Difference between revisions of "Auto Semi Minolta"
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=== Price === | === Price === | ||
| − | The price was {{yen|195|1937}} in 1937, {{yen|210|1939}} in early 1939, {{yen|255|1939}} in late 1939 and {{yen|290|1942}} in 1942. The Auto Semi Minolta was among the most expensive Japanese cameras (see [[Japanese prices]]). | + | The price was {{yen|195|1937}} in late 1937 and early 1938, {{yen|210|1939}} in early 1939, {{yen|255|1939}} in late 1939 and {{yen|290|1942}} in 1942. The Auto Semi Minolta was among the most expensive Japanese cameras (see [[Japanese prices]]). |
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
Revision as of 12:53, 31 December 2006
The Auto Semi Minolta (オート・セミ・ミノルタ) is a Japanese 4.5×6 folding rangefinder camera, released in 1937 and offered at least until 1942.[1] It was made by Chiyoda Kōgaku (the predecessor of Minolta) and distributed by Asanuma Shōkai. This camera was inspired by the Weltur and it is completely different from the viewfinder Semi Minolta, with which it only shares a few parts.
Contents
Description
The body of the Auto Semi Minolta is largely copied from the Welta Weltur, in particular the folding struts and the focusing system are identical. The focusing is controlled by a small knob placed on the right of the folding bed, moving the whole lens and shutter assembly (unit focusing).
There is a top housing, whose shape is again inspired by the Weltur. It contains the range and the viewfinder, both sharing the same eyepiece at the right end of the camera. There are two windows, a rectangular one for the viewfinder and a round one for the rangefinder, with the name Minolta engraved between both. The same Minolta engraving is present on a small black plate inside the folding bed, covering the focusing mechanism. Above the top housing there is an Auto Semi engraving, the serial number and an accessory shoe. The front leather is embossed Minolta.
The Auto Semi Minolta has an automatic film advance device inspired by Plaubel products like the Roll-Op folder or the rollfilm backs of the Makina. It is placed under the right hand side of the camera, below the viewfinder. There is a big advance knob and a larger and flatter exposure counter disc, graduated from 1 to 16. The housing for this device has a sliding button on the back to unlock film advance, and it also supports the folding bed release. The case of the Auto Semi Minolta has a flap to cover the advance knob and exposure counter.[2] The tripod screw is located at the opposite end of the bottom plate. The back is hinged to the left, with a red window protected by a vertically sliding cover, probably used to set the first exposure.
Evolution
The Auto Semi Minolta somewhat evolved during its production run. All the cameras have a Promar 75/3.5 lens, said to be made by Asahi Kōgaku too.[3] The aperture scale is screwed to the bottom of the shutter plate. Like for the Semi Minolta II, the full lens name was changed at some time from Promar Anastigmat Nippon to Promar Nippon.
Compur shutter
Auto Semi Minolta n°4606, Promar Anastigmat Nippon f/4.5 lens, Compur shutter, early back latch.
Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)
On the first version, the shutter is a Compur S with T, B, 1–250 speeds and a self-timer, and the shutter release is on the folding bed. The shutter plate is engraved as usual Deckel-München at the top and COMPUR at the bottom, with an FD logo (for Friedrich Deckel) on the right. The advance knob has a convex top and a single groove row. This version is pictured in advertisements dated October and November 1937[4] and January and March 1938[5].
Crown shutter
Auto Semi Minolta n°7208, Promar Anastigmat Nippon f/4.5 lens, Crown shutter, no self-timer, early back latch.
Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)
The second version has a Crown shutter giving T, B, 1–400 speeds. The shutter release has moved to the top plate, above the hinge of the folding bed. This version appears in advertisements dated January 1939[6], July 1939[7], November 1939[8] and April 1940[9].
The shutter is consistently advertised as a Crown II. It is externally a copy of the Compur-Rapid and it is probable that the mechanism is too. The speed rim is engraved CROWN-RAPID and the shutter plate is marked CROWNII-TIYOKO at the top. Tiyoko is an alternate writing for Chiyoko, itself an abbreviation of the company name Chiyoda Kōgaku.
An example, pictured in this page, is known with no self-timer. All the other examples observed have a self-timer exactly similar to the one mounted on the Compur. Of the advertisements cited above, only the one dated January 1939 does not explicitly mention this device.
Most examples have a new type of advance knob with a flatter top and three groove rows, but one is known with the old type of knob.[10]
New back latch
Auto Semi Minolta n°14792, Promar Nippon f/4.5 lens, Crown shutter, self-timer, late back latch.
The shutter's synch post is perhaps not original.
Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)
The third version has a modified back opening and no holding strap. These parts were presumably modified in mid-1940, at the same time as the back latch of the Semi Minolta II. This version is pictured in an advertisement dated March 1942.[11] The shutter is advertised as a Crown RS but it has identical CROWNII markings and no apparent modifications.
