Difference between revisions of "Crown shutter"

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m (→‎Crown-Rapid, in #0 and #1 size: Replaced location of former rebollo_fr image due to expected deletion of images on Flickr March 2019, rebollo_fr/2605666358)
 
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The '''Crown''' are Japanese [[leaf shutter]]s made by Molta Shōkai, then Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō (the predecessors of [[Minolta]]), in the 1930s and early 1940s. They exist in many models and in three different sizes.
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The '''Crown''' shutters were made by Molta, later Chiyoda (the predecessors of [[Minolta]]).
 
  
 
== Crown in #0 size ==
 
== Crown in #0 size ==
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=== The Crown A ===
+
The Crown first appeared as an [[everset]] shutter in #0 size, successor of the [[Lidex]]. Four versions were made, differing by the range of speeds and by the presence or absence of a [[self-timer]]. On all three, the release lever is at the top left (as seen from the front). The '''early shutter plate''' is all black, with the name ''CROWN'' engraved at the bottom, the words ''Patents(J.N.)–Pending'' then ''Patents–Nippon'' engraved at the top, and an ''MTS'' logo on the right. The '''late shutter plate''' has three metal stripes on each side, the words ''PATENTS–NIPPON'' in capital letters at the top and no ''MTS'' logo; the name ''CROWN'' is now inscribed on a larger aperture scale screwed to the bottom.
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The '''Crown A''' is supposed to exist in #0 size and to give T, B, 1–200 speeds. It is said that it was mounted on the [[Nifca and Molta plate folders#The Eaton|Eaton]] plate folder, but no picture has been found so far.
 
  
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=== The Crown B ===
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
−
<div class="plainlinks" style="text-align: center;">
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/33742254208/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/33742254208_f021dcbb79_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/33742266408/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/33742266408_75cf5cd9a4_m_d.jpg]
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/364633514/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/364633514_cde06ab34f_m_d.jpg]
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|-
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<br>''Crown B on a [[Nifca and Molta plate folders#The Happy|Happy]], late shutter plate.''
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|| ''Crown A on the [[Minolta and Auto Minolta|Auto Minolta]]. Left: old shutter plate. Picture by S.&nbsp;Montagna. {{with permission}}<br>Right: new shutter plate. Picture by A.&nbsp;Apra. {{with permission}}''
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<br>''Picture courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. {{with permission}}''
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|}
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</div>
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The '''Crown A''',<REF> The name is notably confirmed by an advertisement in {{ACA}} August 1937 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.97. </REF> mounted on the [[Minolta and Auto Minolta]], gives T, B, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 speeds and has no self-timer. Under the release lever, there is a thread for a cable release. A red button is visible further to the bottom; this is a shutter lock, blocking the travel of the release lever when pushed, and disengaged when pulled.<REF> The short user manual for the [[Minolta and Auto Minolta]] found in original leaflets describes the operation of the shutter lock in the reverse direction, presumably because of a mistake in the documents: 手前に軽く引出せば安全装置がかかり、押せば安全装置が外れます. </REF>
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The '''Crown B''' is an everset shutter giving T, B, 5&ndash;200 speeds, with the release lever on the top left.
+
{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
 +
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/46682752085/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/7908/46682752085_9ce6e30447_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/46682763755/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/7848/46682763755_0edbcb27f8_m_d.jpg]
 +
|-
 +
|| ''Crown A on the [[Minolta and Auto Minolta|Auto Minolta]], locked and unlocked. Pictures by A.&nbsp;Apra. {{with permission}}''
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
The '''Crown B'''<REF name="ACA Jan 1938"> The name is notably confirmed by an advertisement in {{ACA}} January 1938, reproduced in Tanimura, p.15 of {{CCN}} no.118. </REF> has a slightly reduced speed range, omitting the 1s and 1/2s settings, and the '''Crown S'''<REF name="ACA Jan 1938" /> is similar with an added self-timer. They were mounted on the [[Nifca and Molta plate folders|Happy]] and on the [[Minolta Six]]; the latter always has the newer shutter plate.
 +
{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
 +
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/46895417064/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46895417064_f551e33686_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/33673582188/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/7842/33673582188_49342f2643_m_d.jpg]
 +
|-
 +
|| ''Crown B on the [[Nifca and Molta plate folders#The Happy|Happy]]. Left: old shutter plate. Right: new shutter plate.<br>Pictures by eBayer hbpartner. {{with permission}}''
 +
|}
  
