Difference between revisions of "Lyrax"
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (biblio) |
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (tweaks) |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
== General description == | == General description == | ||
| − | The Lyrax has a metal telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly. The top and bottom plates are chrome finished. It seems that the back is removable together with the bottom plate. | + | The Lyrax looks like an overgrown screw-mount [[Leica]] with collapsible lens. It has a metal telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly. The top and bottom plates are chrome finished. It seems that the back is removable together with the bottom plate. |
| − | The folding optical viewfinder stands above a large housing containing the uncoupled rangefinder. The round rangefinder windows surround a ''Lyrax'' engraving in handwritten style. | + | The folding optical viewfinder stands above a large housing containing the uncoupled rangefinder. The round rangefinder windows surround a ''Lyrax'' engraving in handwritten style. There is knob above the right end of the rangefinder housing, probably the distance setting knob, looking like the advance knob of a 35mm camera. |
The advance knob and body release are mounted on a small separate housing at the left of the top plate. It is said to contain an automatic film advance mechanism with double exposure prevention.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p. 343. </REF> This housing looks like the one mounted on some [[Ikonta]] models. | The advance knob and body release are mounted on a small separate housing at the left of the top plate. It is said to contain an automatic film advance mechanism with double exposure prevention.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p. 343. </REF> This housing looks like the one mounted on some [[Ikonta]] models. | ||
| − | The | + | The lens is a front-cell focusing Terionar 75mm on all the models. |
== The original model == | == The original model == | ||
| − | The '''original model''' was released in 1939.<REF> | + | The '''original model''' was released in 1939.<REF> The earliest advertisement listed in {{Kokusan}}, p. 343, is dated June 1939. The same source says that the camera was featured in the September 1939 issue of ''[[Camera Club]]'' and in the December 1939 issue of ''[[Asahi Camera]].'' </REF> Advertisements dated July, August and October 1939<REF> July and August 1939: advertisements published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 101. October 1939: [http://www.warbirds.jp/heiki/neta/camera/laila.jpg advertisement] published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in [http://www.warbirds.jp/heiki/31000.htm this page of the Heiki Seikatsu website]. </REF> offered the camera in four variants: |
* f/4.5 lens, Fujikō B shutter, {{yen|185|1939}}; | * f/4.5 lens, Fujikō B shutter, {{yen|185|1939}}; | ||
* f/4.5 lens, Fujikō A shutter, {{yen|195|1939}}; | * f/4.5 lens, Fujikō A shutter, {{yen|195|1939}}; | ||
* f/3.5 lens, Fujikō B shutter, {{yen|200|1939}}; | * f/3.5 lens, Fujikō B shutter, {{yen|200|1939}}; | ||
* f/3.5 lens, Fujikō A shutter, {{yen|210|1939}}. | * f/3.5 lens, Fujikō A shutter, {{yen|210|1939}}. | ||
| − | The Fujikō B shutter gives B, 5–250 speeds and the Fujikō A shutter gives B, 1–300. | + | The Fujikō B shutter gives B, 5–250 speeds and the Fujikō A shutter gives B, 1–300. The shutters mounted on the Lyrax are the same as on the [[Semi Lyra (prewar)|New Semi Lyra]] and [[Lyra Six|Lyra Six III]] except that they lack the T setting. It was probably removed because it interfered with the operation of the double exposure prevention mechanism. |
| − | + | In the advertising pictures, the shutter plate is black with a white ''FUJIKŌ'' marking at the top. The three actual examples observed have the Terionar f/3.5 lens and the Fujikō B. They have a clear colored shutter plate with black markings, reading ''FUJIKŌ'' in one word on one example and in two words ''FUJ'' and ''IKŌ'' on the two others.<REF> ''FUJIKŌ:'' example pictured in [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371074&APage=8 this page of the JCII collection]. ''FUJ'' and ''IKŌ:'' example pictured in {{McKeown}}, p. 329, and example pictured in {{Sugiyama}}, item 3033. </REF>. | |
| − | |||
| − | In the advertising pictures, the shutter plate is black with a white ''FUJIKŌ'' marking at the top. | ||
== The Lyrax F == | == The Lyrax F == | ||
Revision as of 14:31, 16 April 2007
The Lyrax (ライラックス) is a 4.5×6 rangefinder camera made by Fuji Kōgaku from 1939.
