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| − | {{Japanese Semi prewar | + | {{disambig}} |
| − | |image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/358453265/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/358453265_e31cdb693c_m_d.jpg]<br>''Picture courtesy of Dave Metcalfe. {{with permission}}''
| + | The '''Adler''' trademark was introduced by [[Asahi Bussan]], and was used on cameras and lenses by its successor [[Asahi Bussan|Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō]] and the parent company [[Ricoh|Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō]] (predecessor of [[Ricoh]]). ''Adler'' is the German word for ''eagle''. |
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| − | ''This page deals with the 4.5×6 models. See also the [[Baby Rosen, Rosen Four and Adler Four|Adler Four]] (4×4 model), the [[Adler Six]] (6×6 model) and the [[Vest Alex and Vest Olympic|Vest Adler]], name variant of the 4×6.5 Vest Olympic.'' | |
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| − | The '''Adler'''<REF> The name "Adler" was clearly used to demonstrate Japan's alliance with Germany. During the war period, Riken often used such names (they also sold a [[Heil]] camera), or other "patriotic" names. </REF> (アドラー) are a series of folding cameras sold from late 1937 by [[Asahi Bussan]], then by Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō and its parent company Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō (predecessor of [[Ricoh]]). They were bought to various other manufacturers, and only the lenses and shutters were added by Asahi or Riken.<REF> Tanaka, p.16 of {{KKS}} no.14, and various pages of the Ricoh official website (listed below). </REF> Several 4.5×6cm models exist, all of them vertical folding cameras.
| + | * Adler cameras: |
| | + | ** [[Semi Adler and Adler III]] (4.5×6cm) |
| | + | ** [[Adler A]] (4.5×6cm) |
| | + | ** [[Adler B]] (4.5×6cm) |
| | + | ** [[Adler C]] (4.5×6cm) |
| | + | ** [[Baby Rosen, Rosen Four and Adler Four|Adler Four]] (4×4cm) |
| | + | ** [[Adler Six|Adler VI]] (6×6cm) |
| | + | ** [[Adler Six]] (6×6cm) |
| | + | ** [[Vest Alex and Vest Olympic|Vest Adler]] (4×6.5cm) |
| | + | * Adler lenses on other cameras: |
| | + | ** Adler Anastigmat 7.5cm f/4.5 on the [[Victor folders|Semi Victor]] |
| | + | ** Adler Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 on the [[Semi First and First Six|BB Semi First]] |
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| − | == Original documents ==
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| − | The earliest mention of an Adler found so far is in the 1938 issue of the ''British Photography Journal Almanac'', certainly published in late 1937.<REF> Advertisement for the Olympic and Semi Adler, published in the 1938 issue of the ''British Photography Journal Almanac'', pp.694–5. </REF> The advertisement was inserted by [[Asahi Bussan]], the distributor of the [[Olympic]], and it does not mention [[Ricoh|Riken]].
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| − | {| class="plainlinks" align="center" width=550px style="text-align: center;"
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| − | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2155563671/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2176/2155563671_38d3958310_d.jpg]
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| − | || ''Advertisement for the Olympic cameras in ''The British Journal of Photography Almanac 1938'', certainly dated late 1937. {{public domain UK}}''
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| − | A 1938 document by [[Ricoh|Riken]] lists the following Adler cameras:<REF> "Riken kontserun geppō" (理研コンツエルン月報), quoted in Tanaka, p.16 of {{KKS}} no.14. </REF>
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| − | * Semi Adler (¥60);
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| − | * Adler A (¥90);
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| − | * Adler B (¥65);
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| − | * Adler III (¥75);
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| − | * [[Baby Rosen, Rosen Four and Adler Four|Adler IIII]] (¥65);
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| − | * [[Adler Six|Adler VI]] (f/4.5: ¥90, f/3.5: ¥100).
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| − | It is said that the various Adler models listed in this document were sold by distance sale, with 10-month credit loans.<REF> Tanaka, p.16 of {{KKS}} no.14. </REF>
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| − | The Adler A, Adler B and Adler III were also featured in the new products column of the October 1938 issue of {{ACA}}, where they were perhaps attributed to [[Asahi Bussan|Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō]].<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.334, attributes the Adler A, B and III to Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō, apparently after the October 1938 article. </REF>
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| − | The Adler cameras were mentioned in an advertisement dated February 1939 for ¥60 and more.<REF> [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/R1.jpg Advertisement] published in ''[[Sunday Mainichi]]'' (26 February 1939), reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. </REF>
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| − | The official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941 has many models:<REF> {{Kakaku0141_short}}, type 3, sections 3A, 4A, 5A, 7A. </REF>
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| − | * Semi Adler (¥62);
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| − | * Adler A (¥85);
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| − | * Adler AII at two places (¥85 and ¥98);
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| − | * Adler B (¥74);
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| − | * Adler C (¥85).
