Difference between revisions of "Auto Keef"

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* '''Auto Keef I''', [[K.O.L.]] Keef 60/3.5 lens, 1–200 speeds, {{yen|223|1942}};
 
* '''Auto Keef I''', [[K.O.L.]] Keef 60/3.5 lens, 1–200 speeds, {{yen|223|1942}};
 
* '''Auto Keef II''', K.O.L. Keef 60/2.8 lens, 1–500 speeds, {{yen|264|1942}}.
 
* '''Auto Keef II''', K.O.L. Keef 60/2.8 lens, 1–500 speeds, {{yen|264|1942}}.
 +
The price was quite hefty, the Auto Keef II costing nearly as much as the [[Auto Semi Minolta]].
 
In the pictures, the shutter plate is marked ''KOKU SAKU'' on top and probably ''KEEF'' at the bottom, but it is unsure which variant is illustrated. In all these advertisements, the names of two distributors are mentioned: Kazenderu Shōkai and [[Hattori|Hattori Tokei-ten]].
 
In the pictures, the shutter plate is marked ''KOKU SAKU'' on top and probably ''KEEF'' at the bottom, but it is unsure which variant is illustrated. In all these advertisements, the names of two distributors are mentioned: Kazenderu Shōkai and [[Hattori|Hattori Tokei-ten]].
  

Revision as of 23:12, 5 January 2007

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3.5×4 Kenko 35
4×4 Alma Four | Andes Four | Anny 44 | Arsen | Balnet Four | Bonny Four | Freude | Kalimar 44 | Auto Keef | Kraft | Letix | Mykey-4 | Olympic Four | Roico | Royal Senior | Seica | Terra Junior | Vero Four | Welmy 44 | Yashica Future 127
unknown
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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.

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 paper backing 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

Distinguishing features

The second model has a reversed configuration: the advance knob is on the left and the rangefinder window is on the right. There is an accessory shoe on the left of the viewfinder and the exposure counter window is at the right end of the top housing. There is a sliding button behind on the right, probably used to reset the exposure counter, and another button behind the accessory shoe, probably used to unlock film advance. The name Auto KEEF is engraved above the range- and viewfinder.

The rangefinder coupling mechanism is protected under a tortuous plate, with the KEEF logo over the coupling pinion and a PAT. P. marking (for "Patents Pending") under the rangefinder window.

It seems that the back is removable together with the bottom plate for film loading. It contains a single uncovered red window to set the position for the first exposure. (These features of the back are probably shared by the first model as well.)

The shutter release is mounted on a small casing attached to the shutter assembly. This casing also sports the same KEEF logo. This casing moves together with the shutter when the telescopic tube is extended and this is not a real body release, even if it was advertised as thus.

Wartime advertising

Advertisements dated September 1942, January and March 1943[3] offer the camera in two versions:

  • Auto Keef I, K.O.L. Keef 60/3.5 lens, 1–200 speeds, ¥223;
  • Auto Keef II, K.O.L. Keef 60/2.8 lens, 1–500 speeds, ¥264.

The price was quite hefty, the Auto Keef II costing nearly as much as the Auto Semi Minolta. In the pictures, the shutter plate is marked KOKU SAKU on top and probably KEEF at the bottom, but it is unsure which variant is illustrated. In all these advertisements, the names of two distributors are mentioned: Kazenderu Shōkai and Hattori Tokei-ten.

During the war, the Auto Keef was advertised at least until February 1945, a very late date.[4]

Postwar period

The Auto Keef was advertised again in 1946 and 1947, with the K.O.L. Keef 60/3.5 lens and a Kokusaku shutter giving T, B, 1–300 speeds.[5] An advertisement dated February 1946 only shows the company name Sanwa Shōkai. This company was probably selling remaining stocks, and it is very unlikely that the Auto Keef was manufactured at that date.

Actual examples

All the actual examples observed correspond to the second model. Some examples have the K.O.L. Keef 6cm f/3.5 and a shutter giving 300–1, B, T speeds.[6] This corresponds to the features reported by Kokusan kamera no rekishi for the camera advertised after the war and is probably a late evolution of the Auto Keef I.

Other reported lens and shutter combinations are as follows:

  • reported lens: Toko 50/3.5 by Tōkyō Kōgaku, reported shutter: Keef II, observed speeds: T, B, 1–250[7]
  • reported lens: Toko 50/3.5 by Tōkyō Kōgaku, reported shutter: Keef Koku-Saku[8]

Notes

  1. Published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 65.
  2. This company probably used a different Roman name than Kazenderu, perhaps "Casendell" or something similar.
  3. September 1942 and January 1943: Advertisements published in Asahi Graph, reproduced in the Gochamaze website. March 1943: advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 65.
  4. This is perhaps explained by the fact that its maker seemed to be a state-owned factory, perhaps not submitted to the same restrictions as other companies.
  5. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 350.
  6. Variant pictured in Sugiyama, item 3025, and pictured in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 14. Also observed for sale at a Japanese dealer.
  7. Charles Leski Auction no. 191, lot 140. Reported body no. 2961, reported lens no. 52679. The focal length seems dubious.
  8. Charles Leski Auction no. 249, lot 21 and Auction no. 270, lot 9. Reported body no. 2234, reported lens no. 51828.

Bibliography

Links

In English:

In Japanese: