Focal Happy
The Focal Happy (フォーカルハッピー) is a Japanese strut-folding camera taking 8×10.5cm tefuda plates. It was sold and perhaps made by Asanuma Shōkai, owner of the Happy brand later used for a plate folder by Molta.
Description
The Focal Happy has a wooden body, inspired from the Ernemann Klapp camera. The rectangular front standard is mounted on four straight folding struts, mounted by pairs on spring-loaded axis. The lens is mounted on a focusing helical with a large focus tab, and is surrounded by a sort of hood, slightly off-centered towards the bottom.
The rear part of the camera contains a vertically traveling focal-plane shutter, wound and set by a large knob on the photographer's right. This shutter is said to give T, B, 20–500 speeds.[1] The release button protrudes at the front of the right-hand side plate, and there is a thread for a cable release just below. There is a leather handle on the photographer's left, helping to hold the camera.
Surviving examples
Two surviving examples of the Focal Happy are known so far. The lens is reported as a Schneider Xenar 12cm f/4.5 on both cameras.[2]
The example pictured in McKeown has a metal plate screwed at the top, reading Focal Happy and 浅沼照会 ("Asanuma Shōkai" in kanji script); it perhaps also displays a serial number and the address of the company or a list of towns where it is installed. The axis of the folding struts are visible on the top plate. There is another plate attached below the shutter knob, certainly giving indications about the shutter speeds. The front standard has a wireframe hinged to the top. No eyepiece is visible, either because it is missing or because it is hidden behind the top plate.
The example pictured in Sugiyama has nothing on the top plate, and the axis of the folding struts do not show through. There is a large metal plate covering the whole right-hand side plate; it reads Focal Happy above the shutter knob, has a table of indications below and certainly the name 浅沼照会 ("Asanuma Shōkai") at the bottom. No wireframe finder is visible, perhaps because it is missing. The front standard has two additional handles, on both sides of the lens, helping to pull it out. This example seems later than the other one, but this is merely a guess.
Notes
Bibliography
- 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.85.
- 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 1070.
