Lyra Six
The Lyra Six (ライラシックス) is a Japanese 6×6 folder that was made by Fuji Kōgaku. It is a horizontal folder, copy of the Ikonta 6×6, with a folding optical finder, centered above the top plate.
The original model has no body release. There is a knob at the top left to advance the film, and an accessory shoe at the extreme right of the top plate. The folding bed opening button is on the right of the finder. The camera is embossed LYRA in the front leather, and the folding struts are engraved with the FUJI KOGAKU logo. It is advertised in September 1937[1], in a dual-format version that can take both 6×6 and 4.5×6 exposures. It is offered with a Super Lyra shutter providing T, B, 1–300 speeds and a choice of three lenses:
- Terionar f:4.5 (¥65);
- Terionar f:3.5 (¥80);
- Terionar f:2.9 (¥98).
The f:2.9 has 80mm focal length, while the f:3.5 has a 75mm focal length. The focal length of the f:4.5 lens variants is unclear. The shutter plate is marked SUPER LYRA at the top and FUJIKŌGAKU at the bottom. According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, later 1937 advertisements offer the Fujikō A (T, B, 1–300) and Fujikō B (T, B, 5–250) shutters instead of the Super Lyra. The shutter plate is almost identical with FUJIKō at the top. It is unclear if these variants are still dual format.
This variant is still advertised in 1938 in 6×6 format only[2].
The Lyra Six II and Lyra Six III have a body release, and it seems that the II was an expensive version with the f:2.9 lens and the III was a cheaper one with the f:3.5 or f:4.5 lenses[3].
The Lyra Six II is identical to the original model, with a body release protruding in front of the top plate. It is advertised in 1939[4], with an f:2.9 lens for ¥135 (shutter not specified but probably a Fujikō A), together with a choice of less expensive Lyra Six III variants. There is no mention of dual format. A similar advertisement dated October 1939 is visible in this page of the Heiki Seikatsu website.
A hybrid example, with dual format, a Super Lyra shutter (T, B, 1–300), a Terionar 80/2.9 lens and the body release of the Lyra Six II has been observed for sale recently (2006).
The Lyra Six III is a newer and cheaper variant, with a key in place of the knob advance, a decorative knob in place of the accessory shoe, a bulkier folding optical finder, strap lugs and a body release located on the top plate, as is more usual. It was advertised in 1939[5] in four lens/shutter combinations:
- Terionar f:4.5 and Fujikō B (¥74);
- Terionar f:3.5 and Fujikō B (¥84);
- Terionar f:4.5 and Fujikō A (¥85);
- Terionar f:3.5 and Fujikō A (¥95).
The Lyra Six III has one red window in the center of the back, protected by a horizontally sliding cover. The camera is embossed LYRA SIX in the back leather, with both words separated by the red window.
The Lyra Six F (ライラシックスＦ型), based on the Lyra Six III, is equipped with a new Fujikō F 1–200 shutter. The shutter plate is sometimes black with white markings and sometimes yellowish with black markings. These markings are almost the same as on the previous Fujikō shutters, except that FUJIKō at the top is written in two parts: FUJ and IKō, with an arrow between both. Two variants are offered in 1941[6]:
- Terionar f:4.5 lens (¥89);
- Terionar f:3.5 lens (¥101).[7]
A variant of the Lyra Six, with the finder contained in a top housing, is shown in this page at Japan Family Camera and has also been observed in an eBay auction. The top housing has the advance knob at the left end, engraved with a red arrow, then an accessory shoe with the folding bed opening button just before, the shutter release and a decorative knob on the right. The camera is dual format, for 6×6 and 4.5×6 exposures, with two red windows in the back, protected by horizontally sliding covers respectively marked 4.5X6 and 6X6. The folding struts are more curved than those of the usual Lyra Six models.
The top housing and maybe the folding struts have a LYRA FUJIKŌ logo, styled like the more usual FUJI KŌGAKU logo. The same logo seems to be embossed in the folding bed leather, and is present on the ever-ready case. The back leather is embossed LYRA-SIX. The lens is a front-cell focusing Terionar 80/3.5, marked LYRA Terionar 1:3.5 f=80mm, and the shutter is a Fujikō U with B, 10–200 speeds, synchonized via a PC connector and marked FUJIKŌ-U on the speed rim.
This camera could be a postwar model.
Notes
- ↑ Advertisement for the Semi Lyra (prewar), Baby Lyra and Lyra Six, originally published in the September 1937 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi in two parts, items 291–2 and 295.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Lyra range, published in the September 1938 issue of Asahi Camera.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342, mentions more combinations but in a confused way.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Lyrax and Lyra Six II and III, published in the August 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 296.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Lyra Six III, published in the May 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 297. — Advertisement for the Lyrax and Lyra Six II and III, published in the August 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 296.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Lyra range, published in the May 1941 issue of Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 298.
- ↑ This variant is pictured in Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten, p. 15.
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. Items 295–8.
- 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). P. 329 (pictures a Lyra Six F).
- Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten (思い出のスプリングカメラ展, Exhibition of beloved self-erecting cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P. 15.
Links
In Japanese:
- Lyra Six with top housing at Japan Family Camera
- Lyra Six F at Otowa no ni-kan refu, identified by mistake as a Lyra Six III
