Difference between revisions of "Gokoku and Ricohl"
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) |
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
== The Gokoku == | == The Gokoku == | ||
| − | The [[Riken]] '''Gokoku''' was a Japanese camera taking 3x4cm pictures on 127 film, developed from 1938. It had a focal plane shutter and it looked like the [[Leica]] screw models, without rangefinder. It was not the only 3x4 camera with a focal plane shutter: other examples were the [[Foth]] [[Derby]] and the French [[Lumière]] [[Elax]], [[Gallus]] [[Derlux]] and [[Pontiac]] [[Lynx II]]. However it was probably the only one with an exposure counter and film advance fully coupled to the shutter winding. Reliability problems plagued the mechanism and delayed the introduction of the camera. | + | The [[Riken]] '''Gokoku''' was a Japanese camera taking 3x4cm pictures on 127 film, developed from 1938. It had a focal plane shutter and it looked like the [[Leica]] screw models, without rangefinder. It was not the only 3x4 camera with a focal plane shutter: other examples were the [[Foth]] [[Derby]] and the French [[Lumière]] [[Elax]], [[Gallus]] [[Derlux]] and [[Pontiac]] [[Lynx II]]. However it was probably the only one with an exposure counter and film advance fully coupled to the shutter winding. It is said the film advance takes place before the shutter winding. Reliability problems plagued the mechanism and delayed the introduction of the camera. |
Riken announced the first Gokoku model with '''interchangeable lens''' in 1939 and sales began in 1940. It could take [[Leica screw lenses]] and was normally equipped with a Gokoku Anastigmat 50/3.5 triplet lens. This lens was collapsible, with helical focusing and focusing tab, looking like the Leica Elmar 50/3.5. | Riken announced the first Gokoku model with '''interchangeable lens''' in 1939 and sales began in 1940. It could take [[Leica screw lenses]] and was normally equipped with a Gokoku Anastigmat 50/3.5 triplet lens. This lens was collapsible, with helical focusing and focusing tab, looking like the Leica Elmar 50/3.5. | ||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
== The Ricohl == | == The Ricohl == | ||
| − | Later Riken completely reworked the mechanism and launched the Riken '''Ricohl I'''. It had a longer top housing and a bigger finder. The exposure counter was now inside the advance knob, and there was no fake rewind knob. There was a screw thread around the release button. It was marked ''Ricohl Mod.I'' and ''R.K.K'' above the finder, and the serial number was in front of the accessory shoe. | + | Later, around late 1940, Riken completely reworked the mechanism and launched the Riken '''Ricohl I'''. It had a longer top housing and a bigger finder. The exposure counter was now inside the advance knob, and there was no fake rewind knob. There was a screw thread around the release button. It was marked ''Ricohl Mod.I'' and ''R.K.K'' above the finder, and the serial number was in front of the accessory shoe. The Ricohl I had the same Gokoku Anastigmat 50/3.5 lens as the Gokoku, but it is not totally clear if it was fixed or interchangeable. |
| + | |||
| + | The following version was the '''Ricohl IIB''', with an interchangeable Neutar (?, ノイタール) four element lens. This lens looks even more like the Leitz Elmar 50/3.5, but the screw mount was specific to the Ricohl. | ||
| + | |||
| + | It is said the [[Roico]] 4x4 camera used the same body, but with a lens shutter. | ||
== Serial numbers == | == Serial numbers == | ||
| + | An unverifiable source (Japanese seller) says about the Ricohl I that 1500 were produced. It is unknown if this number also comprises the Ricohl IIB, or even the Gokoku. | ||
Some serial numbers observed: | Some serial numbers observed: | ||
* Gokoku: 1168 (probably interchangeable, matching 10168 lens), 2818 | * Gokoku: 1168 (probably interchangeable, matching 10168 lens), 2818 | ||
* Ricohl I: 3309 (Gokoku lens No 11275) | * Ricohl I: 3309 (Gokoku lens No 11275) | ||
| + | * Ricohl IIB: | ||
== Links == | == Links == | ||
Revision as of 12:14, 18 April 2006
Contents
The Gokoku
The Riken Gokoku was a Japanese camera taking 3x4cm pictures on 127 film, developed from 1938. It had a focal plane shutter and it looked like the Leica screw models, without rangefinder. It was not the only 3x4 camera with a focal plane shutter: other examples were the Foth Derby and the French Lumière Elax, Gallus Derlux and Pontiac Lynx II. However it was probably the only one with an exposure counter and film advance fully coupled to the shutter winding. It is said the film advance takes place before the shutter winding. Reliability problems plagued the mechanism and delayed the introduction of the camera.
