Olympus Six

The Olympus Six (オリンパス・シックス) is a dual-format folder, taking 6×6cm and 4.5×6cm pictures, released in 1940 by Takachiho (later Olympus). It was the successor of the Semi Olympus II and was followed by the Olympus Chrome Six in 1948.

Description

The Olympus Six is a horizontal folder, and its folding struts are inspired by the Balda products, the same as that of the Semi Olympus II. The body has a mixed diecast and pressed steel construction. There is a folding optical finder in the middle of the top plate. Two hairlines are engraved in the front glass, indicating the field of view for 4.5×6cm exposures. The folding bed release is immediately to the left of the viewfinder, as seen by the photographer. There is a body release at the right of the top plate, next to the right-hand film flange. The advance knob is at the left end, it has the serial number and an arrow engraved, as on the Semi Olympus II. There are strap lugs at both ends of the top plate, replacing the leather handle of the previous model, and there is no accessory shoe.

The back is hinged to the right and the back latch consists of a long sliding bar. There are two red windows in the back, one for each format, with a sliding cover accordingly marked 6X6 or 4.5X6. The bottom plate has two film flanges at the ends, and a 3/8″ tripod thread in the middle.

The OLYMPUS TOKYO logo is embossed in the leather of the folding bed, and the name OLYMPUS–SIX or SUPER–OLYMPUS is embossed in the back, under the red windows.

Prewar and wartime period

Four-element lenses, Koho shutter

The first lenses mounted on the Olympus Six are the Zuiko 75/4.5 (same as on the Semi Olympus and Semi Olympus II) and the new Zuiko 75/3.5. They are engraved Zuiko 1:4,5 f=7.5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxx and Zuiko 1:4,5 f=7.5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxx.

The shutter originally mounted on the camera is a newer version of the Koho, giving 1–200, B, T speeds and adapted to the body release linkage. It still has a self-timer but does not have a thread for a distant release. Other shutters were mounted towards the end of the production, see below.

Whatever the shutter and lens model, the camera has a black depth-of-field scale around the lens, marked OLYMPUS at the bottom. The aperture scale consists of a metal plate placed above the shutter housing, and it is combined with a second scale of shutter speeds, readable from the above.

Announced as the Semi Olympus III

The camera was first announced as the Semi Olympus III (セミオリンパスⅢ型), quite a strange name for a 6×6 camera. It was featured under that name in the July 1940 issue of Asahi Camera and was advertised as such in the June and July 1940 issues of the same magazine. In the June advertisement, the camera is announced as a new model (愈々新型発売) in dual format (6×6 and 4.5×6), and the body release and depth-of-field scale are emphasized. The shutter is mentioned as a Koho II (コーホーⅡ), giving 1–200, B, T speeds, with a self-timer. Two versions are presented, one has a Zuiko (ズイコー) 7.5cm f/4.5 lens and is priced at ¥190, the other has a Zuiko 7.5cm f/3.5 lens and is priced at ¥235. A lens hood is also listed for ¥3. The company names given in the advertisement are the maker Takachiho Seisakusho and the distributor Ataka Shōkai. The pictured camera is indistinguishable from the Olympus Six with f/3.5 lens, there was probably no difference other than the name embossing in the back. No surviving example has been observed so far with markings other than OLYMPUS–SIX or SUPER–OLYMPUS, and the name Semi Olympus III was probably dropped before the camera entered serial production.

The Olympus Six in original documents

The Olympus Six was first advertised under that name in the December 1940 issue of Asahi Camera, and it was featured in the April 1941 issue of the same magazine. The advertisements dated December 1940 and April 1941 in Asahi Camera mention the f/3.5 and f/4.5 lens options, and say that the lenses have four elements. The shutter is called New Koho III (新コーホーⅢ) but has the same features (1–200, B, T, self-timer) as the shutter called Koho II in the advertisement for the Semi Olympus III. The distributor is still Ataka Shōkai.

