Adler

This page deals with the 4.5×6 models. See also the Adler Four (4×4 model), the Adler Six (6×6 model) and the Vest Adler, name variant of the 4×6.5 Vest Olympic.

The Adler (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. Several 4.5×6cm models exist, all of them vertical folding cameras.

Original documents

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. The advertisement was inserted by Asahi Bussan, the distributor of the Olympic, and it does not mention Riken.

Advertisement for the Olympic cameras in The British Journal of Photography Almanac 1938, certainly dated late 1937. (Image rights)

A 1938 document by Riken lists the following Adler cameras:

• Semi Adler (¥60);
• Adler A (¥90);
• Adler B (¥65);
• Adler III (¥75);
• Adler IIII (¥65);
• Adler VI (f/4.5: ¥90, f/3.5: ¥100).

It is said that the various Adler models listed in this document were sold by distance sale, with 10-month credit loans.

The Adler A, Adler B and Adler III were also featured in the new products column of the October 1938 issue of Asahi Camera, where they were perhaps attributed to Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō.

The Adler cameras were mentioned in an advertisement dated February 1939 for ¥60 and more.

The official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941 has many models:

• Semi Adler (¥62);
• Adler A (¥85);
• Adler AII at two places (¥85 and ¥98);
• Adler B (¥74);
• Adler C (¥85).

The Adler CII was offered in an advertisement by Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō in the January 1941 issue of Asahi Camera, 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. The latter feature is known on the BB Semi First, and perhaps appears on the U Semi First as well. The Adler CII might be a rebadged variant of these cameras.

The official price list dated November 1941 has an Adler B and an Adler CII.

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.

Rebadged Collex

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.

At least one of these cameras is known with the name Adler A embossed in the front leather. 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). 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).

According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, probably based on the October 1938 article in Asahi Camera, the Adler A has a tubular finder, a Ukas 75/3.5 lens and a Peerless shutter (T, B, 5–200). The lens name was probably switched at some time from Ukas (the same lens name as the Olympic cameras) to Adler.

Ikonta copy

Adler B (Ikonta copy). Picture courtesy of Dave Metcalfe. (Image rights)

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.

Three examples have been observed, all of them having a Perfekt shutter (5–250, B, T) by Neumann & Heilemann and an Adler Anastigmat f/4.5 lens. One of them, pictured in this page, has the name Adler B embossed in the front leather.

According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, probably based on the October 1938 article in Asahi Camera, the Adler B has a body release, a Ukas 75/4.5 lens and a Fiskus shutter (T, B, 25–150).

Baldax copies

Semi Adler (Baldax copy). From The British Photography Journal Almanac 1938. (Image rights)

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 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 NEW OLYMPIC at the top and has the AB logo of Asahi Bussan on the right, the same as on some Olympic models.

A similar camera has been observed with a body release, a newer back latch with no handle and a different ADLER embossing. 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 New Semi Condor.

Another copy of the large Baldax model has been observed with the name ADLER C embossed in the front leather. 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 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.

The example described in this page at Photoethnography reportedly has the same lens and shutter equipment, and is probably identical.

A copy of the small Baldax model (for #00 size shutters) is pictured in Sugiyama as an "Adler III". 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.

According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, 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). Tanaka says that the Adler III is a copy of the large Baldax model (for #0 size shutters), rebadged version of the Semi Victor, with an Adler 75/4.5 lens and a Peerless shutter (T, B, 5–150).

Perle copy

At least one Adler camera is known with a body copied on the Welta Perle, certainly provided by Kuribayashi, the same as on the Semi First and First Six. 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.

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.

As said above, a January 1941 advertisement for the Adler CII mentions a retractible body release, a feature which might correspond to the U Semi First by Kuribayashi.

Conclusion

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 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), Adler IIII (a rebadged Rosen Four) and Adler VI (a rebadged 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 Semi Victor to the 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 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.

Bibliography

Original documents

• "Kamera no kōtei kakaku kanpō happyō" (カメラの公定価格官報発表, Official announcement of the set prices of the cameras), November 1941. Extract of a table listing Japanese camera production and setting the retail prices, reproduced in "Bebī Semi Fāsuto 'Kore ha bebī wo nanotta semi-ki da'" (ベビーセミファースト"これはベビーを名乗ったセミ機だ", Baby Semi First, 'this is a Semi camera called Baby'), an article by Furukawa Yasuo (古川保男) in Camera Collectors' News no. 277 (July 2000). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. P. 27. Type 3, sections 4A and 5B.
• "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku" (国産写真機の公定価格, Set prices of the Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of October 25, 1940 and setting the retail prices from December 10, 1940. Published in Asahi Camera January 1941 and reproduced in 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. Pp.108—9. Type 3, sections 3A, 4A, 5A and 7A.
• 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.

Recent sources

• 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 4–7. (See also the advertisement for item 53.)
• 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.828.
• 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 1028–30.
• Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Rikō kamera no nagare" (リコーカメラの流れ, Evolution of the Ricoh cameras). 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.14, October 1989. No ISBN number. Rikō kamera no subete (リコーカメラのすべて, special issue on Ricoh). Pp.8–11.
• 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). 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.14, October 1989. No ISBN number. Rikō kamera no subete (リコーカメラのすべて, special issue on Ricoh). Pp.16–9.
• 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"). 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.8, September 1986. No ISBN number. Supuringu kamera (スプリングカメラ, special issue on spring cameras). Pp.76–80.

Links

In English:

• Adler C at Photoethnography

In Japanese:

• Pages from the Ricoh camera list of the Ricoh official website (copied in this page of the Kitamura Camera Museum):
  • Adler A & B
  • Adler III
  • Adler CII
  • an article about Riken wartime camera names
• Adler A and other Adler in a page of the AJCC website
• Adler B page and repair notes at Japan Family Camera
• Advertisement for the Riken camera range (on the left) published in the 26 February 1939 issue of Sunday Mainichi, reproduced in the camera company page of the Gochamaze website