Difference between revisions of "National (4×6.5)"

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{{127 Japan}}
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{{Japanese Vest}}
The '''National''' (ナショナル) is a Japanese folding camera, taking both 4&times;6.5 and 3&times;4 pictures on [[127 film]] and distributed by [[Eikō-Dō]] from 1936 to 1938.<REF> Dates: {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;338. </REF> It was perhaps made by a company called [[National Camera Works]]. ''For the 4.5&times;6 and 6&times;6 National folders, see [[National and Ugein]].''
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''For the National 4.5×6 and 6×6 folders, see [[National and Ugein]].''
  
== Description of the body ==
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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]]. All the models are vertical folders, with the advance knob at the bottom right, as seen by the photographer holding the camera horizontally, and all have an [[Elka shutter]] giving 25, 50, 100, B speeds.
The camera is a vertical folder with curved struts. There is an advance knob on the top left (as seen by a photographer holding the camera vertically), and the finder is centred on the left. On the right of the viewfinder there is a button to release the folding bed, but there is no body release. The front leather is embossed ''National''.
 
  
== Evolution ==
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== First version: frame finder ==
In an advertisement dated March 1937<REF> Advertisement published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;80. </REF>, the National has a folding frame finder, with two bars in the front frame to indicate the 3&times;4 image size. It is offered with an Elka<REF> Roman spelling reported in McKeown, p.&nbsp;261. The adverisement is written エルカ in ''katakana''. </REF> shutter giving 25, 50, 100, B speeds, in three lens variants:
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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. It is said that the [[Elka shutter]] is dial-set in the earliest reported advertisement, in {{ACA}} July 1936, whereas it is rim-set in all later advertisements.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.338. </REF> An advertisement in the June 1st, 1935 issue of {{NSKT}}<REF> Advertisement on p.9, reproduced on p.27 of ''Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku''. </REF> says that the National cameras were distributed by [[Eikōdō]]; it is not known if it corresponds to the 4×6.5 rollfilm camera or to another National model.
* Trionar or Torionar<REF> McKeown, p.&nbsp;261, reports a Torionar spelling for a 70/6.8 lens mounted on a National and a Trionar spelling for a 75/4.5 lens mounted on a Collex, both distributed by Eikō-Dō. The adverisement is written トリオナー in ''katakana''. </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}});
 
* Bennar<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' ベンナー. </REF> f/4.5 ({{yen|35|1937}}).
 
It is said that the f/6.8 variant is [[fixed focus]] and has 70mm focal length<REF> McKeown, p.&nbsp;261. </REF>, while the camera pictured in the advertisement seems to be the f/4.5 variant and has a front-cell focusing lens.
 
  
The next month, in April 1937, the camera is advertised with a rigid tubular finder, again with two bars in the front frame for 3&times;4 pictures.<REF> Advertisement published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;72. </REF> The shutter and lenses offered are the same, as well as the prices, except that the Heliostar lens is written Hemiostar<REF> In ''katakana'' ヘミオスター. </REF>. In an advertisement dated June 1938<REF> Advertisement published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;80. </REF>, all the lenses are called the same and the prices have changed:
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In an advertisement in {{ACA}} March 1937,<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.80. </REF> the National is offered in three lens versions:
* Trionar/Torionar f/6.8 ({{yen|19.50|1938}});
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* Torioner<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' トリオナー and from the ''TORIONER'' marking in {{SUG}}, item 1209. </REF> f/6.8 ({{yen|17|1937}});
* Trionar/Torionar f/6.3 ({{yen|30|1938}});
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* [[Heliostar]]<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' ヘリオスター. </REF> f/6.3 ({{yen|25|1937}});
* Trionar/Torionar f/4.5 ({{yen|38|1938}}).
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* 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}}).
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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''.
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The only surviving example observed so far is pictured in {{SUG}} and has a [[fixed focus]] 70mm f/6.8 lens marked ''TORIONER''.<REF> {{SUG}}, 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.
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== Second version: tubular finder ==
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The second version has a rigid '''tubular finder''', again with two bars in the front frame for 3×4 pictures.
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The advertisement in {{ACA}} April 1937<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.72. </REF> lists the same lens options as in March, at an unchanged price, except that the [[Heliostar]] lens name is written Hemiostar,<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' ヘミオスター. </REF> presumably a typo.
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In the advertisement in the June 1938 issue of the same magazine,<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.81. </REF> all the lenses are called Torioner or perhaps [[Trionar]] (トリオナー).<REF> The spelling Torioner is found on the example pictured in {{SUG}}, item 1209, but a Trionar f/4.5 lens is reported in {{SUG}}, item 1035, and {{MK}}, p.261, on the [[Collex]], a contemporary camera also distributed by [[Eikōdō]]. </REF> The prices are slightly higher:
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* Trionar/Torioner f/6.8 ({{yen|19.50|1938}});
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* Trionar/Torioner f/6.3 ({{yen|30|1938}});
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* Trionar/Torioner f/4.5 ({{yen|38|1938}}).
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No surviving example of that version has yet been observed.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
Line 21: Line 31:
  
