Auto Semi First

The Auto Semi First (オートセミファースト) is a Japanese 4.5×6 folding camera with a coupled rangefinder, made by Kuribayashi in the first half of the 1940s. This camera was copied from the Welta Weltur and it is different from the viewfinder Semi First, with which it only shares a few parts.

Description

The Auto Semi First is a close copy of the late model of the 4.5×6 Weltur, with a chrome top housing. The folding struts and the focusing system are identical. The camera is focused by a small knob placed on the right of the folding bed, moving the whole lens and shutter assembly (unit focusing). The distance scale is placed inside the folding bed, under a black or silver cover, and the distance is read in a small window.

Focusing knob, and black focusing cover. (Image rights)

The combined range- and viewfinder is contained under a chrome top housing, a straight copy of the Weltur's top part. The viewfinder window is rectangular and the second image window is round, and the eyepiece is at the right end of the camera. The body release comes out of the top plate, to the left of the rangefinder housing.

Top cover, body release and depth-of-field plate. (Image rights)

A depth-of-field plate, written in English, is screwed above the rangefinder and the name Auto Semi First is engraved on its right, above the viewfinder. The front leather is embossed Auto First, and a First logo is engraved on the distance scale cover.

Advance knob. (Image rights)

Early and late back latch. (Image rights)

The film advance knob is at the bottom right, with a small folding bed release button next to it. The tripod screw is located at the opposite end of the bottom plate. The back is hinged to the left and contains two red windows. The back latch was modified at some time: on the early examples, the back is opened by a small sliding button and there is a leather handle, whereas on the late examples, the latch consists of a long sliding bar and there is no handle. The film advance is manually controlled and there is no exposure counter, like on the Weltur but unlike the Auto Semi Minolta, another Japanese copy of the same camera.

Advertisements and other documents

The list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, mentions the Auto Semi First for ¥248, in the same price category as the Auto Semi Minolta. The same occurs in a similar list dated November 1941.

The government inquiry listing Japanese production as of April 1943 also mentions the camera, with a Hit 75mm f/3.5 four-element lens made by Tōkyō Kōgaku and a Wester I shutter (T, B, 1–200) made by Nishida. The Hit lens was also mounted on the First Reflex II.

In an advertisement by Doi Shōten dated May 1944, the camera was offered for ¥392.54, with no further detail. It was advertised as late as December 1944.

Actual examples

Auto Semi First, First Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 lens no.34239, Wester I shutter, 1–200, B, T speeds, black focusing cover. Pictures courtesy of an anonymous eBayer. (Image rights)

The Auto Semi First has been observed in the following versions:

• early back latch, First Anastigmat f/3.5 lens, Wester I shutter (1–200, B, T), black distance cover;
• late back latch, Tokiwa Anastigmat f/3.5 lens, Wester I shutter (1–200, B, T), black distance cover;
• late back latch, Tokiwa Anastigmat f/3.5 lens, Wester I shutter (1–200, B, T), silver distance cover;
• late back latch, First Anastigmat f/3.5 lens, Wester I shutter (1–200, B, T), black distance cover;
• late back latch, First Anastigmat f/3.5 lens, Mirror I shutter (1–200, B, T), silver distance cover;
• late back latch, S. Kuri Anastigmat f/3.5 lens, Seikosha shutter (T, B, 1–250, self-timer), silver focusing cover.

The Mirror I shutter has not been observed on any other camera. The shutter plate has braid patterns on both sides and is inscribed MIRROR~MODEL–I at the top.

The Tokiwa f/3.5 lens has four elements and its name certainly indicates that it was made by Tokiwa Kōgaku. The First f/3.5 lens has three elements and was made by Tokiwa Kōgaku too.

The S. Kuri f/3.5 lens is otherwise unknown. Its name certainly indicates that it was made by Kuribayashi itself, and the "S" perhaps means that it has four elements. It was surely one the earliest camera lenses made by the company.

The Auto Semi First is also reported with a Kokka f/3.5 lens on a Wester shutter, but this is unconfirmed.

Auto Semi First, Tokiwa Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 lens no. 29178, Wester I shutter, 1–200, B, T speeds, silver distance cover. Pictures courtesy of Jay Tepper. (Image rights)

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 207.
• Baird, John R. Collectors guide to Kuribayashi-Petri Cameras. Grantsburg, WI (USA): Centennial Photo Service, 1991. ISBN 0-931838-16-9. Pp. 28, 66 and 82.
• "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, section 9.
• "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced in Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp.180–7. Item 12.
• Template:Kakaku1940 Type 3, section 9.
• 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. 577.
• 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 1061–3.
• 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:

• Auto Semi First: lot no.79 of the March 25, 2006 Photographica and Film auction by Auction Team Breker