Riken announced the first Gokoku model with interchangeable lens in 1939 and sales began in 1940. It could take Leica screw lenses and was normally equipped with a Gokoku Anastigmat 50/3.5 triplet lens. This lens was collapsible, with helical focusing and focusing tab, looking like the Leica Elmar 50/3.5.
Later lens interchangeability was abandoned and the Gokoku was sold with a fixed lens, the same Gokoku Anastigmat 50/3.5.
The Gokoku had a B-20-30-40-50-100-200-500 focal plane shutter. The shutter speed selector was above the top housing like on the Leica. The Gokoku was marked above the finder Gokoku No 1 (with a stylized G) and R.K.K. (for Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō). The serial number was in front of the accessory shoe. At the left end there was what looks like a rewind knob, but 127 film do not need rewind, so presumably it was only there to look like the Leica. There was one red window in the back, probably to set the first exposure. The back and bottom plate were removable with two keys.
There was also an accessory shoe, and Riken sold an external rangefinder for the Gokoku, marked RKK and GOKOKU RANGE-FINDER. It was copied on the external rangefinder of the Leica Standard, with a shorter base.
The Ricohl
Later, around late 1940, Riken completely reworked the mechanism and launched the Riken Ricohl I. It had a longer top housing and a bigger finder. The exposure counter was now inside the advance knob, and there was no fake rewind knob. There was a screw thread around the release button. It was marked Ricohl Mod.I and R.K.K above the finder, and the serial number was in front of the accessory shoe. The Ricohl I had the same Gokoku Anastigmat 50/3.5 lens as the Gokoku, but it is not totally clear if it was fixed or interchangeable.
The following version was the Ricohl IIB, with an interchangeable Neutar (?, ノイタール) four element lens. This lens looks even more like the Leitz Elmar 50/3.5, but the screw mount was specific to the Ricohl.
It is said the Roico 4x4 camera used the same body, but with a lens shutter.
Serial numbers
An unverifiable source (Japanese seller) says about the Ricohl I that 1500 were produced. It is unknown if this number also comprises the Ricohl IIB, or even the Gokoku. Some serial numbers observed:
- Gokoku: 1168 (probably interchangeable, matching 10168 lens), 2818
- Ricohl I: 3309 (Gokoku lens No 11275)
- Ricohl IIB:
Links
Ricoh's corporate site:
- Gokoku / Ricohl, with pictures of a fixed lens Gokoku, a Ricohl I and a Ricohl IIB (from top to bottom)
- Ricohl: featured article
- Riken wartime camera names: featured article
Other:
| Asahi Bussan and Riken prewar and wartime cameras () | ||
|---|---|---|
| rigid or collapsible | ||
| Vest Adler | Gokoku | Semi Kinsi | Letix | Olympic | New Olympic | Regal Olympic | Semi Olympic | Super Olympic | Vest Olympic | Riken No.1 | Ricohl | Roico | Seica | Zessan | ||
| folders | pseudo TLR | TLR |
| Semi Adler | Adler III | Adler A | Adler B | Adler C | Adler Four | Adler Six | Gaica | Heil | Kinsi | Chukon Ref | Ricohflex | Ricohflex B |
