Mamiya Six III

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History

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Mamiya Six III (war-time version) (sn 17170)
Image by Dirk HR Spennemann. (Image rights) (Image rights)

Mamiya Six Model III is unique inasmuch as its straddles World War II. Announced in March 1940, [1] before the outbreak of the Pacific War, the camera was produces as long as possible until the factory had to be moved from Tokyo in March 1945. Because the Mamiya Six seems to have been the first camera to have been ordered by the Central Purchasing Office of SCAP,[2] full scale production of the Mamiya Six III resumed in January 1946, when 46 units were delivered.[3]

War-time version

The camera was announced in February 1941[4] and introduced to the market in ¶¶ 1942[5] During the war, production volumes seem to have increased, twice necessitating an enlargement of the factory, first in February 1942 and then again in February 1944[6] In March 1944, Mamiya opened a secondary production facility at Tokyo University for the grinding and assembly of lenses.[7] The production of the Mamiya Six III was halted in March 1945, when the Mamiya factory had to be relocated from Tokyo to the intensified U.S. bombing raids.[8]

Technical details

Like the Mamiya I, the camera was fitted with a double exposure warning system, comprised of a small transparent, red coloured half-pane that would appear in the rangefinder window. At least the post war version has a shutter release lock that prevented accidental double exposure.[9] Double exposure warning mark in viewfinder. Flash contact.

The Pre-War Versions of the Mamiya Six III are built-identical with the Mamiya Six I, but have a slightly smaller waist level finder (10 x10 mm) window on the top late, while the round viewfinder window on the front has a smooth edge. The shutter release button now has a slight depression (dimple) in the top and the frame counter is encased in the shape of a droplet. The guide rail for the removable pressure plate runs for the length of the film gate and now exhibits an embossed directional arrow. The eyelets for a neck strap, which had been part of the Mamiya Six I design, have been omitted.

Dimensions

145 x 107 x 55 mm closed (107 mm open) ; weight: 820g[10]

Lens and shutter combinations

  • K.O.L. Sola Special Anastigmat f/3.5 75mm
  • K.O.L. Special f/3.5 75mm
    • in DABIT-SUPER (B, 1-500th) shutter[13]
    • in GINREI KOHKI VESTER-3 (B, 1-200th) shutter[14]
    • in NKS-TOKIO (B, T, 1-200th) shutter[15]
    • in Orient A shutter[16]
    • in TYS -II (B, T, 1-200th) shutter[17]
  • Schneider Xenar f/3.5 75mm
    • in F. DECKEL MÜNCHEN COMPUR RAPID (T, B, 1-300th) shutter[18]
 
 


5260055103_ec7f7d42aa_m.jpg 5260055671_5d4edbdbf1_m.jpg 5260667562_a69dbb7fd6_m.jpg
5260661982_feb4ff9c2a_m.jpg 5260661534_2d3de96f03_m.jpg 5260056809_e164c31807_m.jpg
War-time version of the Mamiya Six Model III with K.O.L. Special f/3.5 75mm in TYS -II (B, T, 1-200th) shutter.
Images by Dirk HR Spennemann. (Image rights)

Focussing Gearing

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|5261261985_379e93d2ef_m.jpg
Design July 1939[19] 		5275545002_03e366484e_m.jpg
|5261261985_379e93d2ef_m.jpg
Design October 1940[20]
Focussing Gearing of the Mamiya Six. Comparison of patent drawings with actual examples.
Patent scans edited copies of IJPL images; camera images by Dirk HR Spennemann. (Image rights)

