Difference between revisions of "Frank Six"
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The name ''Frank six'' is engraved in the top plate in cursive style. The model name ''MODEL–I–'' or ''MODEL 1951'' is engraved just below, in capital letters. The analysis of the serial numbers of the Seriter lens indicates that the Model 1951 predates the Model I.<REF> {{Sugiyama}}, items 1303–5, says that the Model I was made in 1950, before the Model 1951, but this is a mistake. This is repeated in {{McKeown}}, p. 928, who erroneously distinguishes the "Frank Six Model I (1950)" from the "Frank Six Model I (1953)". </REF> | The name ''Frank six'' is engraved in the top plate in cursive style. The model name ''MODEL–I–'' or ''MODEL 1951'' is engraved just below, in capital letters. The analysis of the serial numbers of the Seriter lens indicates that the Model 1951 predates the Model I.<REF> {{Sugiyama}}, items 1303–5, says that the Model I was made in 1950, before the Model 1951, but this is a mistake. This is repeated in {{McKeown}}, p. 928, who erroneously distinguishes the "Frank Six Model I (1950)" from the "Frank Six Model I (1953)". </REF> | ||
| − | On all the cameras, the shutter is a [[TKS]], certainly made by [[Tōsei Kōki]] itself. It has B, 1–200 speeds, a self-timer and a synch pin at the bottom right. The speed rim is engraved ''TKS.'' | + | On all the cameras, the shutter is a [[TKS]], certainly made by [[Tōsei Kōki]] itself. It has B, 1–200 speeds, a self-timer and a synch pin at the bottom right. The speed rim is engraved ''TKS.'' |
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| + | {| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;" | ||
| + | | rowspan="2" |[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/386066940/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/386066940_a07e7bf065_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/386066949/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/386066949_657412fe75_m_d.jpg] | ||
| + | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/386066946/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/93/386066946_77f7585345_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/386066947/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/386066947_900dfa1ef7_t_d.jpg] | ||
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| + | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/386066945/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/386066945_dab60c7f81_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/386066942/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/173/386066942_adaf2348ce_t_d.jpg] | ||
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| + | | colspan="2" |''Frank Six Model 1951, C Seriter Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens''<br>''Pictures courtesy of Robert Smith. {{with permission}}'' | ||
| + | |} | ||
=== Variations === | === Variations === | ||
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A camera has been offered at a Yahoo Japan auction as a "Frank Six Model II", but no photograph was provided to confirm this. | A camera has been offered at a Yahoo Japan auction as a "Frank Six Model II", but no photograph was provided to confirm this. | ||
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== The Frank Six IV == | == The Frank Six IV == | ||
Revision as of 19:43, 17 May 2007
The Frank Six (フランクシックス) are a series of Japanese 6×6 folding cameras produced in the first half of the 1950s by Tōsei Kōki.
Contents
Common features
All the Frank Six models are horizontal folders, with folding struts inspired by the Ikonta. They can take 6×6cm or 4.5×6cm format pictures when using an internal mask. The T.K logo of Tōsei Kōki is engraved on the folding struts and on the lens standard in one corner.
The Frank Six Model 1951 and Frank Six Model I
Description
The Frank Six Model 1951 and Frank Six Model I are the same camera: the known variations (see below) actually occurred after the name change. The overall shape and control layout is similar to the early models of the Olympus Chrome Six. The top and bottom plates are chrome finished. There is a tubular optical finder in the middle of the top plate, the body release is on the right and the folding bed release and accessory shoe are on the left. The advance knob is at the left end, it is quite high and has a conical base. There is a decorative film flange on the right end.
The back is removed together with the bottom plate for film loading. It is locked in place by a rotating button in the middle of the bottom plate, with L and O positions (Lock and Open). There is a metal plate at both ends of the body, acting as a light seal for the removable back. There are two red windows, one for each format, protected by a cover horizontally sliding under a black plate. These black plates are engraved 4.5 X 6 and 6 X 6 to indicate the picture format. Two red lines in the viewfinder delineate the field of view for 4.5×6cm pictures. The lens standard has protruding corners, one of them has a fancy shape, maybe a fake focusing tab.