The December 1940 advertisement only mentions 6×6cm format only (more precisely "6×6m/m", with a typo), whereas the April 1941 advertisement again mentions the dual-format capability. This has been interpreted by some sources as an indication that the Olympus Six was sold for some time in a single-format version, but this probably only reflects a negligence in the advertisement. All the cameras observed so far have two red windows in the back and are dual format.

The picture is the same in the two advertisements, and shows an Olympus Six with f/4.5 lens, recognized by the double lens rim already present on the Semi Olympus II. One source says that the the lens bezel and lens rim differ between the Semi Olympus III and the Olympus Six, but this apparent difference is only caused by the various lens types (f/3.5 and f/4.5) pictured in the advertisements.

In a brochure for the Olympus Six, the shutter is called Koho III. The two versions are listed, with their exact model name and the officially set price: the Olympus Six I (オリンパス・シックスⅠ) with the f/4.5 lens, for ¥128, and the Olympus Six II (オリンパス・シックスⅡ), with the f/3.5 lens, for ¥160. A lens hood is mentioned, fitting both the f/4.5 and f/3.5 lens, and a filter holder (フィルター枠), to fit 30mm diameter filters on the f/4.5 lens.

The Olympus Six I and II were mentioned in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941. The prices were the same as in the brochure cited above, which is thus probably dated late 1940 or early 1941.

The Olympus Six was advertised in Asahi Camera until the last wartime issue dated April 1942, and it was advertised in Hōdō Shashin from December 1941 to May 1943. The shutter is reportedly called Koho II in the advertisements published in Hōdō Shashin. Some confusion seemed to reign about the exact model name of this shutter at the time.

Early surviving examples

The oldest lens numbers observed on the Olympus Six are on the cameras pictured in the brochure cited above: no.697x for the f/4.5 lens and no.7242 for the f/3.5 lens, both mounted on a Koho shutter to 1/200. (However, the f/3.5 lens no.7182 is known with a Koho shutter on what is said to be a prototype of the Olympus Chrome Six.)

Some early examples have a peculiar aperture index with two ears, whereas others have a simple pin. The two-ear index appears in the brochure and in all the advertisements, and it has been observed on actual examples with f/4.5 lens no.7157 and f/3.5 lens no.7382 and 10626. The simple pin has been observed on examples with f/3.5 lens no.7601 and 10727.

Five-element lenses

Super Olympus I no.12112, Koho shutter, Zuiko-S 7.5cm f/4.5 lens no.12507. Pictures courtesy of M. Walters. (Image rights)

Zuiko-S 7.5cm f/4.5 lens no.12507. (Image rights)

The government inquiry listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943 has four models: the Olympus Six I and II, with the Koho shutter to 1/200 and the four-element Zuiko f/4.5 and f/3.5 lens, and the Super Olympus I (スーパーオリンパスⅠ) and Super Olympus II (スーパーオリンパスⅡ), with the same shutter and a five-element Zuiko S lens, respectively 75/4.5 and 75/3.5. One source says that the Super Olympus cost ¥208 with f/4.5 lens and ¥248.80 with f/3.5 lens, but no original document has been observed so far to confirm this.

Some sources say that the imports of Schott glass from Germany were stopped because of the war, and that the company had to make the Zuiko lenses from all-Japanese optical glass, causing a redesign of the Zuiko lens into a five-element scheme called Zuiko-S, with the rear doublet of the Tessar design was replaced by a group of three cemented elements. The Zuiko-S lenses are known in f/4.5 aperture (no.12507 and 13501) and in f/3.5 aperture (no.12126). These examples are probably the last wartime Olympus cameras. It is said that the company stopped camera production in 1943. More than 6,000 prewar and wartime Olympus Six were made, recognizable by their closely matching lens and body numbers.

Postwar period

Production resumed

The production of the camera was resumed in early 1946 in the Suwa plant, a former textile factory used by the company from 1943. The Olympus official website shows a blueprint for the Olympus Six II, reportedly dated January 1946 and redrawn because the original ones were lost in the air raid which destroyed the Hatagaya plant. The lens marking reproduced in this blueprint shows a lens number legible as 7231 or 7251, corresponding to the very first f/3.5 lenses; this is probably because the designer worked from early advertising pictures or from an early example held by the company.

