Difference between revisions of "Kyowa Six"
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{{Japanese Six postwar}} | {{Japanese Six postwar}} | ||
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The '''Kyowa Six''' (キョーワ・シックス) is a Japanese folding camera taking 6×6 and 4.5×6 exposures, made by [[Kyōwa|Kyōwa Kōki]] in 1954–5.<REF> Date: advertisements and articles listed in {{Kokusan}}, p.351. </REF> The only known model is called '''Kyowa Six RIII''', and there is no record of any other. | The '''Kyowa Six''' (キョーワ・シックス) is a Japanese folding camera taking 6×6 and 4.5×6 exposures, made by [[Kyōwa|Kyōwa Kōki]] in 1954–5.<REF> Date: advertisements and articles listed in {{Kokusan}}, p.351. </REF> The only known model is called '''Kyowa Six RIII''', and there is no record of any other. | ||
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The Kyowa Six RIII is a horizontal folder with three-part folding struts inspired from the [[Ikonta]]. It seems that the main body is the same as on the [[Flora Six]] made by the same company. The viewfinder and the uncoupled rangefinder are contained in the top housing. The common eyepiece is offset to the left, as seen by the photographer, and the rectangular second-image window is on the left. It seems that rangefinder is controlled by a distance wheel actuated by the right thumb. | The Kyowa Six RIII is a horizontal folder with three-part folding struts inspired from the [[Ikonta]]. It seems that the main body is the same as on the [[Flora Six]] made by the same company. The viewfinder and the uncoupled rangefinder are contained in the top housing. The common eyepiece is offset to the left, as seen by the photographer, and the rectangular second-image window is on the left. It seems that rangefinder is controlled by a distance wheel actuated by the right thumb. | ||
− | There is a sliding button on the back of the top housing, switching a mask inside the viewfinder and another inside the exposure chamber, allowing to change the picture format in mid-roll. However the user can switch only when the film roll has reached certain numbers: 1, 4, 7, 10 to switch from 6×6 to 4.5×6 and 1, 5, 9, 13 for the reverse.<REF> Film numbers: {{Kokusan}}, p.351. </REF> | + | There is a sliding button on the back of the top housing, switching a mask inside the viewfinder and another inside the exposure chamber, allowing to change the picture format in mid-roll. However the user can switch only when the film roll has reached certain numbers: 1, 4, 7, 10 to switch from 6×6 to 4.5×6 and 1, 5, 9, 13 for the reverse.<REF> Film numbers: {{Kokusan}}, p.351. </REF> This device was the object of the Japanese utility model (実用新案) no.19012.<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.134. </REF> |
The advance knob is at the left end of the top plate, and there is a small film flange at the opposite end. The back is hinged to the right and certainly contains red windows to control the film advance. There is an accessory shoe above the rangefinder window, and the shutter release is at its usual location on the right. The ''KYOWA'' logo is embossed in the leather of the front door. | The advance knob is at the left end of the top plate, and there is a small film flange at the opposite end. The back is hinged to the right and certainly contains red windows to control the film advance. There is an accessory shoe above the rangefinder window, and the shutter release is at its usual location on the right. The ''KYOWA'' logo is embossed in the leather of the front door. | ||
− | The lens is a Chiyoda 80/3.5 and | + | The lens is a Chiyoda 80/3.5, made by a company called [[Chiyoda Kōgaku Kōgyō]] (which is not to be confused with Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō, predecessor of [[Minolta]]).<REF> Lens and lens maker: advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.134. </REF> The shutter is a five-blade Kyowa (B, 1–300) with a self-timer and M/X flash synchronization via a PC socket.<REF> M/X synch: advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.134. </REF> The name ''SYNCHRO–KYOWA'' is engraved at the bottom of the speed ring. It is said that this was the first Japanese shutter incorporating an M/X synch selector;<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.351. </REF> it was the object of the Japanese utility model no.405668.<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.134. </REF> |
== Commercial life == | == Commercial life == | ||