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| − | The Adler CII was offered in an advertisement by [[Ricoh|Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō]] in the January 1941 issue of {{ACA}}, with a four-element 75/3.5 lens, T, B, 5–150 speeds and a body release which automatically retracts inside the body when the folding bed is closed.<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.65. </REF> The latter feature is known on the [[Semi First and First Six|BB Semi First]], and perhaps appears on the [[Semi First and First Six|U Semi First]] as well. The Adler CII might be a rebadged variant of these cameras.
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| − | The official price list dated November 1941 has an Adler B and an Adler CII.<REF> {{Kakaku1141_short}}, type 3, sections 4A and 5B. </REF>
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| − | It seems that none of these documents shows a picture of the Adler models. The descriptions below are based on the observed surviving examples. It would be logical that the various names correspond to the different bodies, but nothing is clearly known. It might be that the model names and prices were dictated by the lens and shutter equipment, mounted on whichever body was available.
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| − | == Rebadged Collex ==
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| − | Some Adler cameras are rebadged versions of the [[Collex]]. They have scissor struts inspired by the [[Zeh]] [[Goldi]] 3×4 camera, a tubular optical finder and two red windows in the back, protected by sliding covers, to control the film advance.
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| − | At least one of these cameras is known with the name ''Adler A'' embossed in the front leather.<REF> Example pictured in Tanaka, p.17 of {{KKS}} no.14. </REF> It has a Peerless shutter and the speeds are engraved on the rim in the order 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, B, T. The lens is reported as an Adler Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5. Another example is known with the same lens and an Automat shutter (5–150, B, T).<REF> Example pictured in {{SUG}}, item 1028, called "Adler Semi". The leather covering is probably not original and has no inscription. </REF> A third example is known with the same lens and a [[Rulex]] shutter (5–200, B, T) by [[Neumann & Heilemann]], with the late type of shutter plate (see [[Rulex]]).<REF> Example pictured in [http://rd2h-ari.hp.infoseek.co.jp/JA_ADLER_B_PIC.htm this page at Japan Family Camera], called "Adler B" for no apparent reason. </REF>
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| − | According to {{Kokusan}}, probably based on the October 1938 article in {{ACA}}, the Adler A has a tubular finder, a Ukas 75/3.5 lens and a Peerless shutter (T, B, 5–200).<REF name="Kokusan 334"> {{Kokusan}}, p.334. [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/adler.html This page] of the Ricoh official website disagrees on various points, but it does not seem very reliable on the Adler models. </REF> The lens name was probably switched at some time from Ukas (the same lens name as the [[Olympic]] cameras) to Adler.
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| − | == Ikonta copy ==
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| − | {| class="plainlinks floatleft" style="text-align: center;"
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| − | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/358453265/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/358453265_e31cdb693c_m_d.jpg]
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| − | || ''Adler B (Ikonta copy).''<br>''Picture courtesy of Dave Metcalfe. {{with permission}}''
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| − | |}
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| − | Some Adler cameras are [[Ikonta]] copies. They have a folding optical finder, a body release and an advance key. They might be rebadged [[Semi Lucky]], supplied by [[Fujimoto]].<REF> This is suggested in Tanaka, p.16 of {{KKS}} no.14. </REF>
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| − | Three examples have been observed, all of them having a [[Perfect|Perfekt]] shutter (5–250, B, T) by [[Neumann & Heilemann]] and an Adler Anastigmat f/4.5 lens.<REF> Example pictured in {{SUG}}, item 1029, example pictured in {{MK}}, p.828, and example pictured in this page. </REF> One of them, pictured in this page, has the name ''Adler B'' embossed in the front leather.
