Difference between revisions of "Japanese 3×4 and 4×4 pseudo TLR"

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(link to Alma Baby Ref, moved less certain comments to a note)
(moved the ref to the Clover Baby Ref in the main text, moved the external link to the corresponding page)
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The '''Chukon Ref''' (チューコンレフ)<REF> The name Chūkon can be written 忠魂 and then it means "faithful spirit", sometimes in the sense of "loyal dead" or "war dead". Riken used such weird "patriotic" names during the war. </REF> is a 3&times;4cm format [[pseudo TLR]] released by Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō (today [[Ricoh]]) in 1939. Its shape imitates a twin lens reflex but it is [[fixed focusing|fixed-focus]] and the finder is nothing more than a big [[brilliant finder]]. It has a black bakelite body, and the lens is said to be a Chukon Anastigmat 50/6.3 with three elements<REF> In [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/chukon.html this page of the Ricoh official website]. </REF> The shutter has B, 25, 50, 75, 100 speeds. The shutter plate is marked ''Chukon Ref'' at the top and ''R.K.K.'' at the bottom (for <U>R</U>iken <U>K</U>ōgaku <U>K</U>ōgyō).
 
The '''Chukon Ref''' (チューコンレフ)<REF> The name Chūkon can be written 忠魂 and then it means "faithful spirit", sometimes in the sense of "loyal dead" or "war dead". Riken used such weird "patriotic" names during the war. </REF> is a 3&times;4cm format [[pseudo TLR]] released by Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō (today [[Ricoh]]) in 1939. Its shape imitates a twin lens reflex but it is [[fixed focusing|fixed-focus]] and the finder is nothing more than a big [[brilliant finder]]. It has a black bakelite body, and the lens is said to be a Chukon Anastigmat 50/6.3 with three elements<REF> In [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/chukon.html this page of the Ricoh official website]. </REF> The shutter has B, 25, 50, 75, 100 speeds. The shutter plate is marked ''Chukon Ref'' at the top and ''R.K.K.'' at the bottom (for <U>R</U>iken <U>K</U>ōgaku <U>K</U>ōgyō).
  
The camera appears in the new products column of the August 1939 issue of ''Asahi Camera''<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;337. </REF>. It was only sold by Riken but it was made by another company<REF> According to [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/chukon.html this page of the Ricoh official website]. </REF>. The [[Alma Baby Ref]] is a very similar camera.<REF> There is also a reference on [http://www.tlr-cameras.com/Japanese/index.html this page at tlr-cameras.com] to a 1939 fixed focus pseudo TLR made by [[Prince]] and called "Prince Baby Ref", possibly the same as the Chukon Ref. A very similar camera called "Clover Baby Ref" is also reported as made in 1937 by Hagi Kōgyō Bōeki (荻工業貿易, Hagi Industries and Trade) (see the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/thumb.php?id=1033&APage=6 Clover Baby Ref] in the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/set_brws_01.php?id=1033 Camera database] of the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/ Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology]). </REF>
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The camera appears in the new products column of the August 1939 issue of ''Asahi Camera''<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;337. </REF>. It was only sold by Riken but it was made by another company<REF> According to [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/chukon.html this page of the Ricoh official website]. </REF>. The [[Alma Baby Ref]] sold by Banno Bōeki in 1937–8 or the [[Clover Baby Ref]] sold by Hagi Kōgyō Bōeki in 1937 are very similar cameras.<REF> There is also a reference on [http://www.tlr-cameras.com/Japanese/index.html this page at tlr-cameras.com] to a 1939 fixed focus pseudo TLR made by [[Prince]] and called "Prince Baby Ref", possibly the same as the Chukon Ref. </REF> It is probable that all these cameras were produced in the same sub-contracting factories.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==

Revision as of 16:46, 30 July 2006

Template:127 Japan The Chukon Ref (チューコンレフ)[1] is a 3×4cm format pseudo TLR released by Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō (today Ricoh) in 1939. Its shape imitates a twin lens reflex but it is fixed-focus and the finder is nothing more than a big brilliant finder. It has a black bakelite body, and the lens is said to be a Chukon Anastigmat 50/6.3 with three elements[2] The shutter has B, 25, 50, 75, 100 speeds. The shutter plate is marked Chukon Ref at the top and R.K.K. at the bottom (for Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō).

The camera appears in the new products column of the August 1939 issue of Asahi Camera[3]. It was only sold by Riken but it was made by another company[4]. The Alma Baby Ref sold by Banno Bōeki in 1937–8 or the Clover Baby Ref sold by Hagi Kōgyō Bōeki in 1937 are very similar cameras.[5] It is probable that all these cameras were produced in the same sub-contracting factories.

Notes

  1. The name Chūkon can be written 忠魂 and then it means "faithful spirit", sometimes in the sense of "loyal dead" or "war dead". Riken used such weird "patriotic" names during the war.
  2. In this page of the Ricoh official website.
  3. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337.
  4. According to this page of the Ricoh official website.
  5. There is also a reference on this page at tlr-cameras.com to a 1939 fixed focus pseudo TLR made by Prince and called "Prince Baby Ref", possibly the same as the Chukon Ref.

Printed bibliography

Links

In Japanese:

Asahi Bussan and Riken prewar and wartime cameras (edit)
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