First Six (postwar)
The postwar First Six (ファーストシックス) are Japanese 6×6cm folding cameras, made by Tokiwa Seiki from 1952 to 1956.[1] They are very different from the prewar and wartime First Six made by Kuribayashi. Both the prewar and postwar cameras were distributed by Minagawa Shōten, that was surely the owner of the "First" brand name.
Contents
General description
All the postwar models are horizontal folders, with three-part struts inspired from the Ikonta. These struts are engraved with the First logo inside an oval, that was already used by Minagawa in advertisements for the prewar models. The main body has polygonal ends. The name FIRST SIX is embossed on the leatherette covering of the front door.
The back is hinged to the right, as seen by the photographer, and is retained by a sliding bar on the left. The tripod socket is centred under the camera, and there are film flanges at both ends of the bottom plate. All the models have a front-cell focusing lens.
Original model
The original model is easily distinguished by its streamlined top housing, containing an eye-level finder and an angle finder placed side by side.
Description
The eye-level finder is placed right in the middle, and the angle finder is slightly offset to the left. The name is engraved at the front of the top cover, with the words FIRST and SIX on either side of the finder windows. The shutter release and folding bed release have an identical elongated shape and are symmetrically placed: shutter on the right, folding bed on the left. The advance knob is at the left end; it has knurls on the side and an arrow at the top to indicate the winding direction.
Commercial life
The original model was announced in Japanese magazines dated June 1952, and advertised from July 1952 to March 1953.[2] The advertisements placed in the September and November 1952 issues of Asahi Camera list the camera with a First Anastigmat 75/3.5 coated lens and a Compur-like shutter (five blades, 1–400) synchronized via an ASA bayonet post.[3] The text mentions the ability to take 6×6cm and 4.5×6cm exposures, by way of a mask.
The English instruction sheet mentions two models: the model I with Compur-type shutter (B, 1–400) and the model II with Prontor-type shutter (B, 10–200).[4]
Actual examples
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| First Six, original model I, First Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 no.3676, MSK-II. Picture courtesy of Scott at www.collectiblecameras.com. (Image rights) |
Both single and dual format cameras have been observed, though the single format variant seems more numerous.[5] Single format cameras have a single red window in the middle of the back, with a horizontally sliding cover inscribed 6X6, whereas dual format cameras have an additional window placed above, with a similar cover presumably inscribed 4.5X6. Some single format examples have an additional diamond-shaped marking on the metal plate surrounding the red window, whose meaning is unknown.
All the cameras have a First Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 lens; lens serial numbers are known in the 19xx to 39xx range. Most examples, corresponding to the model I, have an MSK-II shutter (B, 1–400, ASA synch), with the shutter name MSK–II sometimes engraved in red and sometimes in black.[6] A single example of the model II has been observed so far, with a simpler unmarked shutter (B, 10–200, self-timer, ASA synch).[7]
The First Six V and VA
Description
The First Six V has a redesigned top cover, containing an uncoupled rangefinder combined with the viewfinder. The rangefinder is controlled by a wheel falling under the right thumb, with a disc placed above with a distance scale. The top plate carries the inscription "FIRST SIX–V" as well as two patent numbers PAT No.33490 No.33491.
The camera always has dual format ability, with red windows similar to those of the previous model, and two vertical red lines in the viewfinder delineating the field of view for 4.5×6cm exposures.
Commercial life
The First Six V was advertised in Japanese photography magazines from April 1953 to June 1954,[8] and the cheaper First Six VA was advertised from September 1953.[8] In the advertisements placed in Asahi Camera from September 1953 to June 1954, the two cameras are listed with a Tri-Lausar 80/3.5 lens.[9] They are distinguished by the shutter: the model V is advertised with an MSK (1–400) and the model VA with an NKS (1–200, self-timer).
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| Advertisement in Asahi Camera October 1953 (that dated September 1953 is nearly identical). (Image rights) | Advertisement in Asahi Camera January 1954 (those dated November 1953 and February to June 1954 are nearly identical). (Image rights) |
Actual examples
Examples observed in Japanese on-line auctions were fitted with a front-cell focussed three-element Tri-Lausar Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5 by Tomioka in a MSK-III shutter.
The First Six I and III
The First Six I and III have yet another top housing, containing two separate viewfinders, one for each exposure format. The two windows are arranged at the front so as to look like a rangefinder camera, a kind of deception used on other Japanese cameras of the time, such as the Atom Six.
Notes
- ↑ Date: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.361.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.754. The camera is mistakenly dated 1958 and called "First Six (New Model-I)" in Sugiyama, item 1300.
- ↑ Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.169–70.
- ↑ Instruction sheet reproduced at Butkus.org.
- ↑ Dual format: example observed in a Japanese online auction. Single format: examples observed in various online auctions.
- ↑ Examples pictured in this page, in McKeown, p.922, and observed in online auctions and for sale by online dealers.
- ↑ Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 1300.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.361.
- ↑ Advertisements in Asahi Camera September 1953, p.102, October 1953, p.97, November 1953, p.143, January 1954, p.97, February 1954, p.103, March 1954, p.89, April 1954, p.81, May 1954, p.159 and June 1954, p.165.
Bibliography
Original documents
- Asahi Camera. Advertisements by Minagawa Shōten:
- September 1953, p.102;
- October 1953, p.97;
- November 1953, p.143;
- January 1954, p.97;
- February 1954, p.103;
- March 1954, p.89;
- April 1954, p.81;
- May 1954, p.159;
- June 1954, p.165.
- First Camera Works. First Six. User manual for the First Six V published c.1953, date not indicated. Document reproduced in this Flickr set by Rebollo_fr.
Recent sources
- 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 754–7. (See also the advertisements for items 748, 751 and 753.)
- 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.75, 79 and 83 (brief mentions only).
- 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.922.
- 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 1297–300.
Links
In English:
In Japanese:
- Pictures of a viewfinder-only First Six [1] [2] [3] [4] in Ryoma_Photo's Hatena Fotolife gallery