Post war versions

Immediately after Japan's surrender, Mamiya sought to return to Tokyo and recommence camera production. This was facillitated in October 1946 by a major order placed by the Central Purchasing Office of SCAP. When production restarted after the war, some examples of the Mamiya Six III may well have assembled been from spare parts. Soon after, however, new bodies were machined, which have slight design variations compared with the pre-War and War-time bodies (→ technical details). These post-war versions can most readily be distinguished by the use of Takatiho Tokio Zuiko f/3.5 75mm lenses; these lenses, which were later replaced with Olympus Zuiko badged versions, were designed in post-World War II and first released in 1946.[21]. Full production recommenced in January 1946, when the first 57 units were delivered. Additional orders were placed by the Japan Trade Agency for bartered exports.[22] An English language manual for the Mamiya Six with a printing date of November 1946 depicts a Mamiya Six III but does not give much additional detail regarding lenses.[23] The fact that so far far no Mamiya Six III units have been noted which carry the engraving "Made in Occupied Japan" on the bottom, suggests that the production of the Mamiya Six III halted before the issuance of SCAPIN 1535 in February 1947.[24] Yet, advertising for the camera continued until December 1947 (→ Advertisements). Either these were surplus stocks, or units inscribed with Made in Occupied Japan have gone unpublicised.


Technical details

Post War versions of the Mamiya Six III are very similar to the prewar versions. They have a cold shoe for the flash which is affixed by two screws set diagonally; and a depth of field indicator ranging from 3.5 to 22. The encased, more elaborate droplet shaped frame counter of the war-time versions is replaced by a simple broad arrow.[25] The film winding knob is now mush-room-shaped. The directional arrow at the focus wheel has a filled head and only shows infinity as a direction. Minor differences are a stronger internal door catch and a different shape to the shutter release side of the front door. In addition, the protruding tripod socket is a slightly flatter than the pre-war models.


Variant A

single raised button to release the front door catch

Variant B

twin buttons to release the front door catch

Dimensions

146 x 108 x 50mm closed (106 open); weight: 827g[26]

Lens and shutter combinations


5260696774_63837bdbfd_m.jpg 5260089469_7bc2583b75_m.jpg 5260093795_487600fb98_m.jpg
5260695646_ca35455a65_m.jpg 5260086597_d3a8a7a689_m.jpg 5260698582_ef72bfef9d_m.jpg
Post-war version of the Mamiya Six Model III with Tōwa Kōki Neocon f/3.5 75mm in COPAL (B, 1-300th) shutter.
Images by Dirk HR Spennemann. (Image rights)


3625576308_88132af2f6_m_d.jpg 3624758581_dbb40b05fe_m_d.jpg 3624758345_d06efa24af_m_d.jpg
3625576602_82af2f618d_m_d.jpg 3624759611_e76d45464a_m_d.jpg 3625576886_802e8aaa23_m_d.jpg
Post-war version of a Mamiya Six III no.23875, COMPUR shutter (T, B, 1–300), Nikkor 7.5cm f/4.5 lens no.75183.
Pictures courtesy of eBayer badman664. (Image rights)

Brochures and Manuals

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War-Time Brochure for the Mamiya Six III (with reference to the Mamiya Six I, IA, II and IIA) Images by Dirk HR Spennemann. (Image rights)


5254072304_0d726d1763_m.jpg 5253462479_ccefffe6f9_m.jpg 5253462933_d3120c0598_m.jpg 5253462593_d445b0afe1_m.jpg
Post-War instruction Booklet for the Mamiya Six III (selective pages only) Images by Dirk HR Spennemann. (Image rights)

Advertisements

5214163963_9e8c478508_m.jpg
Advert by Kōseisha
in Shashin Kagaku (写真科学) Jan 1944 		5214760622_a3d877f78e_m.jpg
Advert by Nisshindō
in Shashin Kagaku (写真科学) Jan 1944 		5214170061_7efc51974c_m.jpg
Advert by Nihon Diamond
in Shashin Kagaku (写真科学) Jan 1944 		5214166005_7591a62d43_m.jpg
Advert
in Nihon Shashin (日本写真) Jan-Feb 1944
5214859609_4021ba4d3d_m.jpg
Advert by Kōseisha
in Shashin Kagaku (写真科学) Jan 1944 		5214857837_2e80a274a3_m.jpg
Advert by Nihon Diamond
in 'Shashin Kagaku (写真科学) Feb & Jul 1944 		5214756298_c0370d6bdc_m.jpg
Advert by Matsuzakaya
in Shashin Kagaku (写真科学) Jan-Feb 1944 		5214170343_14f57eb8b6_m.jpg
Advert by Hongō Shinbidō
in Shashin Kagaku (写真科学) Jan-Feb 1944
5213752963_635b8bcc8a_m.jpg
Advert by Asanuma Shashinki-ten
in Nihon Shashin (日本写真) May 1944 		5214347132_59f715362f_m.jpg
Advert
in Nihon Shashin (日本写真) May 1944 		5215250703_5d172a280a_m.jpg
Advert by Kōseisha
in Shashin Kagaku (写真科学) Jul 1944 		5215839614_ea87008097_m.jpg
Advert
in Nihon Shashin (日本写真) Jul 1944
Pre-War and war-time advertisements for the Mamiya Six III Images by Rebollo_fr. (Image rights)



