Difference between revisions of "Clover-Six and Vester-Six"

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The '''Clover-Six 2''' replaced the previous model in mid 1938. It has a body release and no [[brilliant finder]]. The right knob has a knurled rim and the back has a single red window in the middle, protected by a horizontally sliding cover.
 
The '''Clover-Six 2''' replaced the previous model in mid 1938. It has a body release and no [[brilliant finder]]. The right knob has a knurled rim and the back has a single red window in the middle, protected by a horizontally sliding cover.
  
−
The shutter is the same Vester 1 as on the previous model. The shutter plate has similar markings but the speed scale is sometimes chrome instead of black. An advertisement dated June 1939<REF> Advertisement published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;69. </REF> only calls the camera "Clover Six" and lists two variants:
+
The shutter is the same Vester 1 as on the previous model. The shutter plate has similar markings but the speed scale is sometimes chrome instead of black. An advertisement dated June 1939<REF> Advertisement published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;69. </REF> only calls the camera "Clover- Six" and lists two variants:
 
* Venner f/4.5 lens ({{yen|85|1939}});
 
* Venner f/4.5 lens ({{yen|85|1939}});
 
* Venner f/3.5 lens, newly available ({{yen|98|1939}}).
 
* Venner f/3.5 lens, newly available ({{yen|98|1939}}).

Revision as of 21:47, 4 December 2006

Japanese Six (6×6)
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
folding
Adler Six | Bonny Six | Clover-Six | Condor Six | First Six | Gelto Six | Gotex | Green | Lyra Six | Super Makinet Six | Mamiya Six | Miyako Six | Mulber Six | Mulix | National Six | Neure Six | Oko Six | Olympus Six | Pilot Six | Romax | Ugein | Vester-Six | Victor Six | Weha Six
collapsible
Ehira Chrome Six | Minolta Six | Shinko Super | Weha Chrome Six
unknown
Freude Six | Heart Camera | Konter Six | Tsubasa Six
Postwar models (edit)
folding
Aires Viceroy | Angel Six | Aram Six | Astoria Super Six | Atom Six | Balm Six | Baron | Beauty Six (1950) | Beauty Six (1953) | Calm Six | Carl Six | Centre Six | Crown | Crystar Six | Daido Six | Dorima Six | Doris Six | Ehira Six | Elbow Six | First Six | Flora Six | Fodor Six | Frank Six | Fujica Six | Super Fujica Six | Futami Six | Gotex | Grace Six | Kohken Chrome Six | Kyowa Six | Liner Six | Lyra Six | Mamiya Six | Middl Six | Mihama Six | Mine Six | Minon Six | Mizuho Six | Motoka Six | Mount Six | Muse Six | Super Naiku | Ofuna Six | Olympus Six | Olympus Chrome Six | Orion Six | Oscar Six | Pigeon Six | Planet | Please Six | Pluto Six | Poppy Six | Press Van | Press Van-120 | Proud Chrome Six | Proud Super Six | Renown Six | Ricoh Six | Ruvikon | Ruvinal | Sanon Six | Silver Six | Sisley 1 | Sisley 2 & 3 | Sister Six | Tenar Six | Toho Six | Tomic | Toyoca Six | Ugein Six | Wagen Six | Walcon 6 | Welmy Six | Wester | Windsor Six
rigid or collapsible
Dia Six | Ehira Chrome Six | Enon Six | Flora | Flashline | Fujipet | Harmony | Mikono-6 | Orion | Ponix | Rich-Ray-6 | Shumy | Weha Chrome Six
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo models ->
Japanese 3×4 and 4×4, 4×5 and 4×6.5, 4.5×6 and older 6×9 ->

The Clover-Six (クロバーシックス) and Vester-Six (ベスターシックス) are Japanese 6×6 folding cameras. The Clover-Six was made by Ginrei Kōki and distributed by Hagi Kōgyō Bōeki between 1937 and 1943.[1] Even if an advertisement dated December 1937 seems to state that Hagi was both the maker and the distributor,[2] the GRC markings found on the body's folding struts clearly indicates its origin. The lenses and shutters were made by Ginrei Kōki too.

The Vester-Six is nearly identical except for the name, and its distributor is not known.

