Frank Six

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. The Sanon Six (サノンシックス), Muse Six (ミューズシックス) and Liner Six are rebadged Frank Six models.

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 lens standard has protruding corners, one of them having a round lever actuating the self-timer. The T.K logo of Tōsei Kōki is engraved on the folding struts and on the other corner of the lens standard.

The Frank Six Model 1951, Model 1952 and Model I

Description

The Frank Six Model 1951, Frank Six Model 1952 and Frank Six Model I are the same camera: the known variations (see below) actually occurred after the switch to "Model I". 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 name Frank six is engraved in the top plate in cursive style. The model name MODEL 1951, MODEL 1952 or MODEL–I– is engraved just below, in capital letters. The analysis of the serial numbers of the Seriter lens indicates that the Model 1951 and Model 1952 predate the Model I.

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, and the speed rim is engraved TKS. All the cameras have a front-cell focusing lens. A few examples of the Model 1951 have a Nomular 75mm f/3.2. The other cameras have a Seriter. It is engraved C SERITER Anastigmat on the early examples and SERITER Anastigmat on the late ones (SERITER is written in red in all cases). Nearly all of them are 75mm f/3.5 but one example seems to have 80mm focal length.

Frank Six Model 1951, C Seriter Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens no.2724, early shutter plate, early T.K.S. engraving. Pictures courtesy of Robert Smith. (Image rights)

Evolution

Frank in cursive style on the end plate. (Image rights)

One example has been observed with what seems to be very early features. The metal plates on both ends of the camera are engraved FRANK in capital letters. The lens standard has no T.K logo.

T.K logo on the lens standard. (Image rights)

The regular examples have the name Frank in cursive style on the endplates, instead of capital letters. They also have the T.K logo engraved on a corner of the lens standard.

T.K.S. engraving in double struck style. (Image rights)

The engraving on the speed rim changed at some time, before the switch from Model 1951 to Model I. It was altered from T.K.S. in double struck style to TKS in regular capital letters. The only Model 1952 example observed so far belongs to this period. It has Tōsei.O.W 1952 embossed in the back leather. Tōsei.O.W is underlined and probably stands for Tōsei Optical Works.

The shutter plate has a black stripe and is inscribed FRANK at the bottom, approximately until the switch to Model I. A pattern of black and white triangles appeared for some time, with a TOSEI marking at the bottom. It was replaced again by a thicker black stripe with a black diamond at the top and the same TOSEI marking at the bottom.

Early type of advance knob. (Image rights)

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 T.K logo embossed in the leather of the folding bed and the advance knob has a round leather patch at the top and no arrow.

At least some Model I cameras have Tōsei.O.W 1953 embossed in the back leather, the same as the embossing of the Model 1952 example. (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 T.K logo.

Frank Six Model I, Seriter Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens no.12092, late shutter plate. Pictures courtesy of Scott at www.collectiblecameras.com. (Image rights)

Advertisements

The Frank Six was introduced in late 1950, presumably as Model 1951. The switch to the Model I probably occurred before January 1952. An advertisement dated May 1952 by Million Shōkai offered the Frank Six with Seriter lens for ¥10,000. The advertisement contains typos: the Frank Six is called "Flank Six" and the Semi Frank is called "Semi Flank". In the advertising picture, the advance knob has a flat metal top, the lens standard is chrome and the shutter plate is of the first type. An advertisement dated December 1952 shows the second type of shutter plate, with the triangle pattern.

The Sanon Six and Sanon Six II

The Sanon Six is a name variant of the Frank Six, distributed by Takasago Shōkai. The original Sanon Six was featured in the March 1953 issue of Ars Camera, with a Chibanon or Chibanone (チバノン) 80/3.5 lens and a TKS shutter. The shutter is said to have a basic self-timer, certainly consisting of a hole for a needle and thread: the shutter is released when the thread is pulled. No picture of this model has been observed so far, and this version of the TKS shutter is otherwise unknown.

The Sanon Six II was offered for ¥8,500 in an advertisement dated June 1953 From the advertising picture, the camera looks the same as the late Frank Six Model I, with a black lens standard and a white T.K logo. The lens is perhaps called Chibar (チバー), and the shutter is a TKS with the late type of shutter plate, inscribed SANON at the bottom.

The Sanon Six III and Muse Six

The Sanon Six III

The Sanon Six III has a top housing containing the eye-level viewfinder, slightly offset to the right as seen by the photographer. The accessory shoe is above the top housing, to the left of the viewfinder. The advance knob is quite similar to the knob of the Frank Six I, and there is a decorative film flange at the right end. The back is hinged to the right. The lens standard is black with a T.K logo. The camera's overall aspect is quite similar to the Frank Six IV, except for the absence of the brilliant finder.

