National and Ugein

See also the National (4×6.5) folder.

The Semi National (セミ・ナショナル) and National Six (ナショナル・シックス) are Japanese folders, distributed by Eikōdō from late 1937 to 1940, continued as the Ugein (ユーゲン) from 1941 to 1944. The maker of the National and Ugein is not clearly known. An early advertisement mentions National Camera Works (see below), a company that is otherwise unknown, and a late one mentions Tōa Kōki (see below). The same camera was revived after the war as the Ruvinal, said to be made by Shōei Kōgaku or Shōei Sangyō.

All models share the same horizontal body, with folding struts inspired from the Balda folders and a back hinged to the left.

Semi National and National Six

The original National models have a folding optical finder centred above the top plate and a heavy advance key at the right end. They have no body release and the front leather is embossed National.

The Semi National appeared first. It was advertised as a new model in the December 1937 issue of Asahi Camera. The advertisement mentions National Camera Works (ナショナルカメラウオークス), perhaps the maker's name, and offers the following variants, all equipped with a Rulex shutter by Neumann & Heilemann:

• Rulex D (25, 50, 100, T, B), f/4.5 lens (¥50);
• Rulex B (5–200, T, B), f/4.5 lens (¥60);
• Rulex B (5–200, T, B), f/3.5 lens (¥70);
• Rulex A (1–200, T, B), f/4.5 lens (¥65);
• Rulex A (1–200, T, B), f/3.5 lens (¥78).

The advertisement shows the company name National Camera Works.

The National Six apparently only differs by the picture format, finder size and presumably red window position. Both models are offered for the exact same price. In an advertisement dated June 1938, the variants with f/3.5 lens and Rulex shutter have disappeared and the two following are offered instead:

• Super Rapid shutter (1–300, T, B, self-timer), f/4.5 lens (¥70);
• Super Rapid shutter (1–300, T, B, self-timer), f/3.5 lens (¥80).

The fitting of a body release in offered as an option for extra ¥7.

Semi National II and National Six II

The Semi National II and National Six II have a body release and seem to have an advance knob instead of the key. In an advertisement dated June 1939, both models are offered for the same price in the following variants:

• Rulex B shutter (5–200, T, B), National f/4.5 lens (¥70);
• Rulex A shutter (1–200, T, B), National f/4.5 lens (¥75);
• Super Rapid shutter (1–250, T, B, self-timer), National f/4.5 lens (¥85);
• Rulex A shutter (1–200, T, B), National f/3.5 lens (¥90).

Notice that the most expensive lens was not associated with the most expensive shutter, and that the top speed of the Super Rapid was lower than the year before. It is said that the National lens has 80mm focal length.

A U.L.L. lens was available as an option for extra ¥5. The advertising picture shows a National Six II with a Super Rapid shutter: the shutter plate is marked TOYO NEW at the top and SUPER RAPID at the bottom.

An advertisement published in the October 1939 of Asahi Camera is visible in this page of the Heiki Seikatsu website (third advertisement from the top). The list of variants and prices seem to be the same as described above.

Semi National III and National Six III

The Semi National III and National Six III have a short top housing containing a direct vision finder on the left and a brilliant finder on the right, with an accessory shoe between both. The layout was meant to look like a rangefinder camera from a distance.

In an advertisement dated February 1940, both models are offered for the same price in the following variants:

• Rulex B shutter (5–200, T, B), National f/4.5 lens (¥85);
• Rulex A shutter (1–250, T, B), National f/4.5 lens (¥89);
• Rulex A shutter (1–250, T, B), National f/3.5 lens (¥105);
• Compur shutter (1–300, T, B), National f/3.5 lens (¥170).

A U.L.L. lens was available as an option for extra ¥5.

An example of the Semi National III has been observed with a Sport shutter giving 1–300, B, T speeds and a shutter plate marked SPORT at the bottom.

Ugein III (dual finder)

The National model III was renamed Ugein III (ユゲーンⅢ型), with no further change. There are still two versions, one for 4.5×6 pictures and the other for 6×6, but their name is the same.