The production details are given month by month in Lewis: 77 cameras in January 1946, 89 in February, 202 in March, 198 in April, 160 in May, 250 in June and 129 in July. It is not known for sure if these figures correspond to new examples assembled from spare bodies or to newly produced body shells.

Return of the four-element lenses

Immediately after the Zuiko-S lenses no.12126, 12507 and 13501, the earliest lens numbers observed on an Olympus Six are no.20016, 20224, 20309 and 20727 (all with Koho shutter), mounted on bodies in the 12xxx and 13xxx range. At least two of them have the SUPER–OLYMPUS embossing on the back; the last one has OLYMPUS–SIX, as well as all subsequent cameras.

The gap between lens no.13501 and 20016, as well as the sudden offset between the body number and lens number, certainly indicates that the serial number sequence was reset at 20001. If the story about the Zuiko-S being made because of the shortage of imported optical glass is true, the production of the regular Zuiko lens was logically not resumed before 1945. This would mean that any lens number after 20000 is an indication of a postwar camera. The very first postwar lenses were certainly mounted on bodies available in the stocks, complete with their leather covering and awaiting the lens and shutter unit, hence the markings identifying them as Super Olympus.

Other postwar examples with the Koho shutter have lens no.22043 (body no.13610), lens no.23504 (body no.14210) and lens no.25625 (body no.15013).

Shortage of shutters

The production of the Koho shutter was stopped by the aerial bombing of the Hatagaya plant, and it seems that the supply of shutters soon became a problem for Takachiho. This may have led the company to use any shutter it could find, hence the variety of shutters found on the surviving postwar Olympus Six. It is said that Mamiya sold some Koho shutters back to Takachiho, from a lot bought during the war for the Mamiya Six, exchanging them for new Zuiko lenses.

An Olympus Six has been observed with a no-name shutter giving T, B, 1–250 speeds, and lens no.24961. Three examples of the Olympus Six have been observed with another type of no-name shutter giving 1–300, B, T speeds, and lens no.24964, 25718 and 25754.

The very late examples of the Olympus Six (with lens number above 30000) have no strap lugs. This is a sure indication that the production of the body shells was resumed; however it is not known if the previous bodies with strap lugs all come from the wartime stocks or if the change occurred afterwards. Five examples have been observed with no strap lugs and various shutter types. One example has lens no.30387 and an unmarked shutter giving 1–200, B, T speeds. (This shutter is not a Koho: the cocking lever is placed differently.) The most well-known example, belonging to the Olympus company, has lens no.30780 and a Copal shutter giving 1–200, B, T speeds, the same as on the later Olympus Chrome Six. The third example is the latest known with a Koho shutter: it has lens no.31665 and body no.17328. The last two examples have a Wester shutter made by Nishida, giving 1–200, B, T speeds, with a red-dotted self-timer lever and the name WESTER. N.S.D. at the base of the speed rim. The engraving of the speed scale differs on the two examples. One has lens no.31884, the other has lens no.32707 and body no.18020; these are the last numbers observed on an Olympus Six, and the lens number is even slightly later than no.32603, known on an example of the Olympus Chrome Six.

The offset between the lens and body numbers has widened, certainly because Zuiko lenses were sold to other companies, such as Mamiya for the Mamiya Six. Admitting that the postwar examples have lens numbers above 20000 and body numbers after about 13000, this would make a total of about 5,000 Olympus Six cameras and 12,000 Zuiko lenses made between early 1946 and the release of the Olympus Chrome Six in 1948 (body numbers from c.13000 to c.18000, lens numbers from 20001 to c.33000). This is quite consistent with the total of 1,015 cameras for the period between January and July 1946.

Late advertising and hybrid drawings

The Olympus Six was advertised in Ars Camera from January to March 1948. The January advertisement mentions a Zuiko f/3.5 lens and a Koho shutter (1–200, B, T). The pictured camera has a Koho shutter and a two-ear aperture index, the same as in the wartime advertisements.

