Difference between revisions of "Lyrax"
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{{Japanese Semi prewar}} | {{Japanese Semi prewar}} | ||
| − | The '''Lyrax''' (ライラックス) is a 4.5×6 camera | + | The '''Lyrax''' (ライラックス) is a 4.5×6 rangefinder camera made by [[Fuji Kōgaku]] between 1939 and 1942.<REF> Dates: {{Kokusan}}, p. 343. </REF> |
| − | The | + | == 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 | ||
| − | The '''Lyrax F''' (ライラックスＦ型) is equipped with | + | 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 rangefinder housing extends to the right and supports a knob that is probably the distance setting and is obviously meant to look like the rewind 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 overall aspect is that of an overgrown screw-mount [[Leica]] with collapsible lens. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == The original model == | ||
| + | The '''original model''' was released in 1939. Advertisements dated July 1939<REF> Published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 101. </REF>, August 1939<REF> Published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 101. </REF> and October 1939<REF> Published in ''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> offer the camera in four variants, all with a front-cell focusing Terionar: | ||
| + | * f/4.5 lens, Fujikō B shutter, {{yen|185|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 A shutter, {{yen|210|1939}}. | ||
| + | The Fujikō B shutter gives B, 5–250 speeds and the Fujikō A shutter gives B, 1–300. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The same shutter types are also found on the [[Semi Lyra (prewar)|New Semi Lyra]] and [[Lyra Six]], but they have a T setting. It is likely that the T setting was removed on the Lyrax because it would have 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. On the actual examples observed of the Lyrax, the shutter gives B, 5–250 speeds but has a clear shutter plate with black markings in two slightly different variants.<REF> Example pictured in [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371074&APage=8 this page] of the JCII collection and example pictured in McKeown, p. 329. </REF>. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == The Lyrax F == | ||
| + | The '''Lyrax F''' (ライラックスＦ型) was released in late 1940 or early 1941.<REF> The first advertisements mentioned in {{Kokusan}}, p. 343, are dated April 1941, but the [[Semi Lyra (prewar)|Semi Lyra F]] equipped with the same shutter appeared at the end of 1940. </REF> It is equipped with the new Fujikō F shutter, giving 1–200 speeds. This shutter is found on the [[Semi Lyra (prewar)|Semi Lyra F]] and [[Lyra Six|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<REF> Published in ''Shashin Bunka'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 100. </REF> offers 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. 343 </REF> The camera was advertised until 1942.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p. 343 </REF> | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
| Line 17: | Line 36: | ||
* {{Showa10}} Items 296, 302, 303. | * {{Showa10}} Items 296, 302, 303. | ||
* {{Lewis}} P. 56 (brief mention only). | * {{Lewis}} P. 56 (brief mention only). | ||
| − | * {{McKeown}} P. 329 | + | * {{McKeown}} P. 329. |
== Links == | == Links == | ||
Revision as of 14:42, 3 December 2006
The Lyrax (ライラックス) is a 4.5×6 rangefinder camera made by Fuji Kōgaku between 1939 and 1942.[1]
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 folding optical viewfinder stands above a large housing containing the uncoupled rangefinder. The round rangefinder windows surround a Lyrax engraving in handwritten style. The rangefinder housing extends to the right and supports a knob that is probably the distance setting and is obviously meant to look like the rewind 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.[2] This housing looks like the one mounted on some Ikonta models.
The overall aspect is that of an overgrown screw-mount Leica with collapsible lens.
The original model
The original model was released in 1939. Advertisements dated July 1939[3], August 1939[4] and October 1939[5] offer the camera in four variants, all with a front-cell focusing Terionar:
- 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 same shutter types are also found on the New Semi Lyra and Lyra Six, but they have a T setting. It is likely that the T setting was removed on the Lyrax because it would have 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. On the actual examples observed of the Lyrax, the shutter gives B, 5–250 speeds but has a clear shutter plate with black markings in two slightly different variants.[6].
The Lyrax F
The Lyrax F (ライラックスＦ型) was released in late 1940 or early 1941.[7] 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[8] 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.[9] The camera was advertised until 1942.[10]
Notes
- ↑ Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343.
- ↑ Published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 101.
- ↑ Published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 101.
- ↑ Published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in this page of the Heiki Seikatsu website.
- ↑ Example pictured in this page of the JCII collection and example pictured in McKeown, p. 329.
- ↑ 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.
- 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 P. 329.
Links
- The Lyrax in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
- 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. It is the second advertisement from the top.
