Adler

Template:120 folder Japan The Adler was a series of folding cameras sold by Riken from 1938. According to the Ricoh corporate site, they were not made by Riken itself but bought to other manufacturers (probably Proud). Most Adler models were vertically folding 4.5x6 format cameras, this page only deals with them. See also the Adler IV (4x4 model) and the Adler Six (6x6 model).

The Adler A and Adler B had scissor struts. They both had a rigid optical finder and a 75/3.5 triplet lens, called Adler or Ukas (like the lens of the Olympic). The Adler A had a Peerless T-B-5-200 everset shutter and the Adler B a Fiscus T-B-25-50-100 everset shutter according to Ricoh's site. A page at Japan Family Camera presents what they call an Adler B with a Neumann & Heilemann Rulex shutter T-B-5-200.

The Adler III is said to be a copy of the Balda Baldax, with a 75/4.5 Adler triplet lens and an everset Peerless shutter #0 size, with speeds T-B-5-150. It had a folding optical finder on the left of the body. However the picture at Ricoh's site does not show the typical Baldax struts but other flimsier struts, looking like the struts on the Kuribayashi Semi First. McKeown cites the Adler III with 75/4.5 Ukas Anastigmat lens and Heil shutter T-B-5-200.

The Adler CII had better specs, with a body release, a Peerless T-B-5-200 cocking shutter and a 75/3.5 Adler triplet lens. The folding optical finder was on the other side of the body, and the struts are typical of the Baldax.

An Adler CII with the Peerless shutter and a 75/3.5 Solar lens is described at the photoethnography site. In a 1938 ad in the British Photography Journal Almanac, a Semi Adler is advertised, looking the same as the Adler CII but with finder on the left, with a Ukas Anastigmat f/4.5 lens and a 25-50-100-150-T-B shutter marked New Olympic, as on the Olympic models. The ad does not mention Riken, only Asahi Bussan, the sales company of the Olympic cameras.

McKeown illustrates the Adler with a picture of yet another body, looking very much like an Ikonta 4.5x6, with a Neumann & Heilemann Perfekt shutter. It is maybe related to the Fujimoto Ikonta copies, like the Semi Prince or Semi Sport.

Note: The name "Adler" were 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.

Links

Ricoh corporate site:

• Ricoh camera list, with:
  • Adler A & B
  • Adler CII
  • Adler III
• Riken wartime camera names: featured article

Other:

• Adler C at photoethnography
• Adler B at Japan Family Camera
• Adler B repair notes at Japan Family Camera