National (4×6.5)
Template:127 Japan 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 Eikō-Dō from 1936 to 1938.[1] It was perhaps made by a company called National Camera Works. For the 4.5×6 and 6×6 National folders, see National, Ugein and Ruvinal.
Description of the body
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
In an advertisement dated March 1937[2], the National has a folding frame finder, with two bars in the front frame to indicate the 3×4 image size. It is offered with an Elka[3] shutter giving 25, 50, 100, B speeds, in three lens variants:
It is said that the f/6.8 variant is fixed focus and has 70mm focal length[7], 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 3×4 pictures.[8] The shutter and lenses offered are the same, as well as the prices, except that the Heliostar lens is written Hemiostar[9]. In an advertisement dated June 1938[10], all the lenses are called the same and the prices have changed:
Notes
- ↑ Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 338.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 80.
- ↑ Roman spelling reported in McKeown, p. 261. The adverisement is written エルカ in katakana.
- ↑ McKeown, p. 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.
- ↑ Inferred from the katakana ヘリオスター.
- ↑ Inferred from the katakana ベンナー.
- ↑ McKeown, p. 261.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 72.
- ↑ In katakana ヘミオスター.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 80.
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.