Lily (horizontal)

This is a work in progress.

The Lily (リリー) are Japanese plate folders made by Rokuoh-sha, the manufacturing branch of Konishi or Konishiroku (predecessors of Konica). This page is about the horizontal models, in meishi, tefuda and hagaki size.

For the original vertical model, see Lily (original). For the later metal models, see Lily (metal).

General description

The horizontal Lily were patterned after the Voigtländer Alpin. They have a mixed construction with a wooden main body and a metal folding bed. The bellows have double extension, driven by a knob on the photographer's right. The front standard has a U-shaped main part and horn-shaped handles to pull it forward. It allows vertical and horizontal movements. There is a folding Newton finder above the main body. The name The Lily is usually inscribed on a round plate attached above the body, to the right of the viewfinder (as seen by the photographer).

The Lily No.2 and Special Lily

The Lily No.2 (リリー2号) was reportedly introduced in January 1916 in tefuda format (8×10.5cm), and in September in meishi format (5.5×8cm). The following lens and shutter combinations were reportedly offered in 1916:

• Wollensak Voltas lens, Victo shutter, on the meishi model;
• Wollensak Vinco lens, Victo shutter, on the meishi model;
• Wollensak Vinco lens, Victor shutter, on the tefuda model;
• Voigtländer Dynar lens, Compound shutter, on the tefuda model.

The Special Lily (スペシャルリリー) was reportedly introduced in September 1916 too, at first in tefuda-size only. It was released as an upmarket version, similar to the Lily No.2 but for its more expensive lens and shutter combinations. When it was released in 1916, it was reportedly available with an Optimo shutter and a Wollensak Velostigmat Ser.II f/4.5 lens. In January 1919, a hagaki-size (8×14cm) version was introduced with the same lens; a Bausch & Lomb Zeiss Ser.IC f/4.5 lens option was simultaneously added to the tefuda model. A Wollensak Verito f/4.5 lens is also reported at some time. It is said that the Special Lily was later available with a Compur shutter and Heliar f/4.5, Collinear f/6.8 or Dagor f/6.8 lenses.

The Lily No.2 appears along with the vertical Lily No.1 in an advertisement dated 1921. A number of lens and shutter combinations are listed, but no price is given:

• Voltas f/8 lens, Victo shutter;
• Idea Anastigmat f/7.5 lens, Victo shutter;
• Velostigmat Ser.IV f/6.3 lens, Auto shutter on the tefuda model, Victo shutter on the meishi model;
• Velostigmat Ser.IV f/6.3 lens, Optimo shutter;
• Velostigmat Ser.II f/4.5 lens, Optimo shutter;
• Zeiss Tessar Ser.IIB f/6.3 lens, Optimo shutter;
• Dagor lens, Compur shutter;
• Collinear f/6.3 lens, Compur shutter;
• Cooke Ser.III f/6.3 lens, Optimo shutter.

It seems that these combinations apply to the tefuda and meishi models indifferently, unless noted. The name "Special Lily" does not appear in this document, which nonetheless lists expensive combinations.

Bibliography

• Kikuoka Sei (菊岡清). "Konica history 3. Meiji 41-nen – Taishō 12-nen." (Konica history 3. 明治41年–大正12年. From Meiji year 41 (1908) to Taishō year 12 (1923).) 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.10, September 1987. No ISBN number. Konishiroku kamera no rekishi (小西六カメラの歴史, special issue on Konishiroku). Pp.24–32.
• 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.23–4.
• 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). Pp.538 and 543.
• 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 1118 and 1120–2.
• Tanaka Yoshirō (田中芳郎). "Meiji–Taishō jidai no Konishi Honten no kamera wo shiru tame no hon" (明治・大正時代の小西本店のカメラを知るための本, Books about the Konishi Honten cameras of the Meiji and Taishō eras). 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.10, September 1987. No ISBN number. Konishiroku kamera no rekishi (小西六カメラの歴史, special issue on Konishiroku). Pp.92–4.

Links

In Japanese:

• Special Lily and Neat Lily at Asacame
• Lily No.2 or Special Lily (tefuda-size) in the Junk Binbō blog
• Lily No.2 and more pictures in Miyazawa Noriyuki's camera site
• Pages of the R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha website:
  • Lily cameras
  • Lily No.2, Special Lily and Neat Lily in the camera list