In an advertisement dated March 1941, the camera is offered as Ugein III even if the advertising picture still shows a camera with a National marking. The following variants are listed:

• Rulex B shutter (5–250), f/4.5 lens (4.5×6: ¥85, 6×6: ¥79);
• Rulex B shutter (5–250), f/3.5 lens (4.5×6: ¥95, 6×6: ¥94);
• Rulex A shutter (1–300), f/4.5 lens (4.5×6 and 6×6: ¥100);
• Rulex A shutter (1–300), f/3.5 lens (4.5×6: ¥105, 6×6: ¥112);
• Koho shutter by Takachiho (1–150, self-timer), f/4.5 lens (4.5×6: ¥110, 6×6: ¥128);
• Koho shutter (1–150, self-timer), f/3.5 lens (4.5×6: ¥130, 6×6: ¥140).

It is said that the lens name is Ugein. The difference in price between the 4.5×6 and 6×6 versions inexplicably differs from one variant to the other, to the point that typos are suspected.

In an advertisement dated February 1942, the shutter names are not mentioned but they can be guessed as follows:

• Rulex A shutter (1–300), f/4.5 lens (4.5×6 and 6×6: ¥118);
• Rulex A shutter (1–300), f/3.5 lens (4.5×6: ¥124, 6×6: ¥133);
• Koho shutter (1–200, self-timer), f/4.5 lens (4.5×6: ¥130, 6×6: ¥151);
• Koho shutter (1–200, self-timer), f/3.5 lens (4.5×6: ¥154, 6×6: ¥166).

The advertising picture shows an example equipped with the Koho shutter. The speed rim is engraved KOHO and the shutter plate is marked OLYMPUS-TOKYO-N at the top and UGEIN at the bottom.

Ugein (single finder)

The Ugein III was replaced in 1943 by a new model, with a single finder centred in a top housing covering all the top plate. The brilliant finder was dispensed with, and the advance knob has moved to the left end of the top housing.

Some sources say that this model only exists in dual-format, taking both 4.5×6 and 6×6 exposures. In an advertisement dated October 1943, this model is simply called Ugein (ユゲーン) and is offered in dual-format only with an f/3.5 lens for ¥191.56. The shutter is equipped with a self-timer, but its name and speeds are not given. The advertisement mentions the name of the maker as "Tōkyō Tōa Kōki-sha" (東京東亜光機社), perhaps the Tōa Kōki company based in Tokyo that made the Gelto.

Other sources say that there was a single format 6×6 model called "Ugein Model III" and a dual-format model called "Ugein Model IIIA", but this is a little dubious. In the only picture showing the top plate that could be observed, there is a UGEIN MOD. III engraving together with the serial number. This camera also has a Ugein nameplate screwed to the front of the body. This particular example has no visible device in the viewfinder to take 4.5×6 pictures, but it is reported as having an internal mask. Only a picture from the back could tell for sure if it is single format or dual format.

It seems that the lenses and shutters were all provided by Nishida. The known combinations are the following:

• Wester Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens, NKK Wester shutter;
• Wester Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens, Northter shutter (T, B, 1–200);
• Wester II shutter (T, B, 1–200).

After the war

The dual-format Ugein appeared again in 1950 or 1951 in a minimally altered version called Ruvinal.

Before that, a camera called Ugein Six (ユーゲンシックス) was featured in a column of the December 1949 issue of the Japanese magazine Camera Art, with a Wester 75/3.5 lens and T, B, 1–200 speeds. It is probably the name that was first proposed for the Ruvinal.

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 158–63, 286–7.
• "Kamera no kōtei kakaku kanpō happyō" (カメラの公定価格官報発表, Official announcement of the set prices of the cameras), November 1941. Extract of a table listing Japanese camera production and setting the retail prices, reproduced in "Bebī Semi Fāsuto 'Kore ha bebī wo nanotta semi-ki da'" (ベビーセミファースト"これはベビーを名乗ったセミ機だ", Baby Semi First, 'this is a Semi camera called Baby'), an article by Furukawa Yasuo (古川保男) in Camera Collectors' News no. 277 (July 2000). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. P. 27. Type 3, sections 6B and 7B.
• "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. Items 84–5.
• Template:Kakaku1940 Type 3, sections 4B, 5B, 6B and 7B; type 4, sections 3, 4, 5B and 6B.
• 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. Items 1210–1 and 1257.

Links

• Advertisement for the Semi National II and National Six II, published in the October 1939 issue of Asahi Camera and reproduced in a page of Japanese prewar advertisements at the Heiki Seikatsu website (it is the third advertisement from the top)