Difference between revisions of "Aram Six"
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (Nakagawa founder of Showa) |
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) m (oops) |
||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
| − | The camera was designed by Nakagawa Kenzō (中川幹三), who created | + | The camera was designed by Nakagawa Kenzō (中川幹三), who created the [[Leotax]] rangefinder camera and founded [[Shōwa Kōgaku]] in 1938.<REF> {{Sugiyama}}, pp. 47 and 76. </REF> It was presented as the '''Aram Automat''' (アラム・オートマット) in various Japanese magazines in the summer of 1954.<REF> Articles and advertisements listed in {{Kokusan}}, p. 345. </REF> Various advanced features were announced, such as automatic stop film advance and double exposure prevention, close focusing ability down to 60cm, automatic parallax correction and coupling of the shutter cocking to the film advance. It was said that the camera mechanisms were protected by a dozen of patents (十数ヵ所の特許).<REF> Article in the July 1954 issue of ''[[Nihon Camera]],'' quoted in Kuno, p. 96 of {{KKS}} no. 8. </REF> |
Of these features, only the close focusing ability was retained for the first production version described above, called the Aram Six or Aram Six I. The company [[Aram|Aram Kōgaku Kenkyūjo]] had ties with [[Konica|Konishiroku]], working as a subcontractor for the auto-stop advance mechanism of the [[Pearl (4.5×6 folders)|Pearl III]].<REF> {{Sugiyama}}, p. 76, in the Japanese text only. </REF> This certainly explains the choice of the Konitor lens and Konirapid-S shutter. More advanced versions were planned as the Aram Six II and Aram Six III, incorporating auto-stop advance and an unknown number of other features.<REF> Kuno, p. 97 of {{KKS}} no. 8; {{Sugiyama}}, p. 76, in the Japanese text only. </REF> Nakagawa asked [[Konica|Konishiroku]] to distribute the camera but the company refused and the Aram Six was finally distributed by Rokuwa.<REF> Kuno, p. 97 of {{KKS}} no. 8. </REF> It is said that this delayed the camera's market release, making it appear too late, at a time when 35mm cameras were displacing the antiquated folders.<REF> {{Sugiyama}}, p. 76. </REF> It is said that only 100 examples of the Aram Six were made. | Of these features, only the close focusing ability was retained for the first production version described above, called the Aram Six or Aram Six I. The company [[Aram|Aram Kōgaku Kenkyūjo]] had ties with [[Konica|Konishiroku]], working as a subcontractor for the auto-stop advance mechanism of the [[Pearl (4.5×6 folders)|Pearl III]].<REF> {{Sugiyama}}, p. 76, in the Japanese text only. </REF> This certainly explains the choice of the Konitor lens and Konirapid-S shutter. More advanced versions were planned as the Aram Six II and Aram Six III, incorporating auto-stop advance and an unknown number of other features.<REF> Kuno, p. 97 of {{KKS}} no. 8; {{Sugiyama}}, p. 76, in the Japanese text only. </REF> Nakagawa asked [[Konica|Konishiroku]] to distribute the camera but the company refused and the Aram Six was finally distributed by Rokuwa.<REF> Kuno, p. 97 of {{KKS}} no. 8. </REF> It is said that this delayed the camera's market release, making it appear too late, at a time when 35mm cameras were displacing the antiquated folders.<REF> {{Sugiyama}}, p. 76. </REF> It is said that only 100 examples of the Aram Six were made. | ||
Revision as of 11:57, 15 May 2007
The Aram Six (アラムシックス) is a Japanese 6×6 folding camera with a coupled rangefinder, made by Aram Kōgaku Kenkyūjo.
Contents
Description
The Aram Six is a horizontal folder. The top housing contains a combined range- and viewfinder. The common eyepiece is offset to the left, as seen by the photographer. The viewfinder has an internal frame for 4.5×6cm exposures and parallax marks.[1] There is an accessory shoe in the middle of the top housing.
The lens standard moves back and forth for focusing. This is driven by a thumbwheel placed at the right end of the top plate, graduated in feet from infinity to 2.2ft.[2] The set distance is visible through a hole in the top housing, surrounded by depth-of-field indications. The front standard automatically comes back to the infinity position when the folding bed is closed.
The body release is next to the distance wheel. The advance knob is at the left end of the top plate. It has an arrow to indicate the winding direction. The back is hinged to the right and contains two red windows to control film advance: one at the top for 4.5×6cm exposures and the other at the centre for 6×6cm exposures. The red window covers are accordingly marked 4.5X6 and 6X6.
The name Aram Six and the serial number are engraved over the top housing.
The lens is a three-element Konitor 75mm f/3.5 made by Konishiroku.[3] The shutter is a Konirapid-S giving B, 1–500 speeds, made by Konishiroku too.
History
The camera was designed by Nakagawa Kenzō (中川幹三), who created the Leotax rangefinder camera and founded Shōwa Kōgaku in 1938.[4] It was presented as the Aram Automat (アラム・オートマット) in various Japanese magazines in the summer of 1954.[5] Various advanced features were announced, such as automatic stop film advance and double exposure prevention, close focusing ability down to 60cm, automatic parallax correction and coupling of the shutter cocking to the film advance. It was said that the camera mechanisms were protected by a dozen of patents (十数ヵ所の特許).[6]
Of these features, only the close focusing ability was retained for the first production version described above, called the Aram Six or Aram Six I. The company Aram Kōgaku Kenkyūjo had ties with Konishiroku, working as a subcontractor for the auto-stop advance mechanism of the Pearl III.[7] This certainly explains the choice of the Konitor lens and Konirapid-S shutter. More advanced versions were planned as the Aram Six II and Aram Six III, incorporating auto-stop advance and an unknown number of other features.[8] Nakagawa asked Konishiroku to distribute the camera but the company refused and the Aram Six was finally distributed by Rokuwa.[9] It is said that this delayed the camera's market release, making it appear too late, at a time when 35mm cameras were displacing the antiquated folders.[10] It is said that only 100 examples of the Aram Six were made.
Notes
- ↑ Inside the viewfinder: Kuno, p. 96 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 8.
- ↑ 2.2ft: Kuno, p. 96 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 8.
- ↑ Three elements: Kuno, p. 96 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 8.
- ↑ Sugiyama, pp. 47 and 76.
- ↑ Articles and advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 345.
- ↑ Article in the July 1954 issue of Nihon Camera, quoted in Kuno, p. 96 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 8.
- ↑ Sugiyama, p. 76, in the Japanese text only.
- ↑ Kuno, p. 97 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 8; Sugiyama, p. 76, in the Japanese text only.
- ↑ Kuno, p. 97 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 8.
- ↑ Sugiyama, p. 76.
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. Item 368. (No advertisement is reproduced for the Aram Six.)
- Kuno Mikio (久野幹雄). "Aramu shikkusu no nazo" (アラムシックスの謎, Aram Six mystery). 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. 96–7.
- 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. 72.
- Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten (思い出のスプリングカメラ展, Exhibition of beloved self-erecting cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P. 8.
- 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. Item 1270.
