Lyrax

From Camera-wiki.org
Revision as of 09:05, 3 December 2006 by Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (link fix, much work needed)
Jump to: navigation, search
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 camera that was made by Fuji Kōgaku between 1939 and 1942. 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 (prewar) 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 the FUJIKō marking at the top is written in two parts: FUJ and IKō, with an arrow between both. It is offered in 1941[3] and 1942[4], 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 the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology.
  3. Advertisement for the Lyra range, published in the May 1941 issue of Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 303.
  4. Advertisements mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi.

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, with a picture of a Lyrax F.

Links