One example has been observed[12] without the CROWNII and TIYOKO markings, with only the intermediate hyphen, but it also seems to have an incomplete lens engraving and it surely left the factory by mistake with unfinished markings.
A late example, pictured in this page, is known with a synchronized shutter and a PC synch. It is unknown if this is original. Francesch says that a magnesic flash was sold as an accessory.[13] The speed rim is unmarked on this example.
Price
The price was ¥195 in late 1937 and early 1938, ¥210 in early 1939, ¥255 in late 1939 and ¥290 in 1942. The Auto Semi Minolta was among the most expensive Japanese cameras (see Japanese prices).
Notes
- ↑ Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342. The Auto Semi Minolta was featured in the new products column of the November 1937 issue of Asahi Camera.
- ↑ See the pictures in this page at With Zakka.
- ↑ According to this page of the Manual Minolta website.
- ↑ October 1937 advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Tanimura, p. 12 of Camera Collectors' News no. 118 and p. 21 of Classic Camera Senka no. 12. November 1937 advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 97.
- ↑ January 1938 advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Tanimura, p. 15 of Camera Collectors' News no. 118. March 1938 advertisement published in the 23 March 1938 issue of Asahi Graph, reproduced in a page of prewar and wartime advertisements for Japanese cameras at the Gochamaze website. The shutter type is faintly recognizable.
- ↑ Advertisement published in the 5 January 1939 issue of Asahi Graph, reproduced in Gochamaze. The shutter type is faintly recognizable.
- ↑ Advertisement published in the 26 July 1939 issue of Asahi Graph, reproduced in Gochamaze.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 98.
- ↑ Advertisement published in the 17 April 1940 issue of Asahi Graph, reproduced in Gochamaze.
- ↑ Example pictured in this page at kefk.net.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 98. Another advertisement probably dated 1942 is reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura.
- ↑ In an eBay auction.
- ↑ Francesch, p. 81.
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 275. (See also the pictures on pp. 11 and 425.)
- Francesch, Dominique and Jean-Paul. Histoire de l'appareil photographique Minolta de 1929 à 1985. Paris: Dessain et Tolra, 1985. ISBN 2-249-27685-4.
- Fujioka Shunichirō (藤岡俊一郎). "<Ōto semi minoruta> bunkai-ki" (<オートセミミノルタ>分解記, "'Auto Semi Minolta' dismantling notes"). Kamera Rebyū Bessatsu: Kurashikku Kamera Senka / All about Historical Cameras, no. 76, June 2005, pp. 116–21.
- The Japanese Historical Camera. 日本の歴史的カメラ (Nihon no rekishiteki kamera). 2nd ed. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2004. P. 21.
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P. 54.
- 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. 672.
- 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. 9.
- Scheibel, Anni Rita and Joseph. 70 Jahre Minolta Kameratechnik — Von der Nifcalette bis zur Dynax 9. Stuttgart: Lindemanns Verlag, 3rd edition, 1999. ISBN 3-89506-191-3. Pp. 24–5.
- 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 1205–1206.
- Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Supuringu kamera <semi minoruta>" (スプリングカメラ<セミミノルタ>, "'Semi Minolta' self-erecting camera"). Kamera Rebyū Bessatsu: Kurashikku Kamera Senka / All about Historical Cameras, no. 12, October 1988 (special issue on Minolta camera no subete [ミノルタカメラのすべて, Minolta history]), pp. 19–24.
- Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minolta I-gata to II-gata (sono 2)." (セミミノルタⅠ型とⅡ型(その2), "Semi Minolta I and II (part 2)") In Camera Collectors' News no. 118 (April 1987). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
Links
General links
In English:
In German:
In Japanese:
- Auto Semi Minolta in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
- Auto Semi Minolta at With Zakka
- Auto Semi Minolta in the Map Camera Museum
Original documents
In Japanese:
- Advertisements reproduced in the Gochamaze website:
- Advertisement for the Minolta range published in the 23 March 1938 issue of Asahi Graph
- Advertisement for the Auto Semi Minolta published in the 5 January 1939 issue of Asahi Graph
- Advertisements for the Auto Semi Minolta published in the 26 July 1939 and 17 April 1940 issues of Asahi Graph
- Advertisement for the Auto Semi Minolta published between 1942 and 1945, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera, a page by Toshio Inamura.
| Nifca, Molta and Chiyoda prewar and wartime cameras () | |
|---|---|
| folding plate cameras | |
| Nifcaklapp | Nifcasport | Sirius | Arcadia | Lomax | Eaton | Happy | |
| folding rollfilm cameras | telescopic bakelite cameras |
| Nifcarette | Sirius Bebe | Semi Minolta | Auto Semi Minolta | Minolta Vest | Baby Minolta | Minolta Six |
| strut-folding cameras | TLR cameras |
| Nifca-Dox | Minolta | Auto Minolta | Auto Press Minolta | Minoltaflex | Minoltaflex Automat | Minoltaflex military prototype |
