Doris (3×4)
The Doris (ドリス) is a Japanese 3×4 folding camera, distributed from 1939 to 1941 by Fukada Shōkai.[1]
Contents
Maker
The maker is not clearly known. Sugiyama and McKeown attribute the camera to Prince Camera Works.[2] In the advertisements observed, the Doris is presented as a "sister of the Semi Prince" ("セミプリンスの姉妹品"), but it is not explicitly attributed to Prince Camera Works or to Fujimoto (the maker of the Semi Prince).[3]
Another theory is that it was made by Nissan Kōgaku, a company that was apparently founded by a Mr Motodori. This is suggested by the camera's name, that is said to come from Mr Motodori's name[4] and that was used again after the war by Tōkyō Seiki, the successor of Nissan Kōgaku (see the Doris (4.5×6)).
General description
The Doris is a strut-folder: the lens and shutter assembly is mounted on a square metal plate, supported by scissor struts placed on both sides. There is a tubular viewfinder above the middle of the top plate. There is a button on the right of the finder, meant to look like a body release but that is only the release of the front standard. The back is hinged to the right and contains two red windows, protected by a pivoting common cover.
Doris (3×4), Doris Anastigmat 50/4.5 lens, Doris shutter.
Pictures courtesy of eBayer shoppingcartz. (Image rights)
Evolution
Advertising
The Doris was advertised in October 1939 as a new product, in three variants priced ¥58, ¥48 and ¥43, with no description and no picture.[5] In the April 1940 issue of Asahi Camera, more details were available, but only two variants were described:[6]
- Doris Anastigmat 50/4.5 lens, Doris shutter giving 25, 50, 100, T, B speeds (¥43 — case extra ¥6);
- U.L.L. Anastigmat 50/4.5 lens, Selon shutter[7] giving 5, 10, 25, 100, 250, T, B speeds, marked SELON at the top of the shutter plate (¥58).
The camera was featured in the new products column of the May 1940 issue of Asahi Camera,[8] and a third variant was shown in an advertisement dated October 1940:[9]
It is also reported that the Doris was advertised in February 1940 with a U.L.L. Anastigmat 50/4.5 lens and a Kerio shutter giving T, B, 25–150 speeds.[10]
A Doris camera was listed in the Template:Kakaku1940 short compiled on October 25, 1940 and published in January 1941, under the names "Doris I" (¥44), "Doris II" (¥60), "Doris III" (¥50) and "Doris IV" (¥68) with no further detail.[11] It is not known if this camera is the strut-folding Doris or its successor the Baby Doris.
Actual examples
Both the example pictured in this page and the example pictured in Sugiyama have a Doris Anastigmat 50mm f/4.5 lens and a shutter plate marked DORIS at the top, like the cheaper version advertised, but they have 1/150 top speed. They are thus supposed to be slightly later.
Moreover, the advertising pictures show the advance knob at the right end of the top plate and a smaller film flange at the opposite end, but the two actual examples have a reversed configuration.[12] The example pictured in Sugiyama has a chrome front plate and a small button to open the camera, whereas the example pictured in this page has a black painted front plate and a larger opening button.
The successor of the Doris is the Baby Doris, a 3×4 vertical folder also distributed by Fukada Shōkai.
Notes
- ↑ Dates: advertisements and articles listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 338.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 1038; McKeown, p. 803. Both call the camera "Baby Doris (horizontal)" or "Baby Doris (horizontal format)", whereas it was only called "Doris" in the advertisements.
- ↑ Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 80.
- ↑ Niimi, p. 92.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 91.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 80.
- ↑ The Selon shutter is called Selon II (セロンシヤターⅡ) in this advertisement, but this is dropped in the later one dated October 1940.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 338.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 80.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 338.
- ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 1, sections 4A, 5, 6A, 8A.
- ↑ Example pictured in this page and example pictured in Sugiyama, item 1038.
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 155. (See also the advertisement for items 230–1.)
- Template:Kakaku1940
- 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. 803.
- Niimi Kahee (新見嘉兵衛). Kamera-mei no gogen sanpo (カメラ名の語源散歩, Strolls in the etymology of camera names). 2nd ed. Tokyo: Shashin Kōgyō Shuppansha, 2002. ISBN 4-87956-060-X
- 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. Item 1038.
