Nōman Flex
The Nōman Flex[1] (ノーマン・フレックス) is a Japanese 6×6 TLR made in 1942 and 1943 by Ihara Kōgaku and distributed by Sugihara Shashinki-ten.[2]
Contents
Advertising
In advertisements dated May 1942[3] and October 1942[4], the camera is offered as a new model with a K.O.L. f/3.5 lens for ¥290 (a high price, the same as the Auto Semi Minolta). The May advertisement says that the camera is the result of many years of research by the company Ihara Kōgaku.
Description
The whole front plate moves back and forth for focusing, and the distance knob and advance knob are both on the right as seen by the photographer. There is probably an automatic film advance device, with a small round window that is surely an exposure counter.
The lens is a K.O.L. f/3.5. The shutter is reported to be a Noman I giving T, B, 1–300 speeds.[5] There is some sort of internal synchronization device, and one of the advertising pictures show the camera with a flash unit attached to the left hand plate. It seems that the release lever is on the left side of the front plate, positioned so that it is actioned by the left thumb. It was advertised as completely suppressing motion blur.
The nameplate is marked Nōman Flex and there is another marking below, surely reading Ihara Kogaku.
Notes
- ↑ The spelling "Norman Flex" found in Sugiyama, item 2018, and in this page at Japan Family Camera is a mistake.
- ↑ Dates: advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 338.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Inoue's article, p. 132. A handwritten SB 1942.5 inscription on the advertisement's reproduction certainly indicates that it was published in the May 1942 issue of Shashin Bunka.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 81.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 338.
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 166.
- Inoue, Mitsuo (井上光朗). "Shashin renzu no yoake. Renzu-ya Funsenki" (写真レンズの夜明け・レンズ屋奮戦記, Dawn of the photographic lens – Fierce war tales between lens shops). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.14, October 1989. No ISBN number. Rikō kamera no subete (リコーカメラのすべて, special issue on Ricoh). Pp 128–132.
- "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 123.
- 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. Item 2018.