Difference between revisions of "Lyrax"

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The '''Lyrax F''' (ライラックスF型) was released in late 1940 or early 1941.<REF> The first advertisements listed in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;343, are dated April 1941, but the [[Semi Lyra (prewar)|Semi Lyra F]] and [[Lyra Six|Lyra Six F]] equipped with the same shutter appeared at the end of 1940. </REF> It is equipped with the new Fujikō F shutter, also found on the [[Semi Lyra (prewar)|Semi Lyra F]], [[Lyra Six|Lyra Six F]] and [[Lyra Flex (prewar)|Lyra Flex F]]. The T setting was removed again and the shutter thus gives B, 1&ndash;200 speeds.
 
The '''Lyrax F''' (ライラックスF型) was released in late 1940 or early 1941.<REF> The first advertisements listed in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;343, are dated April 1941, but the [[Semi Lyra (prewar)|Semi Lyra F]] and [[Lyra Six|Lyra Six F]] equipped with the same shutter appeared at the end of 1940. </REF> It is equipped with the new Fujikō F shutter, also found on the [[Semi Lyra (prewar)|Semi Lyra F]], [[Lyra Six|Lyra Six F]] and [[Lyra Flex (prewar)|Lyra Flex F]]. The T setting was removed again and the shutter thus gives B, 1&ndash;200 speeds.
  
The {{Kakaku1940_short}}, compiled on October 25, 1940 and published in January 1941, listed four versions of the Lyrax, called "Lyrax" (&yen;75), "Lyrax F" (&yen;75), "Lyrax F L" (&yen;89) and "Lyrax F Y" (&yen;110), with no further detail.<REF> {{Kakaku1940_short}}, type 4, sections 1, 5A and 6A. </REF> These prices do not fit well with the prices observed in the advertisements, and the document is probably mistaken.
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The list of set prices compiled in October 25, 1940 and published in January 1941, mentioned four versions of the Lyrax, called "Lyrax" (&yen;75), "Lyrax F" (&yen;75), "Lyrax F L" (&yen;89) and "Lyrax F Y" (&yen;110), with no further detail.<REF> {{Kakaku1940_short}}, type 4, sections 1, 5A and 6A. </REF> These prices do not fit well with the prices observed in the advertisements, and the document is probably mistaken.
  
 
An advertisement dated May 1941<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Shashin Bunka]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;100. </REF>  offered the Lyrax F with the f/3.5 lens only, for {{yen|220|1941}}. {{Kokusan}} says that this version was also available with the f/4.5 lens, but this has not been confirmed.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;343 </REF> The camera was advertised as late as 1942.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;343 </REF> It was still mentioned with the Terionar f/3.5 lens in the {{Inquiry1943_short}}, listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943.<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, item 50. </REF>
 
An advertisement dated May 1941<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Shashin Bunka]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;100. </REF>  offered the Lyrax F with the f/3.5 lens only, for {{yen|220|1941}}. {{Kokusan}} says that this version was also available with the f/4.5 lens, but this has not been confirmed.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;343 </REF> The camera was advertised as late as 1942.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;343 </REF> It was still mentioned with the Terionar f/3.5 lens in the {{Inquiry1943_short}}, listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943.<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, item 50. </REF>
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* {{J historical}} P.&nbsp;37. (Included for its rangefinder.)
 
* {{J historical}} P.&nbsp;37. (Included for its rangefinder.)
 
* {{Inquiry1943}} Item 50.
 
* {{Inquiry1943}} Item 50.
* {{Kakaku1940}}
+
* {{Kakaku1940}} Type 4, sections 1, 5A and 6A.
 
* {{Lewis}} P.&nbsp;56 (brief mention only).
 
* {{Lewis}} P.&nbsp;56 (brief mention only).
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;329.
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;329.