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| − | According to {{Kokusan}}, probably based on the October 1938 article in {{ACA}}, the Adler B has a body release, a Ukas 75/4.5 lens and a Fiskus shutter (T, B, 25–150).<REF name="Kokusan 334" />
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| − | {{br}}
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| − | == Baldax copies ==
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| − | {| class="plainlinks floatright" width=450px style="text-align: center;"
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| − | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2155634223/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2155634223_9a22980831_d.jpg]
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| − | || ''Semi Adler (Baldax copy). From ''The British Photography Journal Almanac 1938''. {{public domain UK}}''
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| − | The camera advertised under the name '''Semi Adler''' in ''The British Photography Journal Almanac 1938'' is a copy of the large [[Baldax]] model. It might be a rebadged version of the [[Victor folders|Semi Victor]]. It has a folding optical finder placed to the left (as seen by the photographer holding the camera vertically), opposite the film advance, and it has no body release. The name ''Adler'' is embossed in the front leather. The lens is a Ukas f/4.5 and the shutter, advertised as "Olympic System", gives T, B, 150, 100, 50, 25 speeds. The shutter plate is inscribed ''N<small>EW</small> O<small>LYMPIC</small>'' at the top and has the ''AB'' logo of [[Asahi Bussan]] on the right, the same as on some [[Olympic]] models.
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| − | A similar camera has been observed with a body release, a newer back latch with no handle and a different ''ADLER'' embossing.<REF> Example observed in an online auction. </REF> It has an Adler Anastigmat 7.5cm f/4.5 lens and a [[Rulex]] shutter (5–200, B, T) by [[Neumann & Heilemann]], with the late type of shutter plate (see [[Rulex]]). It might be a rebadged [[Condor folders|New Semi Condor]].
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| − | Another copy of the large [[Baldax]] model has been observed with the name ''ADLER C'' embossed in the front leather.<REF> Example pictured in Tanaka, p.17 of {{KKS}} no.14 and p.79 of {{KKS}} no.8. The same picture is reproduced in small size in [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/adlerCII.html this page] of the Ricoh official website, where the camera is called "Adler CII" for no apparent reason. </REF> Its body release and folding optical finder are placed to the right (as seen by the photographer holding the camera vertically), on the same side as the advance knob. This arrangement is the reverse of the Baldax and most Japanese copies, but is the same as on the [[Semi Rody]], of which the Adler C is perhaps a rebadged variant. On the observed example, the lens is a Solar 7.5cm f/3.5, engraved ''Solar 1:3.5 f=7.5cm Riken Kogaku Oozi N°26953'', probably because it was made in the Ōji (王子) plant of [[Ricoh|Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō]]. The shutter is a Peerless and the speeds are engraved on the rim in the order T, B, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200.
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| − | The example described in [http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?RikenAdlerC.html~mainFrame this page at Photoethnography] reportedly has the same lens and shutter equipment, and is probably identical.
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| − | A copy of the small [[Baldax]] model (for #00 size shutters) is pictured in {{Sugiyama}} as an "Adler III".<REF> {{Sugiyama}}, item 1030. </REF> It has a Ukas Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens and a Heil shutter (5–200, B, T). It does not seem to have any marking identifying it as an Adler, and it looks exactly the same as the original [[Heil]] camera, except for the shape of the standing leg. It might thus be a misidentified example of the Heil.
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| − | According to {{Kokusan}}, probably based on the October 1938 article in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'', the Adler III has a body release, an Adler 75/4.5 lens and a Peerless shutter (T, B, 5–200).<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.334. </REF> Tanaka says that the Adler III is a copy of the large [[Baldax]] model (for #0 size shutters), rebadged version of the [[Victor folders|Semi Victor]], with an Adler 75/4.5 lens and a Peerless shutter (T, B, 5–150).<REF> Tanaka, p.17 of {{KKS}} no.14. [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/adlerIII.html This page] of the Ricoh official website repeats the same information except for the shutter name Rulex, but it shows a picture of a Perle copy and is not very reliable. </REF>
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| − | == Perle copy ==
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| − | At least one Adler camera is known with a body copied on the [[Welta]] [[Perle]], certainly provided by [[Petri|Kuribayashi]], the same as on the [[Semi First and First Six]].<REF> Example pictured in Tanaka, p.17 of {{KKS}} no.14. A small version of the same picture is reproduced in [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/adlerIII.html this page] of the Ricoh official website, but it does not fit with the text of the page. </REF> It has round body edges and no body release, as the early Semi First and First Six. The name ''Adler'' is embossed in the front leather, the lens is an Adler Anastigmat 75/4.5 and the shutter is a Peerless, giving 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, B, T speeds engraved in that order.
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| − | This example oddly has the square-format viewfinder of the First Six. Its internal picture format is not known for sure, but it is probably 6×6. This camera might correspond to the Adler VI listed in the 1938 document cited above.
