 1st, 1933 issue of Ōsaka Shashin Shinbun, reproduced in Tanimura, p.97 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.
- ↑ Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 1265.
- ↑ Example observed in an online auction.
- ↑ Example pictured in this page at Asacame.
- ↑ See this page at ksmt.com.
- ↑ McKeown, p.255 (Weha Light) and p.622 (Light).
Bibliography
- 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). Pp.255 and 622.
- 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. Items 1264–5.
- Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Neumann & Heilemann: kieta ashiato, Minoruta setsuritsu to sono ato no karera wo otte" (Neumann & Heilemann 消えた足跡・ミノルタ設立とその後の彼等を追って, On the traces of Neumann & Heilemann at the founding of Minolta and afterwards.) Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.96–9.
Links
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