Gotex and Poppy Six
The Gotex (ゴーテックス) is a Japanese 6×6 folder made by Kigawa from 1941 to the end of the war, and later by Shin Nippon Kōgyō.
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[1] 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[2] 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.
An example of the Gotex has been observed in an online 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 online 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".[3]
Possible name variants
McKeown has various entries which presumably correspond to name variants of the Gotex. The "Kiko 6", attributed to no particular company, is described as having helical focusing and a Rapid Kiko shutter (1–500), but its format is not mentioned.[4] The "Tsubasa 6×6", attributed to Kigawa has a Kiko Erinar 75mm f/3.5 lens and dual finders under a polished-chrome top housing.[5] This model is surely similar to the Gotex, and is perhaps related to the Tsubasa Six listed in the January 1941 price list.
The "Grace Six" is a 6×6 folder attributed 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 the camera is surely a name variant or an evolution of the Gotex or SNK. The name "Grace" was also used by Kigawa on the Graceflex.
The Gotex was probably succeeded by the similar looking Poppy Six made by the Shin Nippon company.
Notes
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Inferred from the katakana キコー・コンパー.
- ↑ McKeown, p.897.
- ↑ McKeown, p.465.
- ↑ McKeown, p.464.
- ↑ 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.
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. Item 75. (See also the advertisement for item 101.)
- 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). Pp.240, 464–5 and 897.
Links
In Japanese:
- Advertisement for the Gotex and Kiko Semi published between 1942 and 1945, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura
