Difference between revisions of "Japanese 3×4 and 4×4 pseudo TLR"
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Revision as of 22:50, 1 August 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
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ In this page of the Ricoh official website.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337.
- ↑ According to this page of the Ricoh official website.
- ↑ 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
- 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 142.
Links
In Japanese:
- Ricoh camera list at the Ricoh official website, with:
| 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 |