Revision as of 12:10, 29 May 2007

Japanese Semi (4.5×6)
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
folding
Semi Ace | Semi Adler | Adler III | Adler A | Adler B | Adler C | Semi Ako | Ami | Bakyna | Semi Chrome | Semi Clover | Collex | Semi Condor | Semi Dymos | Semi Elega | Semi First | Auto Semi First | Baby Semi First | Gaica | Semi Gelto | Semi Germa | Hansa Semi Rollette | Heil | Hokoku | Hope | Kadera | Kankyu | Kelly | Kiko Semi | Semi Kinka | Semi Konter | Semi Kreis | Semi Kulax | Semi Lead | Semi Leotax | Semi Lester | Loyal | Semi Lucky | Semi Lyra | Semi Makinet | Semi Metax | Semi Minolta (I) and II | Auto Semi Minolta | Semi Miss | Mizuho | Semi Mulber | Semi National | New Gold | Okaco | Oko Semi | Semi Olympus | Semi Olympus II | Semi Osamo | Semi Pearl | Primo | Semi Prince | Semi Proud | Semi Prux | Roavic | Semi Rody | Rondex | Semi Rosen | Semi Rotte | Seica | Seves | Semi Shiks | Sintax | Semi Sixteenth | Semi Solon | Semi Sport | Star Semi | Semi-Tex | Tsubasa Kiko Three | Tsubasa Nettar | Tsubasa Super Semi | Ugein | Vester-Lette | Victor | Waltax | Wester | Zeitax
collapsible
Semi Kinsi | Lord | Lyrax | Nippon | New Olympic | Semi Olympic | Semi Renky | Auto Victor | Well Super
stereo
Sun Stereo
unknown
Semi Elka | Semi Keef | Napoleon
Postwar models ->
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo ->
Japanese 3×4, 4×4, 4×5, 4×6.5, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

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. The bottom plate is removed for film loading, as on the [eica screwmount models. It has film flanges at both ends, one of which contains a tripod thread, and it is locked in position by a key. The back is fixed and contains two red windows to control the film advance, protected by a horizontally sliding cover. It also has a round metal patch in the middle, used by the factory and later repairers to adjust the lens infinity position. There is a film spool extractor on the advance side.

The folding optical viewfinder stands above a large housing containing the uncoupled rangefinder, with two round windows. There is a distance setting knob above the right end of the rangefinder housing, graduated from 1 meter to infinity, and looking like the advance knob of a 35mm camera. There is metal patch behind the rangefinder housing, removable with the proper tool for rangefinder adjustment.

The advance knob and body release are mounted on a small separate housing at the left of the top plate, looking like the one mounted on some Ikonta models. It contains a double exposure prevention mechanism,[1] with a small red/white indicator. Once the release is pressed, the button is locked and the indicator turns red. The release is unlocked and the indicator turns white again when the advance knob is turned. The advance knob has two red arrows to indicate the winding direction.

The name Lyrax is engraved between the two rangefinder windows, in cursive style. A small plate inscribed FUJI KōGAKU is riveted under the base of the telescopic tube. The FUJI KōGAKU logo is embossed in the back leather at the bottom right.

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 at the top, reading FUJIKŌ in one word on one example and in two words FUJ and IKŌ on the two others, and no marking at the bottom.[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, also found on the Semi Lyra F, Lyra Six F and Lyra Flex F. The T setting was removed again and the shutter thus gives B, 1–200 speeds.

The list of set prices compiled in October 25, 1940 and published in January 1941, mentioned four versions of the Lyrax, called "Lyrax" (¥75), "Lyrax F" (¥75), "Lyrax F L" (¥89) and "Lyrax F Y" (¥110), with no further detail.[6] These prices do not fit well with the prices observed in the advertisements, and the document is probably mistaken.

An advertisement dated May 1941[7] offered 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.[8] The camera was advertised as late as 1942.[9] It was still mentioned with the Terionar f/3.5 lens in the "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943.[10]

The only actual example observed so far is pictured in Sugiyama.[11] The shutter plate is clear colored (certainly yellowish) with black markings, reading FUJ and IKŌ at the top, with an arrow in between, and certainly FUJIKŌGAKU at the bottom, and the lens engraving reads Fuji–kō Anastigmat Terionar. On the Lyra Six F and Lyra Flex F, the lens engraving was changed to Fuji–kō Terionar between lens no. 120000 and no. 126000 and the yellowish shutter plate was replaced by a black one at the same time. This perhaps also applied to the Lyrax F.

Notes

  1. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343, mentions automatic stop film advance but this is a mistake.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. The first advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343, are dated April 1941, but the Semi Lyra F and Lyra Six F equipped with the same shutter appeared at the end of 1940.
  6. Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 4, sections 1, 5A and 6A.
  7. Advertisement published in Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 100.
  8. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343
  9. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343
  10. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), item 50.
  11. Sugiyama, item 3034.

Bibliography

Links

In Japanese: