Clover-Six and Vester-Six

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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 were distributed by Hagi Kōgyō Bōeki between 1937 and 1943 and the Vester-Six are nearly identical except for the name.[1]

Who made them?

The Vester-Six are attributed to Ginrei Kōki by McKeown[2] and by this page at Japan Family Camera. The names Vesta and Vester have been used by Ginrei for other products, as well as the Venner lens name.

The shutter plates of both the Clover-Six and Vester-Six are marked GRC Co or GINREI KOHKI. This proves for sure that the Vester shutters equipping the cameras were made by Ginrei, and it seems likely that the bodies were too. However an advertisement for the Clover-Six dated December 1937[3] apparently states that Hagi was both the maker and the distributor: the words "製造発売元" are faintly visible besides the company name.

General description

The Clover-Six and Vester-Six are horizontal folders. The viewfinder is contained in a short housing that is engraved CLOVER-SIX or VESTER-SIX and that supports the accessory shoe. The advance knob is on the left end of the top plate and the right end is occupied by another knob. The back is hinged to the right and film advance is controlled by red window. The back leather of the Vester-Six is embossed VESTER-SIX but the back of the Clover-Six has no marking.

The 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.[4] An advertisement dated December 1937[5] offers this version for ¥68 with a Venner 78/4.5 lens and a Vester I shutter (10–200, T, B). The shutter plate is black and is marked GRC Co at the top and VESTER I at the bottom. The right knob seems to be decorative only and has a smooth rim.

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 it is said that the back has a single red window. The shutter is the same Vester I 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[6] only calls the camera "Clover Six" and lists two variants:

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

The Clover-Six 3, 4 and B were advertised between 1941 and 1943.[7] The right An advertisement dated April 1942[8] 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 an Oriental while the others are called Vester.[9] 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.[10] The advertising picture seems to show a K.O.L. lens. An example has been observed with a Venner Anastigmat 75/3.5 lens and another with a G.R.C. Venner 80/3.5 lens.[11]

The Vester-Six

Notes

  1. ↑ Dates of the Clover-Six: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.
  2. ↑ McKeown, pp. 345–6.
  3. ↑ Advertisement published inAsahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 69.
  4. ↑ Three red windows: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.
  5. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 69.
  6. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 69.
  7. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.
  8. ↑ Advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 69.
  9. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.
  10. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.
  11. ↑ Examples observed in Yahoo Japan auctions. The G.R.C. marking is faintly visible.

Bibliography

Links

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