Difference between revisions of "Ehira Six and Astoria Super Six"
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The '''Ehira Six''' and '''Astoria Super Six''' are Japanese 6×6 coupled-rangefinder folding cameras. They were made by [[Ehira|Ehira Kōki Seisakusho]] from 1949.<REF> Date: {{Kokusan}}, p. 347; Lewis, p. 67. </REF> | The '''Ehira Six''' and '''Astoria Super Six''' are Japanese 6×6 coupled-rangefinder folding cameras. They were made by [[Ehira|Ehira Kōki Seisakusho]] from 1949.<REF> Date: {{Kokusan}}, p. 347; Lewis, p. 67. </REF> | ||
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[[Category: Japanese 6x6 rangefinder folding]] | [[Category: Japanese 6x6 rangefinder folding]] | ||
[[Category: E]] | [[Category: E]] | ||
| + | [[Category: A|Astoria Super Six]] | ||
Revision as of 18:40, 4 February 2007
The Ehira Six and Astoria Super Six are Japanese 6×6 coupled-rangefinder folding cameras. They were made by Ehira Kōki Seisakusho from 1949.[1]
Contents
Description of the body
The Ehira Six and Astoria Super Six are horizontal folder, strongly inspired by the Super Ikonta. The body is perhaps based on the body of the Weha Chrome Six rigid model.
There is a combined range and viewfinder. The viewfinder window is offset to the left and the second image window is to the right. The lens is front-cell focusing and the rangefinder coupling is optical, with no mechanical linkage: the lens front element is geared to an optical device placed in front of the second image window and focusing is controlled by a small wheel protruding from the lens casing.. It is not known if the optical coupling lens is a wedge prism like on the Super Ikonta and other Zeiss Ikon models or a laterally moving lens like on the previous Weha Chrome Six also made by Ehira.
The advance knob is at the top right and there is a body release next to it. The accessory shoe is in the middle, flush with the top plate. The folding bed release is in front of the accessory shoe. The back is hinged to the left. The folding struts are engraved with the EHIRA K.S.K logo.
The lens is a Lausar 85mm f/3.5 by Tomioka and the shutter gives B, 1–400 speeds.
Advertising
The camera was advertised as the Ehira Six IIIA (エヒラシックスⅢA型) in November 1949.[2] Three authorized dealers were mentioned: the Osaka branch of Tōyō Shashinki-zai, Sanseisha (㈱三青社) and Nippō Shōji (日邦商事㈱). In the text, the shutter is called Serea Rapid (セレアラピッド) and said to give T, B, 1–400 speeds but in the picture, the shutter plate is marked EHIRA RAPID at the bottom.
Actual examples
Ehira Six
The only actual example of the Ehira Six IIIA observed so far has a black rangefinder arm, the EHIRA RAPID marking at the bottom of the lens casing and an EHIRA SIX marking above the top plate.[3]
Astoria Super Six
The same camera also exists as the Astoria Super Six IIIB. One example is pictured in Sugiyama.[4] The only visible difference is the chrome-plated rangefinder arm inscribed PATENT, the ASTORIA SYNCHRO marking at the bottom of the lens casing and certainly the marking above the top plate.
Notes
- ↑ Date: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 347; Lewis, p. 67.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 121.
- ↑ Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 1296, and in Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten, p. 14.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 1272.
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 401.
- 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). Pp. 67–8.
- 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. 255.
- 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. 14.
- "知られざるカメラ・エヒラシックスⅢA・アストリアスーパーシックスⅢB" (Shirarezaru kamera: Ehira Six IIIA, Astoria Super Six IIIB, "Unknown cameras: Ehira Six IIIA, Astoria Super Six IIIB"), an article of the issue no. 11 (30 March 1988) of Kurashikku Kamera Senka (クラシックカメラ専科). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama. (Never seen but the title is given by this page at Kanroshobo)
- 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 1272 and 1296.