 
== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
* {{Showa10}} Item 157. (See also the advertisements for items 109 and 158&ndash;9.)
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* {{Showa10}} Item 157. (See also the advertisements for items 109 and 158–9.)
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;261.
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* {{McKeown12}} P.261.
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* {{NSKT1000}} P.27, corresponding to p.9 of the June 1st, 1935 issue.
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* {{Zukan}} Item 1209.
  
 
[[Category: Japanese 4x6.5 viewfinder folding]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 4x6.5 viewfinder folding]]
 
[[Category: N]]
 
[[Category: N]]
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[[Category: 1936]]

Latest revision as of 20:17, 9 October 2010

Japanese Vest (4×5 and 4×6.5) (edit)
folding
4×4.5 Orient
4×5 Minion
4×6.5 Clover Vest | Dianette | Eagle | Friend | Kooa | National | New Vest | Nifcarette | Pearlette | B Pearlette | Special Pearlette | Pionette | Pocket Prince | Sirius Bebe | Speed Pocket | Tsubasa Spring | Victory
rigid or collapsible
4×5 Alfax | Olympus Standard | Sakura (bakelite) | Well Standard
4×6.5 Vest Adler | Vest Alex | Kowa Kid | Light | Light Super | Baby Minolta | Minolta Vest | Regal Olympic | Vest Olympic | Tsubasa Chrome | Zen-99
box
4×6.5 Baby Clover | Sakura (box) | Spirit
unknown
4×5 Vesten
4×6.5 Victor Vest
unknown Meiro
Japanese 3×4 and 4×4, 4.5×6, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

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. All the models are vertical folders, with the advance knob at the bottom right, as seen by the photographer holding the camera horizontally, and all 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. It is said that the Elka shutter is dial-set in the earliest reported advertisement, in Asahi Camera July 1936, whereas it is rim-set in all later advertisements.[2] An advertisement in the June 1st, 1935 issue of Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin[3] says that the National cameras were distributed by Eikōdō; it is not known if it corresponds to the 4×6.5 rollfilm camera or to another National model.

In an advertisement in Asahi Camera March 1937,[4] the National is 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.[8] 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.

The advertisement in Asahi Camera April 1937[9] lists the same lens options as in March, at an unchanged price, except that the Heliostar lens name is written Hemiostar,[10] presumably a typo.

In the advertisement in the June 1938 issue of the same magazine,[11] all the lenses are called Torioner or perhaps Trionar (トリオナー).[12] The prices are slightly higher:

  • Trionar/Torioner f/6.8 (¥19.50);
  • Trionar/Torioner f/6.3 (¥30);
  • Trionar/Torioner f/4.5 (¥38).

No surviving example of that version has yet been observed.

Notes

  1. Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.338.
  2. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.338.
  3. Advertisement on p.9, reproduced on p.27 of Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku.
  4. Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.80.
  5. Inferred from the katakana トリオナー and from the TORIONER marking in Sugiyama, item 1209.
  6. Inferred from the katakana ヘリオスター.
  7. The adverisement reads ベンナー in katakana, probably designating the Venner lens made by Ginrei Kōki.
  8. Sugiyama, item 1209.
  9. Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.72.
  10. Inferred from the katakana ヘミオスター.
  11. Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.81.
  12. 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.
  • Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin (日本写真興業通信). Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku (百号ごと十回の記録, Ten records, every hundred issues). Tokyo: Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin Sha (日本写真興業通信社), 1967. No ISBN number. P.27, corresponding to p.9 of the June 1st, 1935 issue.
  • 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.