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It equips the [[Nifca and Molta plate folders#The Happy|Happy]] plate folder. On the early examples, the shutter plate is all black, engraved Patents-Nippon at the top and CROWN at the bottom with an MTS logo on the right. On later cameras, it has three metal strips on each side, is engraved PATENTS–NIPPON at the top and has no MTS logo. It has a larger aperture scale screwed to the bottom, with the name CROWN inscribed on it.
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The '''Crown C'''<REF name="ACA Jan 1938" /> is a simplified version giving T, B, 25, 50, 100, 150 speeds, only mounted on the [[Minolta Six]] and only known with the newer shutter plate.
 +
{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
 +
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/46521105555/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/7821/46521105555_64ac9ee4ef_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/46521128825/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/7887/46521128825_7504d78008_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/47383521622/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/7803/47383521622_83fa6344f6_m_d.jpg]
 +
|-
 +
|| ''Crown shutter on the [[Minolta Six]]. From left to right: Crown C, Crown B and Crown S.<br>Pictures by eBayer hbpartner. {{with permission}}''
 +
|}
  
 
== Crown in #00 size ==
 
== Crown in #00 size ==
 +
The Crown shutter was released in #00 size for the [[Semi Minolta (I) and II|Semi Minolta]].
 +
 
=== The Crown E ===
 
=== The Crown E ===
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<div class="plainlinks" align="center">
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The '''Crown E'''<REF name="ACA Jan 1938" /> was mounted on the [[Semi Minolta (I) and II|Semi Minolta I]]. It is [[everset]], with the release lever at the top left (as seen from the front), and has a small disc acting as an exposure counter. This disc advances each time the release is tripped and it can be manually reset. It is graduated from 1 to 8 with an intermediate stop between two consecutive numbers so that each number is used twice, as it appears in the red windows. The disc makes two full turns during the 16 exposures and each numbered position is shared by two numbers: 5/1, 6/2, 7/3 and 8/4. The patent for this device was filed on April 16, 1934 and published on October 13 of the same year.<REF> Patent reproduced in Tanimura, pp.5–7 of {{CCN}} no.131. An extract is also reproduced on p.19 of {{KKS}} no.12. </REF>
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/304319291/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/120/304319291_89a833497b_m_d.jpg]
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
−
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/304319293/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/117/304319293_37c9626de2_m_d.jpg]
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/46753510844/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7874/46753510844_a9d11d82f5_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/33600343818/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7818/33600343818_e79ec09cdd_m_d.jpg]
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<br />''Left: Crown E with 1/100 top speed on a [[Semi Minolta]], early shutter plate.''
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|-
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<br />''Right: Crown E with 1/200 top speed on a [[Semi Minolta]], late shutter plate.''
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|| ''Crown E on the [[Semi Minolta (I) and II|Semi Minolta I]].<br>Left: 1/100 top speed, early shutter plate. Right: 1/200 top speed, late shutter plate.<br>Pictures by eBayer hbpartner. {{with permission}}''
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<br />''Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. {{with permission}}''
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|}
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</div>
 
  
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The '''Crown E''' is an everset shutter in #00 size, with the release lever on the top left. It exists in two variants, giving first T, B, 5&ndash;100 speeds and later T, B, 5&ndash;200.
+
The Crown E exists in two versions: the early one gives T, B, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 speeds, and the late one adding 1/200 top speed. The shutter plate evolved the same as on the #0 size models: all the examples with 1/100 top speed and most examples with 1/200 top speed have a black shutter plate, engraved ''Patents–Nippon'' at the top and ''CROWN'' at the bottom, and having an ''MTS'' logo on the right. The late examples with 1/200 top speed have a newer shutter plate with three metal stripes on each side, the words ''PATENT–NIPPON'' at the top and ''CROWN'' at the bottom in block letters, and no ''MTS'' logo.
 +
 
 +
=== The Crown B ===
 +
The '''Crown B''' in #00 size was mounted on the [[Semi Minolta (I) and II|Semi Minolta II]]. The release lever has moved to the bottom left, to fit the body release mechanism, and the exposure counter disc has been removed; the range of speeds (T, B, 5–200) and the design of the shutter plate are the same as on the late Crown E. The Crown B in #00 size only exists with the newer shutter plate, and the plating of the speed rim switched from nickel to chromium at some time. Some late examples are not everset any more, and have a cocking lever added to the top left. Advertisements for the [[Semi Minolta (I) and II|Semi Minolta II]] reportedly mention a "Crown A" version, giving T, B, 1–200 speeds.
 +
{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
 +
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/33614053538/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7803/33614053538_658180f983_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/46896788824/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46896788824_3df8e556d4_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/47451521152/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7893/47451521152_722e1c3e8b_m_d.jpg]
 +
|-
 +
|| ''Crown B on the [[Semi Minolta (I) and II|Semi Minolta II]].<br>Left: everset, nickel plated. Middle: everset, chrome plated. Pictures by eBayer hbpartner. {{with permission}}<br>Right: with cocking lever. Picture by Jamie Bushley from [http://www.virtualcameramuseum.com www.virtualcameramuseum.com]. {{with permission}}''
 +
|}
  
