Difference between revisions of "Gotex and Poppy Six"

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An example of the Gotex has been observed in an eBay auction, corresponding to the variant described with a square plate behind the shutter. The full lens marking is ''Kikō Anastigmat Erinar 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No62XXX''. The front leather is embossed ''GOTEX'' (or ''GÔTEX'' or ''GŌTEX''). The top housing has a big ''KSK'' (or maybe ''NSK'') marking and other illegible markings in smaller letters. The signification is unknown but a similar marking has been observed on examples of the [[Semi Kulax]], [[Kiko Semi]] and [[Tsubasa Kiko III]].
 
An example of the Gotex has been observed in an eBay auction, corresponding to the variant described with a square plate behind the shutter. The full lens marking is ''Kikō Anastigmat Erinar 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No62XXX''. The front leather is embossed ''GOTEX'' (or ''GÔTEX'' or ''GŌTEX''). The top housing has a big ''KSK'' (or maybe ''NSK'') marking and other illegible markings in smaller letters. The signification is unknown but a similar marking has been observed on examples of the [[Semi Kulax]], [[Kiko Semi]] and [[Tsubasa Kiko III]].
  
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A variant of the Gotex has been observed in an eBay auction with '''front-cell focusing'''. The lens marking is ''Erinar Anastigmat 1:3.5 f=75mm N°101995''. The shutter speeds are not fully legible but the range is probably T, B, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 or 300. The front leather has no marking, and the top housing has a big ''SNK'' marking (looking very similar to the marking mentioned above), with ''TOKYO JAPAN'' and ''SHIN NIPPON'' written underneath. The auction's description says that the folding struts and the back are marked ''KIKO TSUBASA''.
+
A variant of the Gotex has been observed in an eBay auction with '''front-cell focusing'''. The lens marking is ''Erinar Anastigmat 1:3.5 f=75mm N°101995''. The shutter speeds are not fully legible but the range is probably T, B, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 or 300. The front leather has no marking, and the top housing has a big ''SNK'' marking (looking very similar to the marking mentioned above), with ''TOKYO JAPAN'' and ''SHIN NIPPON'' written underneath. The auction's description says that the folding struts and the back are marked ''KIKO TSUBASA''. This camera is mentioned by {{McKeown}} as a "folding rollfilm camera" by "SNK Camera Works".<REF> {{McKeown}}, p.&nbsp;897. </REF>
  
 
== Name variants ==
 
== Name variants ==
−
The '''Grace Six''' is only described by {{McKeown}}, who attributes it to [[Daitoh]], surely by mistake.<REF> Daitoh made inexpensive cameras including one called [[Ponix|Grace]], a name variant of the [[Ponix]]. This is probably the source of the confusion. Kigawa also used the name Grace on the [[Graceflex]]. </REF> The description mentions dual eye level and waist level finders, a chrome top plate and a unit focusing Erinar Anastigmat 75/3.5. No picture is provided but it is very probable that the camera is a name variant or an evolution of the Gotex.
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The '''Grace Six''' is only described by {{McKeown}}, who attributes it to [[Daitoh]], surely by mistake.<REF> {{McKeown}}, p.&nbsp;240. Daitoh made inexpensive cameras including one called [[Ponix|Grace]], a name variant of the [[Ponix]]. This is probably the source of the confusion. Kigawa also used the name Grace on the [[Graceflex]]. </REF> The description mentions dual eye level and waist level finders, a chrome top plate and a unit focusing Erinar Anastigmat 75/3.5. No picture is provided but it is very probable that the camera is a name variant or an evolution of the Gotex.
  
 
The Gotex was probably succeeded by the similar looking [[Poppy Six]] made by the [[Shin Nippon]] company.
 
The Gotex was probably succeeded by the similar looking [[Poppy Six]] made by the [[Shin Nippon]] company.
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== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
 
* {{Showa10}} Items 75 and 101.
 
* {{Showa10}} Items 75 and 101.
−
* {{McKeown12}} Page 464.
+
* {{McKeown12}} Pp.&nbsp;240, 464 and 897.
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==

Revision as of 21:08, 5 May 2007

Japanese Six (6×6)
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
folding
Adler Six | Bonny Six | Clover-Six | Condor Six | First Six | Gelto Six | Gotex | Green | Lyra Six | Super Makinet Six | Mamiya Six | Miyako Six | Mulber Six | Mulix | National Six | Neure Six | Oko Six | Olympus Six | Pilot Six | Romax | Ugein | Vester-Six | Victor Six | Weha Six
collapsible
Ehira Chrome Six | Minolta Six | Shinko Super | Weha Chrome Six
unknown
Freude Six | Heart Camera | Konter Six | Tsubasa Six
Postwar models (edit)
folding
Aires Viceroy | Angel Six | Aram Six | Astoria Super Six | Atom Six | Balm Six | Baron | Beauty Six (1950) | Beauty Six (1953) | Calm Six | Carl Six | Centre Six | Crown | Crystar Six | Daido Six | Dorima Six | Doris Six | Ehira Six | Elbow Six | First Six | Flora Six | Fodor Six | Frank Six | Fujica Six | Super Fujica Six | Futami Six | Gotex | Grace Six | Kohken Chrome Six | Kyowa Six | Liner Six | Lyra Six | Mamiya Six | Middl Six | Mihama Six | Mine Six | Minon Six | Mizuho Six | Motoka Six | Mount Six | Muse Six | Super Naiku | Ofuna Six | Olympus Six | Olympus Chrome Six | Orion Six | Oscar Six | Pigeon Six | Planet | Please Six | Pluto Six | Poppy Six | Press Van | Press Van-120 | Proud Chrome Six | Proud Super Six | Renown Six | Ricoh Six | Ruvikon | Ruvinal | Sanon Six | Silver Six | Sisley 1 | Sisley 2 & 3 | Sister Six | Tenar Six | Toho Six | Tomic | Toyoca Six | Ugein Six | Wagen Six | Walcon 6 | Welmy Six | Wester | Windsor Six
rigid or collapsible
Dia Six | Ehira Chrome Six | Enon Six | Flora | Flashline | Fujipet | Harmony | Mikono-6 | Orion | Ponix | Rich-Ray-6 | Shumy | Weha Chrome Six
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo models ->
Japanese 3×4 and 4×4, 4×5 and 4×6.5, 4.5×6 and older 6×9 ->