The last advertisements for the Olympus Six are in the May to July 1948 issues of Ars Camera. The text of the May advertisement is similar to the one dated January: the camera is called Olympus Six, the lens is the Zuiko f/3.5 and the shutter is the Koho (1–200, B, T). Only the bottom part of the illustration is an original picture, showing an Olympus Six or Chrome Six with a Wester N.S.D. or Copal shutter, whereas the top part is a drawing of the Chrome Six top plate.

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 39–40 and 440–1.
• Francesch, Dominique and Jean-Paul. Histoire de l'appareil photographique Olympus de 1936 à 1983. Paris: Dessain et Tolra, 1985. ISBN 2-249-27679-X.
• Fujishima Kōichi (藤島広一). "Shattā ni yoru nendai shibetsu" (シャッターによる年代識別, Dating a camera from its shutter). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.8, September 1986. No ISBN number. Supuringu kamera (スプリングカメラ, special issue on spring cameras). Pp.21–4.
• Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). "Orinpasu kamera no subete 1: supuringu kamera <senzen-hen>" (オリンパスカメラのすべて1・スプリングカメラ戦前編, "All of Olympus cameras 1: folding cameras [prewar]"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 20, 25 March 1992. No ISBN number. Orinpasu no subete (オリンパスのすべて, special issue on Olympus). Pp.13–5.
• Hibi Takashi (日比孝). "Nihon no supuringu kamera: Orinpasu" (日本のスプリングカメラ・オリンパス, "Japanese folding cameras: Olympus"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.8, September 1986. No ISBN number. Supuringu kamera (スプリングカメラ, special issue on spring cameras). Pp.62–5.
• "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 29–30 and 86–7.
• Template:Kakaku1940 Type 4, sections 5B and 6B.
• Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P.60.
• Maitani Yoshihisa (米谷美久). "Kamera-zukuri he no bōken" (カメラ創りへの冒険, "Venturing into camera production"). Volume 1 of Haikei — Sekkeisha yori (拝啓・設計者より, "Dear Sir, from the designer"). Published in the Zuiko Club website, belonging to the Olympus Imaging Corp.
• 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). Pp.747–8.
• Orinpasu-ten — oputo-dejitaru-tekunolojī no kiseki (オリンパス展・オプトデジタルテクノロジーの軌跡, Olympus exhibition, the tracks of opto-digital technology). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2005. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P.4.
• Sakai Shūichi (酒井修一). "Orinpasu no rekishi" (オリンパスの歴史, "History of Olympus"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 20, 25 March 1992. No ISBN number. Orinpasu no subete (オリンパスのすべて, special issue on Olympus). Pp.6–9.
• 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 1216–7 and 1370–1.
• "Zadankai: Orinpasu no michi" (座談会・オリンパスの道, "Conversation: the way of Olympus"). Interview of Sakurai Eiichi (桜井栄一), Maitani Yoshihisa (米谷美久) and Kawazoe Mitsuo (河添光男), by Saeki Kakugorō (佐伯恪五郎). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 20, 25 March 1992. No ISBN number. Orinpasu no subete (オリンパスのすべて, special issue on Olympus). Pp.64–71.

Links

General links

In English:

• Medium-format cameras and chronology in the Olympus official website
• Olympus folders' page at John Foster's site
• Chrome Six Website by François Rossi

In German:

• Olympus Six at Olypedia

In Italian:

• Olympus Six picture in the Italian Wikipedia

In Japanese:

• Olympus Six and Chrome Six models in the history pages of the Olympus Photo Club website. (The information there seems to be based on the article by Hibi in Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.8. Many pictures are misidentified.)
• Olympus Six in the Map Camera Museum (the page about the Olympus Chrome Six II mistakenly has the same picture)

In Chinese:

• Olympus Six with an unknown shutter (T, B, 1–250), you can enlarge the picture by clicking on it.

Literature and advertisements

In Japanese:

• Advertisement for the Olympus Six dated between 1942 and 1945, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera, a page of old Japanese advertisements by Toshio Inamura
• Documents reproduced in the medium format page of the Olympus official website:
  • Brochure for the Olympus Six dated about 1940: part 1 and part 2
  • Blueprint of the Olympus Six dated January 1946