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, made by Tōa Kōki and distributed by Eikōdō from late 1937 to 1940, continued as the Ugein (ユーゲン) from 1941 to 1944. The same camera was revived after the war as the Ruvinal, perhaps made by Shōei Kōgaku or Shōei Sangyō.

Common features

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 in the middle of the top plate and no body release. The folding bed release is immediately to the right of the viewfinder. There is a big advance knob at the right end, which has a hinged part and can be used as a key. The name National is embossed in the front leather.

The Semi National appeared first. It was advertised as a new model in the December 1937 issue of Asahi Camera. The following versions were offered, all 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 mentions "National Camera Works" (ナショナルカメラウオークス), but this was probably not the name of any actual company (see Camera Works). In the advertising picture, the Rulex has the old type of shutter plate (as described in the Rulex page).

The National Six seemingly differs only by the picture format, finder size and presumably red window position. Both models were offered for the exact same price. In an advertisement dated June 1938, the versions with f/3.5 lens and Rulex shutter had disappeared and the two following were 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).

On all the range, a body release was offered as an option for extra ¥7. The advertising picture shows a model with a body release, placed closer to the viewfinder than on the later model II. It seems that the shutter was not yet adapted for this device, and the release linkage looks rather clumsy.

No surviving example of the original models has been observed so far.

Semi National II and National Six II

The Semi National II and National Six II have a body release, placed very close to the advance knob. It seems that the advance knob is of a new type, with no hinged part. In an advertisement dated June 1939, both models were offered for the same price in the following versions:

• 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. (The Super Rapid shutter might have been made by Tōyō Kōki, which later made the Orient A shutter.)

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 versions and prices seems to be the same as above.

Two examples of the National Six II are pictured in Sugiyama. One has a U.L.L. Anastigmat 7.5cm f/4.5 lens and a Rulex A shutter, reportedly with 1/200 top speed. The other has a National Anastigmat 80mm f/4.5 lens and a Rulex A shutter, reportedly with 1/250 top speed. (The top speed of the Rulex shutter was gradually enhanced during its long production.) Both Rulex shutters have the new type of shutter plate (as described in the Rulex page).

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. The layout was meant to look like a rangefinder camera from a distance. There is an accessory shoe between the two finders, and the folding bed release is in front of the shoe.

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

• 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 is pictured in McKeown with a National Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5 lens and a Sport shutter giving 1–300, B, T speeds. The shutter plate is marked SPORT at the bottom and has a logo on the right.

The official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941 has four versions of the Semi National and four of the National Six, called "Semi National I" (¥100), "Semi National II" (¥120), "Semi National III" (¥121), "Semi National IV" (¥160), "National Six I" (¥79), "National Six II" (¥94), "National Six III" (¥128) and "National Six IV" (¥160). The naming and price differences between the Semi and Six models are quite incoherent, and no further detail is given.

Ugein III (dual finder)

The National III was renamed Ugein III (ユゲーンⅢ型), at first with no other change. There are still two versions, one for 4.5×6 pictures and the other for 6×6, but their name is the same. It is said that the lens is called Ugein too.

In an advertisement dated March 1941, the camera was offered as the Ugein III, "new name of the National" (ナショナルカメラ改称). In the advertising picture, the camera still has a National embossing. The following versions 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).

The prices are officially set (公定価格), according to the format, lens and shutter equipment. This explains the strange price differences between the 4.5×6 and 6×6 models.

The official list of set prices dated November 1941 mentioned the "Semi Ugein III, IV, V and VI" (attributed to Eikōdō).

In an advertisement dated February 1942, the shutter names are not given 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.

No surviving example of the Ugein III has been observed so far.

Ugein (single finder)

The Ugein III was replaced in mid-1943 by a new Ugein model. It has a top housing covering all the top plate, and containing a single finder in the middle. The brilliant finder has disappeared and the advance knob has moved to the left end. The accessory shoe and folding bed release are to the left of the viewfinder.

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

On all the examples observed so far, the lenses and shutters are made by Nishida.

One example is pictured in Sugiyama as a "Ugein Model-III A" (it is perhaps engraved as such). It has verical lines in the finder, indicating the field of view for 4.5×6cm pictures. The lens is an N.K.K. Ugein Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5 (no. 2182) and the shutter is a Wester II giving 1–200, B, T speeds.

One example is known with the name UGEIN MOD. III engraved above the top housing, together with the serial number (N°1038). The name Ugein is also inscribed on a nameplate riveted to the front of the body. It has a Wester Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens (no. 13045) and a Northter shutter giving T, B, 1–200 speeds. The finder's front glass is missing and it is not known if the camera is dual-format or not.

One example is pictured in McKeown as a "Ugein Model III", with the Ugein riveted nameplate. It has no lines in the finder and is reported as a single-format (6×6) camera. The lens is a Wester Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 and the shutter is a Wester, reportedly giving T, B, 1–200 speeds. The shutter plate is marked WESTER at the bottom and the speed rim is engraved NKK.

After the war

The dual-format Ugein appeared again in 1950 or 1951 in a minimally altered version called Ruvinal. It seems that it was first announced in late 1949 as the Ugein Six (see the Ruvinal folders).

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, reproduced in a page of Japanese prewar advertisements at the Heiki Seikatsu website (it is the third advertisement from the top)