Difference between revisions of "National (4×6.5)"
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{{Japanese Vest}} | {{Japanese Vest}} | ||
| − | ''For the National 4. | + | ''For the National 4.5×6 and 6×6 folders, see [[National and Ugein]].'' |
| − | The '''National''' (ナショナル) is a Japanese folding camera, taking both | + | The '''National''' (ナショナル) is a Japanese folding camera, taking both 4×6.5 and 3×4 pictures on [[127 film]] and distributed by [[Eikōdō]] from 1936 to 1938.<REF> Dates: {{Kokusan}}, p.338. </REF> The actual maker is unknown, it might be [[Tōa Kōki]], which made the contemporary [[National and Ugein|Semi National and National Six]]. |
== General description == | == General description == | ||
| − | The camera is a vertical folder. As seen by a photographer holding the camera vertically, the advance knob is on the top right and the finder is on the middle left. All the versions have an | + | The camera is a vertical folder. As seen by a photographer holding the camera vertically, the advance knob is on the top right and the finder is on the middle left. All the versions have an [[Elka]] shutter giving 25, 50, 100, B speeds. |
== First version: frame finder == | == First version: frame finder == | ||
| − | The first version of the National has a '''folding frame finder''', with two bars in the front frame to indicate the 3×4 image size. {{Kokusan}} says that the Elka shutter is dial-set in the very first advertisement dated July 1936, | + | The first version of the National has a '''folding frame finder''', with two bars in the front frame to indicate the 3×4 image size. {{Kokusan}} says that the [[Elka]] shutter is dial-set in the very first advertisement dated July 1936, whereas it is rim-set in all later advertisements.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.338. </REF> |
| − | In an advertisement dated March 1937,<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. | + | In an advertisement dated March 1937,<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.80. </REF> the National was offered in three lens versions: |
| − | * Torioner f/6.8 ({{yen|17|1937}}); | + | * Torioner<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' トリオナー and from the ''TORIONER'' marking in {{Sugiyama}}, item 1209. </REF> f/6.8 ({{yen|17|1937}}); |
* Heliostar<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' ヘリオスター. </REF> f/6.3 ({{yen|25|1937}}); | * Heliostar<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' ヘリオスター. </REF> f/6.3 ({{yen|25|1937}}); | ||
* Venner<REF> The adverisement reads ベンナー in ''katakana'', probably designating the Venner lens made by [[Ginrei|Ginrei Kōki]]. </REF> f/4.5 ({{yen|35|1937}}). | * Venner<REF> The adverisement reads ベンナー in ''katakana'', probably designating the Venner lens made by [[Ginrei|Ginrei Kōki]]. </REF> f/4.5 ({{yen|35|1937}}). | ||
| − | The camera pictured in the advertisement | + | The camera pictured in the advertisement corresponds to the f/4.5 version. It has incurved folding struts and the lens standard is hinged to the foot of these struts in the usual way. The folding bed release is placed to the right of the viewfinder and intentionally looks like a body release. It seems that the lens is front-cell focusing. The front leather is embossed ''National''. |
| − | The only surviving example observed so far is pictured in {{Sugiyama}} and has a [[fixed focus]] 70mm f/6.8 lens marked ''TORIONER''.<REF> Sugiyama item 1209. </REF> It has some differences with the camera pictured in the advertisements: the folding struts are straight except for a small triangular hump and the lens standard is hinged to about the middle of these struts. The front leather has no markings but it is perhaps not original. It is not known if these features correspond to a version made at a different date or to the f/6.8 version only. | + | The only surviving example observed so far is pictured in {{Sugiyama}} and has a [[fixed focus]] 70mm f/6.8 lens marked ''TORIONER''.<REF> {{Sugiyama}}, item 1209. </REF> It has some differences with the camera pictured in the advertisements: the folding struts are straight except for a small triangular hump and the lens standard is hinged to about the middle of these struts. The front leather has no markings but it is perhaps not original. It is not known if these features correspond to a version made at a different date or to the f/6.8 version only. |
== Second version: tubular finder == | == Second version: tubular finder == | ||
The second version has a rigid '''tubular finder''', again with two bars in the front frame for 3×4 pictures. | The second version has a rigid '''tubular finder''', again with two bars in the front frame for 3×4 pictures. | ||