The Gotex[1] (ゴーテックス) is a Japanese 6×6 folder made by the company Kigawa Seimitsu from 1941 to 1944[2] and distributed by Kikō Shōji.

Description

The Gotex has a horizontal folding body, with struts similar to the Ikonta B. There is a top housing containing both an eye-level finder in the center and a brilliant finder offset to the right. There is a body release on the right of the viewfinders and an accessory shoe on the left. There are strap lugs at both extremities of the top plate, and an advance key at the left end. Film advance is controlled via a red window in the center of the back, protected by a horizontally sliding cover.

Evolution

The Gotex is advertised in 1942[3] for ¥187, with the lens and shutter assembly mounted on a helical (unit focusing). The lens is an Erinar Anastigmat 75/3.5 and the shutter is a Kiko Compur[4] with T, B, 1–300 speeds. At some point during the year, a square plate was mounted behind the shutter housing; this is not present on the early advertisement. The distributor also changed from Nichiei Shōkai to Kikō Shōji.

An example of the Gotex has been observed in an eBay auction, corresponding to the variant described with a square plate behind the shutter. The full lens marking is Kikō Anastigmat Erinar 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No62XXX. The front leather is embossed GOTEX (or GÔTEX or GŌTEX). The top housing has a big KSK (or maybe NSK) marking and other illegible markings in smaller letters. The signification is unknown but a similar marking has been observed on examples of the Semi Kulax, Kiko Semi and Tsubasa Kiko III.

A variant of the Gotex has been observed in an eBay auction with front-cell focusing. The lens marking is Erinar Anastigmat 1:3.5 f=75mm N°101995. The shutter speeds are not fully legible but the range is probably T, B, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 or 300. The front leather has no marking, and the top housing has a big SNK marking (looking very similar to the marking mentioned above), with TOKYO JAPAN and SHIN NIPPON written underneath. The auction's description says that the folding struts and the back are marked KIKO TSUBASA. This camera is mentioned by McKeown as a "folding rollfilm camera" by "SNK Camera Works".[5]

Name variants

The Grace Six is only described by McKeown, who attributes it to Daitoh, surely by mistake.[6] The description mentions dual eye level and waist level finders, a chrome top plate and a unit focusing Erinar Anastigmat 75/3.5. No picture is provided but it is very probable that the camera is a name variant or an evolution of the Gotex.

The Gotex was probably succeeded by the similar looking Poppy Six made by the Shin Nippon company.

Notes

  1. ↑ In McKeown, two cameras descriptions may correspond to the Gotex: one is called "Kiko 6" and listed under its own entry with no maker indicated, and the other is called "Tsubasa 6×6" listed under the Kigawa entry. These two names are probably erroneous.
  2. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi mentions advertisements dated from 1941 to 1944.
  3. ↑ Advertisement for the Gotex and Semi Kulax I and III, published in the January 1942 issue of Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 75. — Advertisement for the Gotex and Kiko Semi, published in the October 1942 issue of Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 101.
  4. ↑ Inferred from the katakana キコー・コンパー.
  5. ↑ McKeown, p. 897.
  6. ↑ McKeown, p. 240. Daitoh made inexpensive cameras including one called Grace, a name variant of the Ponix. This is probably the source of the confusion. Kigawa also used the name Grace on the Graceflex.

Bibliography

Links

Timeline

Kigawa timeline (edit)
Type 1930s 1940s 1950s
6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3
                                                                                                                                                                                   
3×4 rigid Baby Chrome
Baby Oso Tsubasa Oso
Tsubasa Arawashi ...
4×6.5 telescopic Tsubasa Chrome ...
folding Tsubasa Spring ...
4.5×6 strut folding Semi Chrome B
horizontal folding Tsubasa Super Semi ... _
Tsubasa II Super Semi
Tsubasa Nettar Tsubasa Kiko Three
vertical folding Semi Chrome A Semi Sixteenth
(dates unclear) 		Semi Kulax Kiko Semi ... _ Tsubasa Semi
6×6 horizontal folding Gotex ... ... Poppy Six
(dates unknown) 		... Carl Six
TLR Kiko Flex Tsubasaflex Graceflex
16mm subminiature ... Poppy
(dates unknown) 		...
Manufacturer: ... Kigawa Seimitsu ... Kigawa Kōgaku Carl Kōgaku
Shin Nippon
Distributor: Optochrom-sha ... Nichiei Shōkai Kikō Shōji ...
Cameras whose actual existence is dubious are in a lighter shade.
Cameras in yellow are variants sold and maybe assembled by other companies.
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