The Kyowa Six RIII was featured in Japanese magazines dated August to November 1954.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.351. </REF> The August 1954 advertisement in ''[[Camera Mainichi]]'' gives the price of {{yen|13,000|1954}} and mentions [[Kyōwa|Kyōwa Kōki]] as the maker and [[Hioki|Hioki Shōkai]] as the authorized dealer. The last reported mention of the Kyowa Six is an advertisement dated August 1955,<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.351. </REF> and all trace of Kyōwa Kōki is lost after that date. | The Kyowa Six RIII was featured in Japanese magazines dated August to November 1954.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.351. </REF> The August 1954 advertisement in ''[[Camera Mainichi]]'' gives the price of {{yen|13,000|1954}} and mentions [[Kyōwa|Kyōwa Kōki]] as the maker and [[Hioki|Hioki Shōkai]] as the authorized dealer. The last reported mention of the Kyowa Six is an advertisement dated August 1955,<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.351. </REF> and all trace of Kyōwa Kōki is lost after that date. | ||
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+ | == Surviving example == | ||
+ | Only one surviving example of the Kyowa Six RIII has been observed so far, in bad condition with a missing lens.<REF> Example observed in an online auction. </REF> | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == |
Revision as of 19:19, 19 December 2007
The Kyowa Six (キョーワ・シックス) is a Japanese folding camera taking 6×6 and 4.5×6 exposures, made by Kyōwa Kōki in 1954–5.[1] The only known model is called Kyowa Six RIII, and there is no record of any other.
Description
The Kyowa Six RIII is a horizontal folder with three-part folding struts inspired from the Ikonta. It seems that the main body is the same as on the Flora Six made by the same company. The viewfinder and the uncoupled rangefinder are contained in the top housing. The common eyepiece is offset to the left, as seen by the photographer, and the rectangular second-image window is on the left. It seems that rangefinder is controlled by a distance wheel actuated by the right thumb.
There is a sliding button on the back of the top housing, switching a mask inside the viewfinder and another inside the exposure chamber, allowing to change the picture format in mid-roll. However the user can switch only when the film roll has reached certain numbers: 1, 4, 7, 10 to switch from 6×6 to 4.5×6 and 1, 5, 9, 13 for the reverse.[2] This device was the object of the Japanese utility model (実用新案) no.19012.[3]
The advance knob is at the left end of the top plate, and there is a small film flange at the opposite end. The back is hinged to the right and certainly contains red windows to control the film advance. There is an accessory shoe above the rangefinder window, and the shutter release is at its usual location on the right. The KYOWA logo is embossed in the leather of the front door.
The lens is a Chiyoda 80/3.5, made by a company called Chiyoda Kōgaku Kōgyō (which is not to be confused with Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō, predecessor of Minolta).[4] The shutter is a five-blade Kyowa (B, 1–300) with a self-timer and M/X flash synchronization via a PC socket.[5] The name SYNCHRO–KYOWA is engraved at the bottom of the speed ring. It is said that this was the first Japanese shutter incorporating an M/X synch selector;[6] it was the object of the Japanese utility model no.405668.[7]
Commercial life
The Kyowa Six RIII was featured in Japanese magazines dated August to November 1954.[8] The August 1954 advertisement in Camera Mainichi gives the price of ¥13,000 and mentions Kyōwa Kōki as the maker and Hioki Shōkai as the authorized dealer. The last reported mention of the Kyowa Six is an advertisement dated August 1955,[9] and all trace of Kyōwa Kōki is lost after that date.
Surviving example
Only one surviving example of the Kyowa Six RIII has been observed so far, in bad condition with a missing lens.[10]
Notes
- ↑ Date: advertisements and articles listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.351.
- ↑ Film numbers: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.351.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.134.
- ↑ Lens and lens maker: advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.134.
- ↑ M/X synch: advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.134.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.351.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.134.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.351.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.351.
- ↑ Example observed in an online auction.
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 488.
The Kyowa Six is not listed in Sugiyama.