Japanese 3×4 and 4×4 pseudo TLR

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313260801_178ac214a6_m_d.jpg
Extract of a Baby Ref leaflet.
(Image rights)
Japanese 6×6 TLR
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
6×6cm Elmoflex | First Reflex | Kiko Flex | Lyra Flex | Minoltaflex | Minoltaflex Automat | Minoltaflex military prototype | Nōman Flex | Ostenflex | Prince Flex | Ricohflex (original) | Ricohflex B | Rollekonter | Roll-o-Frex | Rorter Ref | Rorterflex | Sakura-flex | Simpuflex | Starflex | Taroflex | Valflex | Yokusanflex
Postwar models and other TLR ->
Pseudo TLR and medium format SLR ->
Other Japanese 6×6, 4.5×6, 3×4 and 4×4 ->

This page deals with the prewar and wartime cameras. See also the Herlight 4×4cm pseudo TLR made in 1947 by Ofuna.

Concept and description

Some pseudo TLR cameras taking 3×4cm pictures on 127 film were sold between 1937 and 1943 by Japanese companies. Their shape imitates a twin lens reflex but the finder is nothing more than a big brilliant finder, and they are fixed-focus.

There is a variety of names, but they can be arranged in three groups. Inside a group, the various models seem to differ only by the nameplate, attached by two screws and easily interchanged, and by the lens and shutter markings. It is probable that these cameras were all produced in the same sub-contracting factories.

The body is made of black bakelite body.[1] The film is advanced by a knob on the right hand side. The right hand side plate is pulled out for film loading and is locked by a button on the left hand side. This side plate also supports the advance knob, engraved with an arrow indicating the winding direction. All the models have a 50/6.3 lens and B, 25, 50, 75, 100 shutter speeds unless noted.

In the following, the models are described in alphabetical order inside a group. It seems that the Clover Baby Ref was the earliest model, released in 1937, and that the last model was the Alma Baby Ref sold until 1943.

First group

The cameras of the first group have a plain silver viewing hood. The whole side plate is removable and there are no strap lugs. The advance knob has three knurled rows and is attached by a screw visible in the middle.

The Clover Baby Ref

The Clover Baby Ref (クロバーベビーレフ) was advertised from August to October 1937 and featured in the new products column of Asahi Camera in November.[2] The company name that appears in the August 1937 advertisement[3] is Hagi Kōgyō Bōeki, and the cost was ¥18.50.

The camera has a Clover Baby Ref nameplate, the lens is reported as an Argus Anastigmat and the shutter plate is engraved ARGUS in capital letters. (This lens and shutter equipment is similar to the Prince Baby Ref and Alma Baby Ref.) One surviving example is pictured in Sugiyama.[4]

The Prince Baby Ref

The Prince Baby Ref (プリンスベビーレフ) was advertised in 1939 and 1940.[5] Its price was ¥21 in October 1939, April and August 1940.[6] The company name that appears in the advertisements is the distributor Fukada Shōkai.[7]

The Prince Baby Ref has an Argus lens and shutter, like the Clover Baby Ref and Alma Baby Ref. It is identical to the Clover Baby Ref but for the Prince Baby Ref nameplate. One surviving example is pictured in Sugiyama.[8]

Second group

The second group is the most numerous. The cameras have a black viewing hood with an X-shaped rib. The top part of the side plate is fixed and there are strap lugs on both sides of the body. The advance knob has two knurled rows and no visible screw, except on the Baby Roll Ref which has other small differences.

The Alma Baby Ref

The Alma Baby Ref (アルマベビーレフ) was advertised in 1942 and 1943.[9] The company name that appears in an advertisement dated May 1943[10] is Banno Bōeki, which was probably only the distributor.[11] The price at the time was ¥23.50.

The Alma Baby Ref has an Argus lens and shutter, like the Clover Baby Ref and Prince Baby Ref. The nameplate is only inscribed Alma. One surviving example is pictured in Sugiyama.[12]

The Baby Ref

313106927_1b43bade1c_m_d.jpg
Baby Ref and Union Ref leaflet.
(Image rights)

The Baby Ref (ベビーレフ) is known from a leaflet dating aroung 1937[13] where it is presented together with the Union Ref as an affordable reflex camera. No company name is indicated, and the price was ¥15.

The Baby Ref has no nameplate. The lens is advertised as a Clear Anastigmat. The shutter plate is optimistically marked Perfection at the top and Durable at the bottom, with a KS logo on the left. It is thus identical to the Mario Ref and Pilot Ref, except for the nameplate. One surviving example is pictured in Sugiyama, where it is called "Mario Ref (Without Name)".[14]

The Chukon Ref

The Chukon Ref (チューコンレフ)[15] was featured in the new products column of the August 1939 issue of Asahi Camera[16]. It was sold by Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō (today Ricoh) but it was not made by this company[17].