The name Frank six is engraved in the top plate in cursive style. The model name MODEL–I– or MODEL 1951 is engraved just below, in capital letters. The analysis of the serial numbers of the Seriter lens indicates that the Model 1951 predates the Model I.[1]
On all the cameras, the shutter is a TKS, certainly made by Tōsei Kōki itself. It has B, 1–200 speeds, a self-timer and a synch pin at the bottom right. The speed rim is engraved TKS.
 
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| Frank Six Model 1951, C Seriter Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens Pictures courtesy of Robert Smith. (Image rights) | |
Variations
One example has been observed with what seems to be very early features.[2] The metal plates on both ends of the camera are engraved FRANK in capital letters. The lens standard has no TK logo.
The regular examples have the name Frank in cursive style on the endplates, instead of capital letters. They also have the TK logo engraved on a corner of the lens standard.
The engraving on the speed rim changed at some time, before the switch from Model 1951 to Model I. It was switched from T.K.S. in double struck style to TKS in regular capital letters.
The shutter plate has a black stripe and is inscribed FRANK at the bottom, approximately until the change of the model name. A pattern of black and white triangles appeared for some time, and it was replaced again by a thicker black stripe with a black diamond at the top.[3]
Various detail changes occurred at some point, after the transition from Model 1951 to Model I. On the early cameras, the lens standard is chrome with a black logo, there is no logo on the folding bed and the advance knob has a flat metal top with an arrow indicating the winding direction. On the late cameras, the lens standard is black with a white logo, there is a TK logo embossed in the leather of the folding bed and the advance knob has a round leather patch at the top and no arrow.
Some Model I cameras have Tōsei.O.W 1953 embossed in the back leather. Tōsei.O.W is underlined and probably stands for Tōsei Optical Works. This embossing is perhaps present on all the Model I cameras but this is unconfirmed. One example of the Model I with chrome lens standard is known with the year 1953 vertically stamped in the leather of the folding bed, where the examples with black lens standard have the TK logo.[4]
The lens is usually a Seriter Anastigmat 75/3.5 with front cell focusing on the Model I and a C Seriter Anastigmat 75/3.5 on the Model 1951. Its minimal aperture setting was 22, and its maker is unknown. McKeown's camera stamped 1953 has a Seriter Anastigmat 80/3.5, unlike the other 1953 example observed. A Model 1951 has been observed in a Yahoo Japan auction with a Nomular Anastigmat 75/3.2 lens.
A camera has been offered at a Yahoo Japan auction as a "Frank Six Model II", but no photograph was provided to confirm this.
The Frank Six IV
The Frank Six IV has a top housing containing an eye level finder offset to the right and a waist level optical finder offset to the left. The accessory shoe is now at the right end of the top plate, and the shape of the advance knob is different. The rest of the camera is very similar to the Model I. The top housing is engraved Frank.six in handwritten style and MODEL-IV- in red underneath. The shutter is the same TKS with B-1-200 speeds. The lens is now a Tosei Anastigmat 80/3.5, with a red C (certainly for Coated). On the cameras observed, the plate behind the lens is black.
McKeown mentions a Liner Six, a name variant of the Frank Six IV.
Notes
- ↑ Sugiyama, items 1303–5, says that the Model I was made in 1950, before the Model 1951, but this is a mistake. This is repeated in McKeown, p. 928, who erroneously distinguishes the "Frank Six Model I (1950)" from the "Frank Six Model I (1953)".
- ↑ Example pictured in this page at medfmt.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 1302 (Japanese text), and Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 362 (items 779 and 783), say that the black and white triangle pattern is a feature of the early production examples. This is invalidated by the the analysis of the serial numbers of the Seriter lenses.
- ↑ Example pictured in McKeown, p. 928.
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. Items 779–82. (See also the advertisement for item 783.)
- 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, 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. 928.
- 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 1303–7.
Links
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