The Sanon Six III was offered for ¥9,800 in an advertisement by Takasago Shōkai dated July 1953, with a Tri-Lausar 80/3.5 lens by Tomioka and a TKS shutter. Only one surviving example has been observed so far.

The Muse Six

The Muse Six was advertised from August to October 1954 by the distributor Shinkō Shōji. It is similar to the Sanon Six III, but has a Muse 80/3.5 lens and a TKS shutter only giving B, 10–200 speeds. It seems that the T.K logo has disappeared from the lens standard. The Muse Six was priced at ¥6,800, perhaps to clear the stocks. No surviving example has been observed so far.

The Frank Six II and III

Almost nothing is known of the Frank Six II and III. One of these two models was probably similar to the Sanon Six III.

Lewis briefly mentions the Frank Six II as released in 1951 and the Frank Six III as released in 1952. It is said that the Frank Six III was featured in a February 1953 column of Ars Camera. An advertisement dated August 1953 lists the models I, II, III, IV and V, with no further detail. A camera has been offered at an online auction as a "Frank Six Model II", but no photograph was provided to confirm this.

The Frank Six IV and Liner Six

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 at the right end of the top plate, and the shutter release and folding bed release are located as on the Model I. The advance knob has a different shape, with a round leather patch at the top and an arrow indicating the winding direction. The back is hinged to the right and contains two red windows, similar to the red windows of the Model I.

The top housing is engraved Frank.six in cursive style and MODEL–IV– in red capital letters. The lens standard is black with a white T.K logo. The company name Tōsei.O.W is embossed in the leather of the back, under the red windows, and the T.K logo is embossed in the leather of the folding bed.

The shutter is a TKS (B, 1–200, self-timer), similar to the shutter of the Model I with the last type of shutter plate. The synch post consists of a single pin, an ASA bayonet or a PC socket.

The lens is a Tosei Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5 on most examples, sometimes with a red C engraving. There are variations in the shape and colour of the lens bezel (silver or black). One example is known with a Tri-Lausar 8cm f/3.5 lens by Tomioka.

The Frank Six IV was pictured in the August 1953 advertisement cited above, where the lens was given as a Tosei 80/3.5 and the shutter as a TKS. The camera was offered for ¥9,800 with the same features in advertisements dated January and April 1954. The model name is given as "Frank Six VI" in April 1954, perhaps by mistake.

The Liner Six

The Liner Six is a name variant of the Frank Six IV. The name Liner Six is engraved above the top housing, together with initials perhaps reading TSK, KSK or RSK.

One example has been observed with the usual TKS shutter and a Liner Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5 lens. Another example is pictured in Sugiyama with a Rapidex shutter (T, B, 1–300) and a Lausar 7.5cm f/3.5 lens by Tomioka. This lens and shutter equipment is certainly not original (the T exposure is typical of pre-1945 cameras) and probably comes from a wartime Semi Sport.

The Frank Six V

The Frank Six V is a rangefinder model, with a completely different top housing. The main body is similar to the Frank Six IV. The range- and viewfinder are combined in a single eyepiece, offset to the right as seen by the photographer. The rangefinder is certainly uncoupled but the position of the setting wheel is unknown. There is a sliding button at the front of the top housing, certainly moving a mask for 4.5×6cm pictures in and out of the finder frame. The shutter release and folding bed release are the same as on the model IV. The advance knob is the same too, except for the shape of the arrow. There is a film reminder at the right end of the top plate. The accessory shoe is in the middle, above the round rangefinder window. The lens standard is black with a white logo.

The name Frank–Six V.R (with an "R" surely for Rangefinder) is engraved above the viewfinder, together with the serial number and the company name TOSEI.KOKI CO, LTD. The T.K logo is also engraved in front of the accessory shoe.

Only one actual example has been observed so far. The shutter is certainly a TKS with a PC synch post, and the lens is a Tosei Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5. It has depth-of-field indications on a black background around the lens.

The Frank Six V was offered for ¥9,800 in the advertisements dated January and April 1954 cited above, with Tosei 80/3.5 lens and TKS shutter.

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 525–7, 779–82 and 953. (See also the advertisements for items 519 and 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 and 1322.

Links

In English:

• Frank Six page at the Medium Format Megasite

In Spanish:

• A post with the Frank Six IV, at Jorge Larranaga's blog

In Japanese:

• Frank Six Model 1951 and Frank Six IV at Japan Family Camera