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It is equipped with a small disc acting as an exposure counter. This disc advances each time the release is tripped and it can be manually reset. It is graduated from 1 to 8 with an intermediate stop between two consecutive numbers so that each number is used twice, as it appears in the red windows. The disc makes two full turns during the 16 exposures and each numbered position is shared by two numbers: 5/1, 6/2, 7/3 and 8/4. The patent for this device was filed on April 16, 1934 and published on October 13 of the same year.<REF> Patent extract reproduced in Tanimura, p.&nbsp;19. </REF>
+
=== The Crown II ===
 +
The '''Crown II''' is a newer model developed in #00 size for the [[Minoltaflex (I)|Minoltaflex]] and [[Minoltaflex Automat]] TLR models. The earliest examples have T, B, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 300 speeds, but the regular version has no T setting. The shutter unit is turned 90 degrees on the TLR cameras, and the speed index is pointing to the left. The shutter plate has three metal stripes above and below the lens; the name ''CROWNⅡ–TIYOKO'' is inscribed on a small plate screwed to the left, and the aperture scale is on another plate attached to the right. The release lever is linked to a body release on both TLR models. There is an external cocking lever at the bottom on the [[Minoltaflex (I)|original Minoltaflex]], also acting as a secondary shutter release, whereas the cocking mechanism is coupled to the film advance on the [[Minoltaflex Automat]]. One example has been observd on a [[Semi Minolta (I) and II|Semi Minolta II]], with a standard cocking lever.
 +
{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
 +
|-
 +
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/33503239748/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/7916/33503239748_c0ccf912ca_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/47343522112/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/7805/47343522112_47ba9d9430_m_d.jpg]
 +
|-
 +
|| ''Crown II (B, 1–300). Left: on the [[Minoltaflex (I)|original Minoltaflex]]. Right: on the [[Minoltaflex Automat]].<br>Pictures by eBayer hbpartner. {{with permission}}''
 +
|}
  
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The Crown E only equips the [[Semi Minolta|original Semi Minolta]]. On all the examples except the very late ones, the shutter plate is black, engraved ''Patents-Nippon'' at the top, ''CROWN'' at the bottom with an ''MTS'' logo on the right. The late shutter plate is black with three metal strips on each side, engraved ''PATENT NIPPON'' at the top and ''CROWN'' at the bottom in block letters, with no MTS logo.
+
== Crown-Rapid, in #0 and #1 size ==
 +
The '''Crown-Rapid''' is a completely different model, inspired by the German [[Compur-Rapid]]. Its range of speeds is T, B, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and it has a self-timer. Two sizes exist: #0 size on the [[Auto Semi Minolta]] and #1 size on the [[Auto Press Minolta]]. The smaller model has a black shutter plate with three metal stripes on both sides of the lens, and the name ''CROWNⅡ–TIYOKO'' at the top; the larger one has a silver shutter plate with ''Patents–Nippon'' at the top. Both normally have the name ''CROWN–RAPID'' inscribed at the bottom of the speed rim.
  
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== Other versions ==
+
One isolated example of the #0-size model has been observed on an [[Auto Semi Minolta]] with a reduced range of speeds, going to 1/250 only, and no ''CROWN–RAPID'' engraving on the tim. This might correspond to a very early version of the shutter, based on the Compur instead of the Compur-Rapid.
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List of cameras equipped (not exhaustive, and not implying that all the versions have a Crown shutter):
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
−
* [[Semi Minolta|Semi Minolta II]]
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|-
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* [[Auto Semi Minolta]]
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/33743761768/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/33743761768_f515d91f34_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/47559023812/in/pool-camerawiki https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47559023812_abc8fccf28_m_d.jpg]
−
* [[Minolta Six]]
+
|-
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* [[Nifca and Molta plate folders|Eaton]] (Crown A: T, B, 1&ndash;200)
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|| ''Left: Crown-Rapid in #0 size on an [[Auto Semi Minolta]]. Picture by eBayer hbpartner. {{with permission}}<br>Right: Crown-Rapid in #1 size on an [[Auto Press Minolta]]. Picture by S.&nbsp;Montagna. {{with permission}}''
 +
|}
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
Line 43: Line 75:
  