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Ars Camera Feb 1946 		3155348273_16fd8f75c3_m.jpg
Ars Camera Jul 1946 		3151528926_cb3500d1b3_m.jpg
Ars Camera Apr 1946 		5212390470_cb6ce8a7d3_m.jpg
Ars Camera Nov-Dec 1946
 
http://XXXX.jpg http://XXXX.jpg http://XXXX.jpg http://XXXX.jpg
 
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Ars Camera Jan 1947 		5211790397_2658585291_m.jpg
Ars Camera Feb 1947 		5212389438_864a8fb047_m.jpg
Ars Camera Mar 1947 		5212389120_db59df8615_m.jpg
Ars Camera Apr 1947
 
5211789437_21b5b092f4_m.jpg
Ars Camera Oct 1947 		5211716696_1a3f4a33d6_m.jpg
Kohga Gekkan (光画月刊). Dec 1947
Post-War advertisements for the Mamiya Six III Images by Rebollo_fr. (Image rights)


Notes and References

  1. ↑ Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. 3
  2. ↑ Supreme Command of the Allied Powers in Japan
  3. ↑ Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. 4
  4. ↑ Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. 3.
  5. ↑ Asahi Camera ¶¶¶¶¶ | Neco's Mamiya page
  6. ↑ The tripling in size (Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. 4).
  7. ↑ Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. 4.—At this point of the research it is not clear whether the lenses manufactured at Tokyo University carried a different nomenclature.
  8. ↑ Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. 4.
  9. ↑ Intentional double exposure was possible by pushing the film advance lock to the left, but not advancing the film
  10. ↑ With K.O.L. Special f/3.5 75mm in TYS -II (B, T, 1-200th) shutter
  11. ↑ Neco's Mamiya Site
  12. ↑ November 2010)|Yahoo Auction, seen December 2010
  13. ↑ Neco's Mamiya Site
  14. ↑ Neco's Mamiya Site
  15. ↑ Neco's Mamiya Site
  16. ↑ Neco's Mamiya site
  17. ↑ sn#17170—Photographica Collection Dirk HR Spennemann
  18. ↑ image
  19. ↑ Japanese utility model publication (実用新案出現広告) no.S15-14673. Applied for (出現) on Jul. 1, 1939 and published (公告) on Oct. 5, 1940.
  20. ↑ Japanese patent publication (特許出現広告) no.S16-4067. Applied for (出現) on Oct. 11, 1940 and published (公告) on Aug. 15, 1941.
  21. ↑ See the lens chronology on the Zuiko page.
  22. ↑ Mamiya. A History of Innovation. Mamiya 50th Anniversary. Produced by the Mamiya-History of Innovation Editorial Committee. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo: Mamiya Camera Co. Ltd. p. 4.
  23. ↑ Photographica Collection Dirk HR Spennemann
  24. ↑ See the entry Made in Occupied Japan for background.
  25. ↑ In essence the design goes back to that of the Mamiya Six I.
  26. ↑ With Tōwa Kōki Neocon f/3.5 75mm in COPAL (B, 1-300th) shutter
  27. ↑ image]
  28. ↑ Web page
  29. ↑ sn#24763—Photographica Collection Dirk HR Spennemann
  30. ↑ Neco's Mamiya site
  31. ↑ Neco's Mamiya site
  32. ↑ sn#25585—Photographica Collection Dirk HR Spennemann
  33. ↑ Web page
  34. ↑ Neco's Mamiya site
  35. ↑ advertisement, seen December 2010]
  36. ↑ Web page
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