Difference between revisions of "Auto Keef"
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (notes and biblio, rearranged the links, work needed on the article itself) |
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (about the first model, the rest is still bad so I put the WIP banner) |
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{{Japanese Baby and Four}} | {{Japanese Baby and Four}} | ||
| − | The '''Auto Keef''' (オートキーフ) | + | {{WIP}} |
| + | The '''Auto Keef''' (オートキーフ) is a Japanese coupled rangefinder camera taking 4×4cm pictures on 127 film. It was made from 1941 by [[Kokusaku|Kokusaku Seikō]] and was advertised until 1945 and again in 1946–7. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == General description == | ||
| + | The Auto Keef has a rigid body and a telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly. This telescopic tube is mounted on a focusing helical, coupled to the rangefinder by a pinion. The range- and viewfinder is combined in a single eyepiece and is contained under a top housing. The square viewfinder window is in the middle. The camera has auto-stop film advance, a necessary feature because the paperback of [[127 film]] is not marked for 4×4cm exposures. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == First model == | ||
| + | The '''first model''' is only known from an advertisement dated September 1941 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}<REF> Published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 65. </REF>, perhaps depicting a prototype. The advance knob is on the right and the round rangefinder window is on the left (as seen by the photographer holding the camera). It seems that the name ''KEEF'' is engraved above the rangefinder. There is no accessory shoe and the position of the exposure counter is unclear. The rangefinder coupling pinion is on the right (same convention) and it is apparent and not hidden under a housing. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The release button is placed atop a large housing protruding on the right (same convention) of the shutter casing. The lens offered in the advertisement is a [[K.O.L.]] Keef 60/2.8 and the shutter gives 1–500 pictures. The advertisement wears the name of the maker and the name of the distributor Kazenderu Shōkai (カゼンデル商会)<REF> This company probably used a different Roman name than Kazenderu, perhaps "Casendell" or something similar. </REF>. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Second model == | ||
| + | === Advertising === | ||
| + | The top housing, marked ''Auto Keef'', covered the combined range and viewfinder, with the square viewfinder window at the center and the second image round window at the right. There was an accessory shoe offset to the left and the small exposure counter window at the extreme right. The rangefinder coupling mechanism was covered by a tortuous plate, with ''PAT. P.'' markings and the ''Keef'' logo repeated twice. The shutter release was mounted at the bottom right of that plate. | ||
A 1942 ad (shown [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki.htm here], from Asahi Graph, 23/9/1942 issue) listed two models: | A 1942 ad (shown [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki.htm here], from Asahi Graph, 23/9/1942 issue) listed two models: | ||
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On the ad's picture, the shutter plate is marked ''KOKU SAKU'' on top and ''KEEF'' at the bottom. | On the ad's picture, the shutter plate is marked ''KOKU SAKU'' on top and ''KEEF'' at the bottom. | ||
| + | === Actual examples === | ||
Observed lens/shutter combinations: | Observed lens/shutter combinations: | ||
* K.O.L. Keef 6cm f/3.5 lens (same handwritten style K.O.L. marking as a lens observed on a [[Gaica]]) & T-B-1-300 shutter (300 at left) marked ''Kokusaku'' (for sale at a Japanese dealer) | * K.O.L. Keef 6cm f/3.5 lens (same handwritten style K.O.L. marking as a lens observed on a [[Gaica]]) & T-B-1-300 shutter (300 at left) marked ''Kokusaku'' (for sale at a Japanese dealer) | ||
Revision as of 10:36, 4 January 2007
The Auto Keef (オートキーフ) is a Japanese coupled rangefinder camera taking 4×4cm pictures on 127 film. It was made from 1941 by Kokusaku Seikō and was advertised until 1945 and again in 1946–7.
Contents
General description
The Auto Keef has a rigid body and a telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly. This telescopic tube is mounted on a focusing helical, coupled to the rangefinder by a pinion. The range- and viewfinder is combined in a single eyepiece and is contained under a top housing. The square viewfinder window is in the middle. The camera has auto-stop film advance, a necessary feature because the paperback of 127 film is not marked for 4×4cm exposures.
First model
The first model is only known from an advertisement dated September 1941 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi[1], perhaps depicting a prototype. The advance knob is on the right and the round rangefinder window is on the left (as seen by the photographer holding the camera). It seems that the name KEEF is engraved above the rangefinder. There is no accessory shoe and the position of the exposure counter is unclear. The rangefinder coupling pinion is on the right (same convention) and it is apparent and not hidden under a housing.
The release button is placed atop a large housing protruding on the right (same convention) of the shutter casing. The lens offered in the advertisement is a K.O.L. Keef 60/2.8 and the shutter gives 1–500 pictures. The advertisement wears the name of the maker and the name of the distributor Kazenderu Shōkai (カゼンデル商会)[2].
Second model
Advertising
The top housing, marked Auto Keef, covered the combined range and viewfinder, with the square viewfinder window at the center and the second image round window at the right. There was an accessory shoe offset to the left and the small exposure counter window at the extreme right. The rangefinder coupling mechanism was covered by a tortuous plate, with PAT. P. markings and the Keef logo repeated twice. The shutter release was mounted at the bottom right of that plate.
A 1942 ad (shown here, from Asahi Graph, 23/9/1942 issue) listed two models:
- Auto Keef I, K.O.L. Keef 60/3.5 lens, 1-200 shutter (223 yen)
- Auto Keef II, K.O.L. Keef 60/2.8 lens, 1-500 shutter (264 yen)
On the ad's picture, the shutter plate is marked KOKU SAKU on top and KEEF at the bottom.
Actual examples
Observed lens/shutter combinations:
- K.O.L. Keef 6cm f/3.5 lens (same handwritten style K.O.L. marking as a lens observed on a Gaica) & T-B-1-300 shutter (300 at left) marked Kokusaku (for sale at a Japanese dealer)
- body s/n 2961, lens reported as a Tokyo Kogaku Toko 50/3.5 s/n 52679 (focal length seems dubious) & T-B-1-250 shutter (250 at right) reported as a Keef II (Leski auction #191)
- body s/n 2234, lens reported as Tokyo Kogaku Toko 60/3.5 s/n 51828 & shutter reported as Keef Koku-Saku (Leski auction #223, #249 & #270)
Notes
- ↑ Published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 65.
- ↑ This company probably used a different Roman name than Kazenderu, perhaps "Casendell" or something similar.
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 56 and 470. (See also the picture on p. 14.)
- 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 3025.
Links
In English:
In Japanese:
- Auto Keef in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
- Prewar Japanese cameras using 127 film at Nekosan's website, the Auto Keef is in the middle of the picture
- Advertisements for the Auto Keef published in the 23 September 1942 and 27 January 1943 issues of Asahi Graph, reproduced in the Japanese camera page and the small format camera page of the Gochamaze website