 
== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
−
* 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.&nbsp;12 (special issue on ''Minolta camera no subete'' [ミノルタカメラのすべて, Minolta history]), pp.&nbsp;19&ndash;24.
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* {{Showa10}}
 +
* {{Inquiry1943}} Shutter items 18-V-15, 18-Q-6, 24-R-1 and 30-R-1.
 +
* Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minolta I-gata gaibun." (セミミノルタⅠ型外聞, "Things heard about the Semi Minolta I") In {{CCN}} no.131 (May 1988). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
 +
* Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minoruta 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 {{CCN}} no.118 (April 1987). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. P.15: reproduction of an advertisement for the Minolta range published in {{ACA}} January 1938.
 +
* 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). {{KKS012}} Pp.19–24.
  
 
[[Category: Leaf shutters]]
 
[[Category: Leaf shutters]]
 
[[Category: Japanese shutters]]
 
[[Category: Japanese shutters]]
 +
[[Category: Nobility]]
 +
[[Category: Minolta]]

Latest revision as of 10:41, 16 April 2019

The Crown are Japanese leaf shutters made by Molta Shōkai, then Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō (the predecessors of Minolta), in the 1930s and early 1940s. They exist in many models and in three different sizes.

Crown in #0 size

The Crown first appeared as an everset shutter in #0 size, successor of the Lidex. Four versions were made, differing by the range of speeds and by the presence or absence of a self-timer. On all three, the release lever is at the top left (as seen from the front). The early shutter plate is all black, with the name CROWN engraved at the bottom, the words Patents(J.N.)–Pending then Patents–Nippon engraved at the top, and an MTS logo on the right. The late shutter plate has three metal stripes on each side, the words PATENTS–NIPPON in capital letters at the top and no MTS logo; the name CROWN is now inscribed on a larger aperture scale screwed to the bottom.

33742254208_f021dcbb79_m_d.jpg 33742266408_75cf5cd9a4_m_d.jpg
Crown A on the Auto Minolta. Left: old shutter plate. Picture by S. Montagna. (Image rights)
Right: new shutter plate. Picture by A. Apra. (Image rights)

The Crown A,[1] mounted on the Minolta and Auto Minolta, gives T, B, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 speeds and has no self-timer. Under the release lever, there is a thread for a cable release. A red button is visible further to the bottom; this is a shutter lock, blocking the travel of the release lever when pushed, and disengaged when pulled.[2]

46682752085_9ce6e30447_m_d.jpg 46682763755_0edbcb27f8_m_d.jpg
Crown A on the Auto Minolta, locked and unlocked. Pictures by A. Apra. (Image rights)

The Crown B[3] has a slightly reduced speed range, omitting the 1s and 1/2s settings, and the Crown S[3] is similar with an added self-timer. They were mounted on the Happy and on the Minolta Six; the latter always has the newer shutter plate.

46895417064_f551e33686_m_d.jpg 33673582188_49342f2643_m_d.jpg
Crown B on the Happy. Left: old shutter plate. Right: new shutter plate.
Pictures by eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)

The Crown C[3] is a simplified version giving T, B, 25, 50, 100, 150 speeds, only mounted on the Minolta Six and only known with the newer shutter plate.

46521105555_64ac9ee4ef_m_d.jpg 46521128825_7504d78008_m_d.jpg 47383521622_83fa6344f6_m_d.jpg
Crown shutter on the Minolta Six. From left to right: Crown C, Crown B and Crown S.
Pictures by eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)

Crown in #00 size

The Crown shutter was released in #00 size for the Semi Minolta.