General description
The Lyrax looks like an overgrown screw-mount Leica with collapsible lens. It has a metal telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly. The top and bottom plates are chrome finished. It seems that the back is removable together with the bottom plate.
The folding optical viewfinder stands above a large housing containing the uncoupled rangefinder. The round rangefinder windows surround a Lyrax engraving in handwritten style. There is knob above the right end of the rangefinder housing, probably the distance setting knob, looking like the advance knob of a 35mm camera.
The advance knob and body release are mounted on a small separate housing at the left of the top plate. It is said to contain an automatic film advance mechanism with double exposure prevention.[1] This housing looks like the one mounted on some Ikonta models.
The lens is a front-cell focusing Terionar 75mm on all the models.
The original model
The original model was released in 1939.[2] Advertisements dated July, August and October 1939[3] offered the camera in four variants:
- f/4.5 lens, Fujikō B shutter, ¥185;
- f/4.5 lens, Fujikō A shutter, ¥195;
- f/3.5 lens, Fujikō B shutter, ¥200;
- f/3.5 lens, Fujikō A shutter, ¥210.
The Fujikō B shutter gives B, 5–250 speeds and the Fujikō A shutter gives B, 1–300. The shutters mounted on the Lyrax are the same as on the New Semi Lyra and Lyra Six III except that they lack the T setting. It was probably removed because it interfered with the operation of the double exposure prevention mechanism.
In the advertising pictures, the shutter plate is black with a white FUJIKŌ marking at the top. The three actual examples observed have the Terionar f/3.5 lens and the Fujikō B. They have a clear colored shutter plate with black markings, reading FUJIKŌ in one word on one example and in two words FUJ and IKŌ on the two others.[4].
The Lyrax F
The Lyrax F (ライラックスＦ型) was released in late 1940 or early 1941.[5] It is equipped with the new Fujikō F shutter, giving 1–200 speeds. This shutter is found on the Semi Lyra F and Lyra Six F. It is likely that the T setting was removed on the Lyrax F and that only the B setting remained.
No detailed picture has yet been found of the Lyrax F. Based on the Semi Lyra F and Lyra Six F examples observed, the shutter plate should probably yellowish with black markings. These markings are almost the same as on the previous Fujikō shutters, except that the FUJIKō marking at the top is written in two parts: FUJ and IKō, with an arrow in between.
An advertisement dated May 1941[6] offers the Lyrax F with the f/3.5 lens only, for ¥220. Kokusan kamera no rekishi says that this version was also available with the f/4.5 lens, but this has not been confirmed.[7] The camera was advertised until 1942.[8]
Notes
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343.
- ↑ The earliest advertisement listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343, is dated June 1939. The same source says that the camera was featured in the September 1939 issue of Camera Club and in the December 1939 issue of Asahi Camera.
- ↑ July and August 1939: advertisements published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 101. October 1939: advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in this page of the Heiki Seikatsu website.
- ↑ FUJIKŌ: example pictured in this page of the JCII collection. FUJ and IKŌ: example pictured in McKeown, p. 329, and example pictured in Sugiyama, item 3033.
- ↑ The first advertisements mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343, are dated April 1941, but the Semi Lyra F equipped with the same shutter appeared at the end of 1940.
- ↑ Published in Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 100.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343
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 296, 302, 303.
- The Japanese Historical Camera. 日本の歴史的カメラ (Nihon no rekishiteki kamera). 2nd ed. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2004. P. 37. (Included for its rangefinder.)
- "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced in Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp.180–7. Item 50.
- Template:Kakaku1940
- 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). P. 56 (brief mention only).
- 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.
- 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 3033–4.
Links
In Japanese:
- Lyrax in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
- Advertisement for the Lyrax and Lyra Six published in the October 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in a page of camera advertisements at the Heiki Seikatsu website
