Ako folders
The company Ako Shōkai sold a 4.5×6 folder under three different names in 1941 and 1942.
Contents
Description
The Ako folders are copies of the Ikonta. There is a folding optical finder in the middle of the top plate, with a body release on the left and a folding bed release on the right, as seen by the photographer holding the camera horizontally. The advance knob is at the bottom right and the back is hinged to the left.
Variations
The Semi Ace (セミエース) was already listed in the Template:Kakaku1940 short compiled in October 1940, in four versions called "Semi Ace I" (¥62), "Semi Ace II" (¥62), "Semi Ace III" (¥62) and "Semi Ace IV" (¥62), with no further detail.[1] It was advertised in Japanese magazines from March 1941.[2] In a March 1942 advertisement,[3] it was offered with an Ako Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens and a 5–200, T, B shutter for ¥86. Kokusan kamera no rekishi mentions other lens names: メール (mēru) and Hitonar[4], and a shutter name: ダレチ (darechi), probably found in other advertisements.
The Semi Ako (セミアコー) was only advertised in December 1941.[5] There was a choice of two lens/shutter combinations:
- an Ako Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens and a 5–200, T, B shutter for ¥74;
- an Ako Anastigmat 75/3.5 lens and a 1–300, T, B shutter for ¥98.
The Semi Metax (セミメタックス) was advertised in 1942.[6] It was offered together with the Semi Ace in the March 1942 advertisement cited above,[7] with an Ako Anastigmat 75/3.5 lens and a 1–300, T, B shutter for ¥114.
Two authorized dealers are mentioned in the advertisements: Nihon Shōkai and Mizuno Shashinki-ten.
Notes
- ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 3, sections 3A, 4A, 6A, 7A.
- ↑ Advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 334.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 60 and 99.
- ↑ The Hitonar lens was made by Kajiro Kōgaku, later Gojō then Kokusaku.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 58. No other advertisement is listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 334.
- ↑ Advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 60 and 99.
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 3, 28 and 284.
- Template:Kakaku1940
The Ako folders are not listed in Sugiyama.