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| − | As said above, a January 1941 advertisement for the Adler CII mentions a retractible body release, a feature which might correspond to the [[Semi First and First Six|U Semi First]] by [[Petri|Kuribayashi]].
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| − | == Conclusion ==
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| − | From the documents and surviving examples presented above, a conjectural chronological sequence can be drawn. It seems that the earliest Adler model was the Semi Adler, a rebadged [[Victor folders|Semi Victor]] marketed by [[Asahi Bussan]] in late 1937. The next models would be the Adler A (a rebadged [[Collex]]), Adler B (a rebadged [[Semi Lucky]]), Adler III (an unknown model), [[Baby Rosen, Rosen Four and Adler Four|Adler IIII]] (a rebadged [[Baby Rosen, Rosen Four and Adler Four|Rosen Four]]) and Adler VI (a rebadged [[Semi First and First Six|First Six]]), all released in 1938. The Ukas lenses of the early examples would be gradually replaced by Adler lenses, and the Semi Adler would follow the evolution from the [[Victor folders|Semi Victor]] to the [[Condor folders|New Semi Condor]]. The Adler C (a rebadged [[Semi Rody]]) would be added later. The Adler A and C would disappear in 1941, replaced by the Adler CII (perhaps a rebadged [[Semi First and First Six|U Semi First]], or an evolution of the Adler C). A completely different [[Adler Six]] (perhaps a rebadged [[Pilot Six]]) would appear somewhere between 1940 and 1942.
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| − | == Notes ==
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| − | <references />
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| − | == Bibliography ==
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| − | === Original documents ===
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| − | * {{Kakaku1141}} Type 3, sections 4A and 5B.
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| − | * {{Kakaku0141}} Type 3, sections 3A, 4A, 5A and 7A.
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| − | * ''The British Journal Photographic Almanac 1938'', edited by Arthur J. Dalladay. London: Henri Greenwood & Co., Ltd. Publication date not indicated, certainly late 1937. Advertisement by [[Asahi Bussan]] on pp.694–5.
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| − | === Recent sources ===
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| − | * {{Showa10}} Items 4–7. (See also the advertisement for item 53.)
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| − | * {{McKeown12}} P.828.
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| − | * {{Zukan}} Items 1028–30.
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| − | * Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Rikō kamera no nagare" (リコーカメラの流れ, Evolution of the Ricoh cameras). {{KKS014}} Pp.8–11.
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| − | * Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Senzen no kamera 2: Supuringu kamera" (戦前のカメラ2・スプリングカメラ, Prewar cameras 2: folding cameras). {{KKS014}} Pp.16–9.
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| − | * Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Sonota no nihon no supuringu-kamera" (その他の日本のスプリングカメラ, "Other Japanese folding cameras"). {{KKS008}} Pp.76–80.
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| − | == Links ==
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| − | In English:
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| − | * [http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?RikenAdlerC.html~mainFrame Adler C] at [http://www.photoethnography.com/ Photoethnography]
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| − | In Japanese:
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| − | * Pages from the [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/index.html Ricoh camera list] of the [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/ Ricoh official website] (copied in [http://navi.kitamura.jp/maker/maker.do?cmd=maker&makerId=17&startYear=1946 this page of the Kitamura Camera Museum]):
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| − | ** [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/adler.html Adler A & B]
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| − | ** [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/adlerIII.html Adler III]
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| − | ** [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/adlerCII.html Adler CII]
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| − | ** [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera_lib/column/war-camera.html an article about Riken wartime camera names]
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| − | * [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/C_Photo_10.jpg Adler A] and [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/C_Photo_11.jpg other Adler] in [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/sub1.57.html a page] of the [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/ AJCC website]
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| − | * [http://rd2h-ari.hp.infoseek.co.jp/JA_ADLER_B_PIC.htm Adler B page] and [http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~rd2h-ari/BUN_ADLER_B.htm repair notes] at [http://rd2h-ari.hp.infoseek.co.jp/ Japan Family Camera]
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| − | * [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/R1.jpg Advertisement for the Riken camera range] (on the left) published in the 26 February 1939 issue of ''[[Sunday Mainichi]],'' reproduced in the [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki-c.htm camera company page] of the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]
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| − | {{riken prewar}}
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| − | [[Category: Japanese 4.5x6 viewfinder folding]]
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| | [[Category: Ricoh]] | | [[Category: Ricoh]] |
| − | [[Category: A]]
| + | [[Category:Bestiary]] |
| − | [[Category: Bestiary]] | |
| − | [[Category: 1938]]
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