General description

The Clover-Six and Vester-Six are horizontal folders. The viewfinder is contained in a short housing that also supports the accessory shoe. The advance knob is at the left end of the top plate, and there is usually another knob at the right end. The advance knob has three rows of knurls and an arrow engraved on the top. The back is hinged to the right and film advance is controlled by red window. The folding struts are engraved GRC.

The Clover-Six

The Clover-Six is marked CLOVER-SIX in front of the viewfinder housing but there is no marking in the leather covering.

The original Clover-Six

The original Clover-Six appeared at the end of 1937. It has no body release and has a brilliant finder attached to the shutter housing. It is said that there are three red windows in the back.[3] An advertisement dated December 1937[4] offers this version for ¥68 with a Venner 78/4.5 lens and a Vester 1 shutter (10–200, T, B). The shutter plate is black and is marked GRC Co at the top and VESTER 1 at the bottom. The right knob seems to be decorative only and has a smooth rim.

The Clover-Six 2

The Clover-Six 2 replaced the previous model in mid 1938. It has a body release and no brilliant finder. The right knob has a knurled rim and the back has a single red window in the middle, protected by a horizontally sliding cover.

The shutter is the same Vester 1 as on the previous model. The shutter plate has similar markings but the speed scale is sometimes chrome instead of black. An advertisement dated June 1939[5] only calls the camera "Clover- Six" and lists two variants:

  • Venner f/4.5 lens (¥85);
  • Venner f/3.5 lens, newly available (¥98).

An intermediate version is pictured with no body release and no brilliant finder in the Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten exhibition catalogue.[6] It has the Venner 1 shutter and an Anastigmat Venner 80mm f/4.5 lens.

The Clover-Six 3, 4 and B

The Clover-Six 3, 4 and B were advertised between 1941 and 1943.[7] At the right end of the top plate, the decorative knob has been replaced by a depth-of-field dial, even if at least one camera has been observed with no dial at all, perhaps because it came loose.[8] An advertisement dated April 1942[9] gives the following characteristics:

  • Clover-Six 3: f/4.5 lens, 1–200 shutter (¥129);
  • Clover-Six 4: f/3.5 lens, 1–200 shutter (¥151);
  • Clover-Six B: f/3.5 lens, 1–200 shutter, self-timer (¥163).

It is said that the self-timer equipped shutter is called Oriental while the others are called Vester.[10] On the Vester shutters, the shutter plate is metal and is marked GINREI KOHKI at the top.

Kokusan kamera no rekishi says that the lenses are Venner 78/4.5 and 80/3.5, but actual examples of the Clover-Six 4 have been observed with a Venner Anastigmat 75/3.5 lens.[11] Some cameras do not have the Anastigmat marking but instead capital letters before the Venner name, apparently associated with 80mm focal length. An N.K.L. Venner has been reported but the name is unsure and these initials could as well be G.R.C. or K.O.L.[12]

The Vester-Six

The Vester-Six is identical to the Clover-Six 3, 4 and B, with a depth-of-field dial on the right end of the top plate. The only difference is that a metal plate engraved VESTER-SIX is screwed to the front of the finder housing and that VESTER-SIX is embossed in the back leather.

No advertisement for the Vester-Six has been found yet. On the actual examples of the Vester-Six, the following lens and shutter combinations are known:

  • G.R.C. Venner 80mm f/3.5 lens, Vester 3 shutter (T, B, 1–200);[13]
  • Anastigmat Venner 75mm f/3.5, Vester 3 shutter (T, B, 1–200).

In both cases, the shutter plate is marked GINREI KOHKI at the top and VESTER .3 at the bottom, with a logo on the right.

Notes

  1. ↑ Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.
  2. ↑ Advertisement for the Clover-Six published inAsahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 69. The words "製造発売元" are faintly visible besides the company name.
  3. ↑ Three red windows: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.
  4. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 69.
  5. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 69.
  6. ↑ Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten, p. 16.
  7. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.
  8. ↑ Example observed in an eBay auction.
  9. ↑ Advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 69.
  10. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.
  11. ↑ 78/4.5 and 80/3.5 lenses: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336. 75/3.5 lens: examples observed in online auctions.
  12. ↑ Example observed in a Yahoo Japan auction and example reported in an eBay auction.
  13. ↑ Examples pictured in this page at Japan Family Camera and in this post at a Chinese forum. An identical example has been observed in a Yahoo Japan auction.

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 79–83.
  • 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). Pp. 345–6 and 374.
  • 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. 16.

Links

In Japanese:

In Chinese:

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