Gaica
The Riken Semi Gaica was a 4.5x6 folding camera sold from 1940 by Riken (today Ricoh). According to Ricoh's corporate site, it was a copy of the Zeiss Ikon Nettar, and it was not made by Riken but by another company. Perhaps this company is Fujimoto, who was making copies of the Ikonta at the time.
Ricoh's corporate site tells us there were two versions, both with German shutters: the first one with a Vario T-B-25-175, the other called Semi Gaica II with a Prontor II T-B-1-200. In both cases the lens was a Gaica Anastigmat 75/4.5.
However, on this page, we can observe pictures of a Gaica (not engraved Semi anywhere). The lens is a K.O.L. Gaica Anastigmat 7.5cm/4.5 lens and the T-B-1-175 shutter is marked Gaica with a RKK logo (surely for Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō). McKeown describes the same camera under the Gaica Semi entry, missing the relationship with Riken.
Note: Gaica means "victory song" and is written 凱歌 (modern transcription would be Gaika). During the war period, Riken used such "patriotic" names, as well as names reminding Japan's alliance with Germany.
Links
Ricoh's corporate website:
Other:
