Difference between revisions of "Lyrax"

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{{Japanese Semi}}
 
{{Japanese Semi}}
The '''Lyrax''' (ライラックス) is a 4.5×6 camera that was made from 1939 by [[Fuji Kōgaku]]. The lens and shutter assembly is mounted on a telescopic tube. There is an uncoupled rangefinder on the top plate, marked ''Lyrax'' in handwritten style on the front between the two round windows. The folding optical finder is on top of the rangefinder housing. The advance knob and body release are on the left of the top plate, and on the right there is another knob, obviously to look like the rewind knob of a 35mm camera. The lens is a front cell focusing Fuji-kō Anastigmat Terionar and the shutter plate is marked ''FUJIKŌ''.
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The '''Lyrax''' (ライラックス) is a 4.5×6 camera that was made from 1939 by [[Fuji Kōgaku]]. The lens and shutter assembly is mounted on a telescopic tube. There is an uncoupled rangefinder on the top plate, with two round windows and a folding optical finder on top of the rangefinder housing. Between the rangefinder windows the name ''Lyrax'' is engraved in handwritten style. The advance knob and body release are on the left of the top plate, on a small housing that probably contains an automatic film advance mechanism. On the right of the top housing there is another knob, obviously meant to look like the rewind knob of a 35mm camera. The lens is a front cell focusing Fuji-kō Anastigmat Terionar.
  
It is advertised in the October 1939 issue of ''Asahi Camera'' together with the [[Lyra Six]] (see [http://www.warbirds.jp/heiki/31000.htm this page]). At least two versions are offered, as reported by the text of the web page:
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The '''original model''' is advertised in 1939<REF> {{Showa10ad|Lyrax|302|July 1939|Asahi Camera}} &mdash; {{Showa10ad|Lyrax and [[Lyra Six]]|296|August 1939|Asahi Camera}} &mdash; Advertisement for the Lyrax and [[Lyra Six]], originally published in the October 1939 issue of ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in [http://www.warbirds.jp/heiki/31000.htm this page] of the [http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~heikiseikatsu/index.html Heiki Seikatsu website]. </REF>, sometimes together with the [[Lyra Six]], in four variants:
* f:4.5 lens, Fujikō B shutter with B, 5&ndash;250 speeds, &yen;185
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* f:4.5 lens, Fujikō B shutter (B, 5&ndash;250), &yen;185;
* f:3.5 lens, Fujikō A shutter with B, 1&ndash;250 speeds, &yen;210
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* f:4.5 lens, Fujikō A shutter (B, 1&ndash;300), &yen;195;
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* f:3.5 lens, Fujikō B shutter, &yen;200;
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* f:3.5 lens, Fujikō A shutter, &yen;210.
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The Fujikō B shutter has B, 5&ndash;250 speeds and the Fujikō A shutter has B, 1&ndash;300 speeds. The shutters are mounted on the [[Semi Lyra]] and Lyra Six. The shutter plate is marked ''FUJIKŌ'' at the top and is sometimes black with white markings or of a clear color with black markings<REF> See [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371074&APage=8 this page of th JCII]. </REF>.
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The '''Lyrax F''' (ライラックスF型) is equipped with a new Fujikō F shutter (1&ndash;200). The shutter plate is probably 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. It is offered in 1941<REF> {{Showa10ad|Lyra range|303|May 1941|Shashin Bunka}} </REF>, with the f:3.5 lens only, for &yen;220.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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== Links ==
 
== Links ==
* [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371074&APage=8 The Lyrax page] in the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/set_brws_01.php?id=1033 Camera database] of the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/ Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology]
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* [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371074&APage=8 The Lyrax] in the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/set_brws_01.php?id=1033 Camera database] of the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/ Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology]
* [http://www.warbirds.jp/heiki/31000.htm A page with Japanese ads, including the Lyrax]
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* Advertisement for the Lyrax and [[Lyra Six]], originally published in the October 1939 issue of ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in [http://www.warbirds.jp/heiki/31000.htm this page] of the [http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~heikiseikatsu/index.html Heiki Seikatsu website]. It is the second advertisement from the top.
  
 
[[Category: Japanese 4.5x6 rangefinder]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 4.5x6 rangefinder]]
 
[[Category: L]]
 
[[Category: L]]

Revision as of 16:41, 25 July 2006

Japanese Semi (4.5×6)
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
folding
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Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo models ->
Japanese 3×4 and 4×4, 4×5 and 4×6.5, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

The Lyrax (ライラックス) is a 4.5×6 camera that was made from 1939 by Fuji Kōgaku. The lens and shutter assembly is mounted on a telescopic tube. There is an uncoupled rangefinder on the top plate, with two round windows and a folding optical finder on top of the rangefinder housing. Between the rangefinder windows the name Lyrax is engraved in handwritten style. The advance knob and body release are on the left of the top plate, on a small housing that probably contains an automatic film advance mechanism. On the right of the top housing there is another knob, obviously meant to look like the rewind knob of a 35mm camera. The lens is a front cell focusing Fuji-kō Anastigmat Terionar.

The original model is advertised in 1939[1], sometimes together with the Lyra Six, in four variants:

  • f:4.5 lens, Fujikō B shutter (B, 5–250), ¥185;
  • f:4.5 lens, Fujikō A shutter (B, 1–300), ¥195;
  • f:3.5 lens, Fujikō B shutter, ¥200;
  • f:3.5 lens, Fujikō A shutter, ¥210.

The Fujikō B shutter has B, 5–250 speeds and the Fujikō A shutter has B, 1–300 speeds. The shutters are mounted on the Semi Lyra and Lyra Six. The shutter plate is marked FUJIKŌ at the top and is sometimes black with white markings or of a clear color with black markings[2].

The Lyrax F (ライラックスF型) is equipped with a new Fujikō F shutter (1–200). The shutter plate is probably 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. It is offered in 1941[3], with the f:3.5 lens only, for ¥220.

Notes

  1. Advertisement for the Lyrax, published in the July 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 302. — Advertisement for the Lyrax and Lyra Six, published in the August 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 296. — Advertisement for the Lyrax and Lyra Six, originally published in the October 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in this page of the Heiki Seikatsu website.
  2. See this page of th JCII.
  3. Advertisement for the Lyra range, published in the May 1941 issue of Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 303.

Printed bibliography

Links