The Crown E

The Crown E[3] was mounted on the Semi Minolta I. It is everset, with the release lever at the top left (as seen from the front), and has a small disc acting as an exposure counter. This disc advances each time the release is tripped and it can be manually reset. It is graduated from 1 to 8 with an intermediate stop between two consecutive numbers so that each number is used twice, as it appears in the red windows. The disc makes two full turns during the 16 exposures and each numbered position is shared by two numbers: 5/1, 6/2, 7/3 and 8/4. The patent for this device was filed on April 16, 1934 and published on October 13 of the same year.[4]

46753510844_a9d11d82f5_m_d.jpg 33600343818_e79ec09cdd_m_d.jpg
Crown E on the Semi Minolta I.
Left: 1/100 top speed, early shutter plate. Right: 1/200 top speed, late shutter plate.
Pictures by eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)

The Crown E exists in two versions: the early one gives T, B, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 speeds, and the late one adding 1/200 top speed. The shutter plate evolved the same as on the #0 size models: all the examples with 1/100 top speed and most examples with 1/200 top speed have a black shutter plate, engraved Patents–Nippon at the top and CROWN at the bottom, and having an MTS logo on the right. The late examples with 1/200 top speed have a newer shutter plate with three metal stripes on each side, the words PATENT–NIPPON at the top and CROWN at the bottom in block letters, and no MTS logo.

The Crown B

The Crown B in #00 size was mounted on the Semi Minolta II. The release lever has moved to the bottom left, to fit the body release mechanism, and the exposure counter disc has been removed; the range of speeds (T, B, 5–200) and the design of the shutter plate are the same as on the late Crown E. The Crown B in #00 size only exists with the newer shutter plate, and the plating of the speed rim switched from nickel to chromium at some time. Some late examples are not everset any more, and have a cocking lever added to the top left. Advertisements for the Semi Minolta II reportedly mention a "Crown A" version, giving T, B, 1–200 speeds.

33614053538_658180f983_m_d.jpg 46896788824_3df8e556d4_m_d.jpg 47451521152_722e1c3e8b_m_d.jpg
Crown B on the Semi Minolta II.
Left: everset, nickel plated. Middle: everset, chrome plated. Pictures by eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)
Right: with cocking lever. Picture by Jamie Bushley from www.virtualcameramuseum.com. (Image rights)

The Crown II

The Crown II is a newer model developed in #00 size for the Minoltaflex and Minoltaflex Automat TLR models. The earliest examples have T, B, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 300 speeds, but the regular version has no T setting. The shutter unit is turned 90 degrees on the TLR cameras, and the speed index is pointing to the left. The shutter plate has three metal stripes above and below the lens; the name CROWNⅡ–TIYOKO is inscribed on a small plate screwed to the left, and the aperture scale is on another plate attached to the right. The release lever is linked to a body release on both TLR models. There is an external cocking lever at the bottom on the original Minoltaflex, also acting as a secondary shutter release, whereas the cocking mechanism is coupled to the film advance on the Minoltaflex Automat. One example has been observd on a Semi Minolta II, with a standard cocking lever.

33503239748_c0ccf912ca_m_d.jpg 47343522112_47ba9d9430_m_d.jpg
Crown II (B, 1–300). Left: on the original Minoltaflex. Right: on the Minoltaflex Automat.
Pictures by eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)

Crown-Rapid, in #0 and #1 size

The Crown-Rapid is a completely different model, inspired by the German Compur-Rapid. Its range of speeds is T, B, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and it has a self-timer. Two sizes exist: #0 size on the Auto Semi Minolta and #1 size on the Auto Press Minolta. The smaller model has a black shutter plate with three metal stripes on both sides of the lens, and the name CROWNⅡ–TIYOKO at the top; the larger one has a silver shutter plate with Patents–Nippon at the top. Both normally have the name CROWN–RAPID inscribed at the bottom of the speed rim.

One isolated example of the #0-size model has been observed on an Auto Semi Minolta with a reduced range of speeds, going to 1/250 only, and no CROWN–RAPID engraving on the tim. This might correspond to a very early version of the shutter, based on the Compur instead of the Compur-Rapid.

33743761768_f515d91f34_m_d.jpg 47559023812_abc8fccf28_m_d.jpg
Left: Crown-Rapid in #0 size on an Auto Semi Minolta. Picture by eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)
Right: Crown-Rapid in #1 size on an Auto Press Minolta. Picture by S. Montagna. (Image rights)

Notes

  1. ↑ The name is notably confirmed by an advertisement in Asahi Camera August 1937 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.97.
  2. ↑ The short user manual for the Minolta and Auto Minolta found in original leaflets describes the operation of the shutter lock in the reverse direction, presumably because of a mistake in the documents: 手前に軽く引出せば安全装置がかかり、押せば安全装置が外れます.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The name is notably confirmed by an advertisement in Asahi Camera January 1938, reproduced in Tanimura, p.15 of Camera Collectors' News no.118.
  4. ↑ Patent reproduced in Tanimura, pp.5–7 of Camera Collectors' News no.131. An extract is also reproduced on p.19 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.

Bibliography

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