Idea Spring
The Idea Spring (アイデア・スプリング) are Japanese strut-folding cameras with a focal plane shutter, made by Rokuoh-sha, the manufacturing branch of Konishiroku (predecessor of Konica).
First generation
The first generation models were released in 1926.[1] They were available in three different formats: kabine (13×16.5cm), meishi (5×8.5cm) and atom (4.5×6cm).[2]
Kabine model
The larger kabine model (13×16.5cm) was a copy of the Goerz Ango, as is blatantly said in original advertisements.[3] It has various shutter controls on the right-hand side, a folding optical finder with no cover flaps and a front standard allowing vertical and horizontal movements, locked by two knobscrews. The lens is mounted on a focusing helical with a focus tab. In an early advertisement, the picture shows a multi-creased bellows, and the shutter is said to give 22 settings from 1/10 to 1/1200, other than T and B.[4] Three lens options are listed: Dynar 210/5.5, Collinear 200/6.3 or Heliar 180/4.5, all of them supplied with three double-sided plate holders and one film pack holder. The dimensions are given as 22×18½×6½cm, and the camera is said to weigh no more than 1950g with the Heliar lens.[5]
In the February 1930 issue of Asahi Camera, the kabine model was advertised along with the Neat Reflex SLR; no other Idea Spring model was listed.[6] The picture shows a single-creased bellows; no other difference is visible from the previous picture. The weight is again made a sales point of the camera. Three lens options are listed: Dagor f/6.8, Tessar f/4.5 and Heliar f/4.5. The latter is written in bold characters, perhaps because it was considered the most prestigious.
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| Advertisement for the Idea Spring and Neat Reflex in Asahi Camera February 1930. (Image rights) |
Meishi model
The middle meishi model (5×8.5cm)[7] was somewhat inspired by the Ernemann Klapp, but it seems to have four struts hinged at the middle, the same as on the kabine model, instead of the rigid struts of the Ernemann camera.[8] There are two knobs to control the shutter on the photographer's right, and the release button protrudes at the front of the right-hand side plate. One advertisement says that the shutter gives 21 settings up to 1/1000, other than T and B.[9] The lens is mounted on a focusing helical with a large focus tab, and is surrounded by a sort of hood, slightly off-centered towards the bottom. It seems that the folding optical finder was originally uncovered, then received two cover flaps copied on the Ernemann camera.[10] The advertisements say that the camera was made of mahogany; one of them mentions "polished wood" (木製塗), another presents it as a "tropical model" (トロピカル・モデル). One advertisement only mentions the Heliar 120/4.5 lens, and says that the camera was supplied with six single-sided metal plate holders and one pack film holder. The other advertisement lists the following lens options:
- Dynar f/5.5, ¥175;
- Heliar f/4.5, ¥200;
- Heliar f/3.5, ¥220.
Atom model
The smaller atom model (4.5×6cm) is presented as a copy of the Ernemann Miniature Klapp in an original advertisement.[11] No picture is known of this model. According to the same advertisement, the shutter gives eight settings from 1/10 to 1/650, other than T and B, the camera was only available with the Heliar 75/3.5 lens, and was supplied with six single-sided metal plate holders and one pack film holder.
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera. Advertisement by Konishiroku Honten in February 1930 (p.A1).
- 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.35–6 and 47.
- 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.538.
- Morishita Hajime (森下肇). "Atomu-han kamera no subete" (アトム判カメラのすべて, All of Atom-size cameras). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.22, September 1992. No ISBN number. Airesu no subete (アイレスのすべて, special issue on Aires). Pp.55–70.
- 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 1104–5 and 6009.
Links
In Japanese:
- Idea Spring in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
- Advertisement for the Idea Spring in the [http://www2f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ter-1212/sakura/11year.htm camera list of the R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha website
| Konishiroku prewar and wartime cameras () | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| plate | hand cameras | stereo hand cameras | strut folders | box | telephoto | SLR |
| Idea (original) | Idea A | Idea B | Idea Snap | Idea No.1 | Idea (metal) | Lily (original) | Lily (horizontal) | Lily (metal) | Tropical Lily | Noble | Ohca | Sakura Palace | Sakura Pocket Prano | Sakura Prano | Idea Binocular | Sakura Binocular Prano | Minimum Idea | Idea Spring | Korok | Champion | Cherry | Sakura Army | Sakura Honor | Sakura Navy | Idea Telephoto | Idea Reflex (1910 and 1911) | Idea Reflex (1932) | Neat Reflex | Sakura Reflex Prano | |
| rollfilm | folders | box or collapsible | TLR | |||
| Pearlette | Special Pearlette | B Pearlette | Pearl (for plates and rollfilm) | Pearl No.2 | Pearl (Year 8) | Baby Pearl | Semi Pearl | Sakura Palace | Record | Sakura (box) | Sakura (bakelite) | Sakura-flex | ||||
- ↑ Tanaka, p.35 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10; Lewis, p.35.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Morishita, p.70 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.22.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Morishita, p.70 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.22, whose illustration is also reproduced in Tanaka, p.35 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10, and advertisement in Asahi Camera February 1930, p.A1.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Morishita, p.70 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.22, whose illustration is also reproduced in Tanaka, p.35 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10.
- ↑ The weight is "no more than 520 monme".
- ↑ Advertisement on p.A1 of the magazine, reproduced in this page.
- ↑ Meishi size: advertisement reproduced in Morishita, p.70 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.22, and advertisement reproduced in the R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha website. Tanaka, p.35 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10, says daimeishi (6.5×9cm) instead, probably by mistake.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Morishita, p.70 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.22, whose illustration is also reproduced in Tanaka, p.35 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10, and advertisement reproduced in the R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha website.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Morishita, p.70 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.22.
- ↑ Uncovered: illustration reproduced in Tanaka, p.35 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10. Cover flaps: advertisement reproduced in the R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha website.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Morishita, p.70 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.22.