| − | An advertisement dated April 1937<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]] | + | An advertisement dated April 1937<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.72. </REF> offered the same lenses as the previous month, for the same prices, except that the Heliostar lens name was written Hemiostar,<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' ヘミオスター. </REF> presumably a typo. |
| − | In an advertisement dated June 1938,<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]] | + | In an advertisement dated June 1938,<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.81. </REF> all the lenses were called Torioner or perhaps Trionar (トリオナー).<REF> The spelling Torioner is found on the example pictured in {{Sugiyama}}, item 1209, but a Trionar f/4.5 lens is reported in {{Sugiyama}}, item 1035, and {{McKeown}}, p.261, on the [[Collex]], a contemporary camera also distributed by [[Eikōdō]]. </REF> The prices have raised slightly: |
* Trionar/Torioner f/6.8 ({{yen|19.50|1938}}); | * Trionar/Torioner f/6.8 ({{yen|19.50|1938}}); | ||
* Trionar/Torioner f/6.3 ({{yen|30|1938}}); | * Trionar/Torioner f/6.3 ({{yen|30|1938}}); | ||
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== Bibliography == | == Bibliography == | ||
| − | * {{Showa10}} Item 157. (See also the advertisements for items 109 and | + | * {{Showa10}} Item 157. (See also the advertisements for items 109 and 158–9.) |
| − | * {{McKeown12}} P. | + | * {{McKeown12}} P.261. |
* {{Zukan}} Item 1209. | * {{Zukan}} Item 1209. | ||
Revision as of 19:50, 6 January 2008
For the National 4.5×6 and 6×6 folders, see National and Ugein.
The National (ナショナル) is a Japanese folding camera, taking both 4×6.5 and 3×4 pictures on 127 film and distributed by Eikōdō from 1936 to 1938.[1] The actual maker is unknown, it might be Tōa Kōki, which made the contemporary Semi National and National Six.
Contents
General description
The camera is a vertical folder. As seen by a photographer holding the camera vertically, the advance knob is on the top right and the finder is on the middle left. All the versions have an Elka shutter giving 25, 50, 100, B speeds.
First version: frame finder
The first version of the National has a folding frame finder, with two bars in the front frame to indicate the 3×4 image size. Kokusan kamera no rekishi says that the Elka shutter is dial-set in the very first advertisement dated July 1936, whereas it is rim-set in all later advertisements.[2]
In an advertisement dated March 1937,[3] the National was offered in three lens versions:
The camera pictured in the advertisement corresponds to the f/4.5 version. It has incurved folding struts and the lens standard is hinged to the foot of these struts in the usual way. The folding bed release is placed to the right of the viewfinder and intentionally looks like a body release. It seems that the lens is front-cell focusing. The front leather is embossed National.
The only surviving example observed so far is pictured in Sugiyama and has a fixed focus 70mm f/6.8 lens marked TORIONER.[7] It has some differences with the camera pictured in the advertisements: the folding struts are straight except for a small triangular hump and the lens standard is hinged to about the middle of these struts. The front leather has no markings but it is perhaps not original. It is not known if these features correspond to a version made at a different date or to the f/6.8 version only.
Second version: tubular finder
The second version has a rigid tubular finder, again with two bars in the front frame for 3×4 pictures.
An advertisement dated April 1937[8] offered the same lenses as the previous month, for the same prices, except that the Heliostar lens name was written Hemiostar,[9] presumably a typo.
In an advertisement dated June 1938,[10] all the lenses were called Torioner or perhaps Trionar (トリオナー).[11] The prices have raised slightly:
This version has not yet been observed.
Notes
- ↑ Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.338.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.338.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.80.
- ↑ Inferred from the katakana トリオナー and from the TORIONER marking in Sugiyama, item 1209.
- ↑ Inferred from the katakana ヘリオスター.
- ↑ The adverisement reads ベンナー in katakana, probably designating the Venner lens made by Ginrei Kōki.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 1209.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.72.
- ↑ Inferred from the katakana ヘミオスター.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.81.
- ↑ The spelling Torioner is found on the example pictured in Sugiyama, item 1209, but a Trionar f/4.5 lens is reported in Sugiyama, item 1035, and McKeown, p.261, on the Collex, a contemporary camera also distributed by Eikōdō.
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. Item 157. (See also the advertisements for items 109 and 158–9.)
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.261.
- 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 1209.