The lens is written CHUKON ANASTIGMAT and the shutter plate is marked Chukon Ref at the top and R.K.K. at the bottom (for Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō). It is said that the camera cost ¥20 around 1940.[18]

The Mario Ref

The Mario Ref (マリオレフ) appears in an exhibition catalogue of the JCII.[19] The name plate reads MARIO REF, the lens is a Clear Anastigmat 50/6.3 and the shutter plate is marked Perfection at the top and Durable at the bottom, with a KS logo on the left. It is thus identical to the Baby Ref and Pilot Ref, except for the nameplate. The exhibition catalogue attributes the camera to Tachibana Shōkai.

The Pilot Ref 3×4 and 4×4

The Pilot Ref (パイロットレフ) exists in two versions. The 3×4 model was advertised between 1938 and 1942, alongside the 4×4 model in 1941 and 1942.[20] The company name that appears in the advertisements is Tachibana Shōkai.[21]

The price varies between ¥16 and ¥23 depending on the date and model. The advertising pictures show no external difference between the two models, perhaps because they only display the 3×4 model. There are two nameplate variants, one is marked Pilott Ref in lowercase letters (with two "t") and the other is marked PILOT REF in uppercase letters (normal orthography). In the advertisements, the lens is called Clear[22] Anastigmat and the shutter plate is written Perfection and Durable, like the Baby Ref and Mario Ref.

A 3×4 example has been sold in a 2006 auction[23], with the Pilott Ref nameplate. The lens is a Simpu Anastigmat 50/6.3. (The "Simpu" lens name is also found on the Semi-Tex 4.5×6 folder.) The shutter has a 70 setting instead of 75, the shutter plate is marked Rapid at the top, Shutter at the bottom and at there is an N.S logo in a circle on the right.

The Baby Roll Ref

The Baby Roll Ref has the same body as the cameras of the second group, from which it differs by details only. It appears in Sugiyama and McKeown, where it is attributed to Yuzawa Mfg. Co. (probably a translation of Yuzawa Seisakusho, 湯沢製作所).[24]

The advance knob has three knurled rows and a visible screw in the middle. The viewing hood is slightly different, with a larger central part. The shutter speeds are B, 25, 50, 100: unlike most other models, there is no 1/75 setting. Other minor differences are visible in the sideplate locking button.

Two variations are known. One is pictured in Sugiyama and McKeown. The name Baby Roll Ref is inscribed in cursive style on the viewing hood and on the black nameplate. There is a logo on the upper part of the nameplate, consisting of the letter Y inside a circle. The sideplate locking button is placed on the photographer's left, as on the other models, but it is surrounded by a small metal plate. The shutter plate is marked Special Shutter at the top and Baby Roll Ref at the bottom, and the Y logo is repeated on its right. The lens is reported as a Soft Anastigmat 50/6.3, a name that probably faithfully describes its picture-taking abilities.[25]

The other is pictured in Sugiyama only. The name BABY ROLL REF is inscribed in capital letters on the silver nameplate, from which the Y logo is absent. No marking is visible on the viewing hood. The sideplate locking button is placed on the photographer's right, in the middle of the removable sideplate itself. The shutter plate is black and chrome, it is inscribed STRAIGHT at the top and B.R.R. at the bottom (obviously for Baby Roll Ref), with the Y logo on the right. The lens is again reported as a Soft Anastigmat 50/6.3.[26]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Senzen no rikō kamera – hoi", p. 21 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 14, about the Chukon Ref. See also this page about the Chukon Ref in the Ricoh official website.
  2. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.
  3. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 69.
  4. ↑ Sugiyama, item 4032.
  5. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  6. ↑ Advertisements published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi: October 1939 on p. 91, April and August 1940 on p. 80.
  7. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi attributes the Prince Baby Ref to Prince Camera Works, but this does not mean much for this camera.
  8. ↑ Sugiyama, item 4063.
  9. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 334.
  10. ↑ Advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 59.
  11. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi attributes the Alma Baby Ref to Miyoshi Kōgaku, like the other Alma cameras, but this does not mean much for this model.
  12. ↑ Sugiyama, item 4018.
  13. ↑ Undated leaflet for the Victory, Semi Dymos, Reex, Baby Ref, Union Ref and Baby Chrome, published by an unknown company.
  14. ↑ Sugiyama, item 4053.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337.
  17. ↑ According to this page of the Ricoh official website.
  18. ↑ Ricoh kamera no subete, p. 22.
  19. ↑ Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten, p. 25.
  20. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 338–9.
  21. ↑ Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 83.
  22. ↑ Name inferred from the katakana クリアー and observed on the similar Mario Ref.
  23. ↑ Example sold in the 30 September 2006 auction by Auction Team Köln, for €390. This example also appears in this page of the Auction Team Köln website, for a previous auction where it was presumably unsold.
  24. ↑ Sugiyama, items 4065–6, McKeown, p. 1032.
  25. ↑ Sugiyama, item 4065, McKeown, p. 1032.
  26. ↑ Sugiyama, item 4066.

Bibliography

Links

In English:

In Japanese:

Asahi Bussan and Riken prewar and wartime cameras (edit)
rigid or collapsible
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folders pseudo TLR TLR
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