Difference between revisions of "Oscar Six and Renown Six"
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The film is advanced by a knob at the right end of the top plate, and has an arrow engraved to indicate the turning direction. The back is hinged to the left and contains a single red window in the middle, protected by a built-in cover controlled by a small sliding button. | The film is advanced by a knob at the right end of the top plate, and has an arrow engraved to indicate the turning direction. The back is hinged to the left and contains a single red window in the middle, protected by a built-in cover controlled by a small sliding button. | ||
| − | == The Oscar Six == | + | == Evolution == |
| + | === The Oscar Six Ia === | ||
The camera was first announced as the '''Oscar Six Ia'''; it was advertised under that name from October to December 1953 and was featured in the November issue of ''[[Kohga Gekkan]]''.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.348. </REF> It has a front-cell focusing [[Yamasaki]] Congo 75/3.5 lens, and a Vario-type shutter (B, 25, 50, 100), synchronized via an ASA bayonet post. In an advertisement in the October 1953 issue of ''[[Shashin Salon]]'', [[Fujiwara]] describes it as an introductory camera (入門カメラ), and prices it at {{yen|8,300|1953}} (including the leather case).<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.124. </REF> | The camera was first announced as the '''Oscar Six Ia'''; it was advertised under that name from October to December 1953 and was featured in the November issue of ''[[Kohga Gekkan]]''.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.348. </REF> It has a front-cell focusing [[Yamasaki]] Congo 75/3.5 lens, and a Vario-type shutter (B, 25, 50, 100), synchronized via an ASA bayonet post. In an advertisement in the October 1953 issue of ''[[Shashin Salon]]'', [[Fujiwara]] describes it as an introductory camera (入門カメラ), and prices it at {{yen|8,300|1953}} (including the leather case).<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.124. </REF> | ||
No surviving example of the Oscar Six has been observed yet, and it is not known if the camera was actually sold under that name. | No surviving example of the Oscar Six has been observed yet, and it is not known if the camera was actually sold under that name. | ||
| − | == The Renown Six == | + | === The Renown Six Ia === |
| − | The camera was soon renamed '''Renown Six Ia''' | + | The camera was soon renamed '''Renown Six Ia''', perhaps because the Oscar brand was already registered by someone else. It was featured under that name in the January 1954 issue of ''[[Ars Camera]]'' and was advertised from January to May of the same year.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.374. </REF> In the May advertisement in ''[[Sankei Camera]]'', no difference is visible from the previous model, except for the lens name H-Congo and the price of {{yen|8,500|1953}}. |
| + | === The Renown Six IIa === | ||
The '''Renown Six IIa''' has a Renown shutter with speeds of B, 1–200, and a film reminder added at the left end of the top plate. It was advertised in the May to December 1954 issues of the Japanese photo magazines. | The '''Renown Six IIa''' has a Renown shutter with speeds of B, 1–200, and a film reminder added at the left end of the top plate. It was advertised in the May to December 1954 issues of the Japanese photo magazines. | ||
Revision as of 16:15, 2 January 2008
The Oscar Six (オスカーシックス) and Renown Six (レナウンシックス) are Japanese 6×6 folding cameras with a non-coupled rangefinder, made by Fujiwara Seisakusho in 1953–4.
Contents
Description
The Oscar Six and Renown Six are horizontal folders, with a diecast body and straight diagonal struts. The uncoupled rangefinder is combined with the viewfinder and contained in the top housing. The common eyepiece is offset to the right, as seen by the photographer, and the round second-image window is on the left. The rangefinder is driven by a wheel falling under the left thumb. The folding bed release and accessory shoe are above the rangefinder, and the shutter release is at its usual location on the right.
The film is advanced by a knob at the right end of the top plate, and has an arrow engraved to indicate the turning direction. The back is hinged to the left and contains a single red window in the middle, protected by a built-in cover controlled by a small sliding button.
Evolution
The Oscar Six Ia
The camera was first announced as the Oscar Six Ia; it was advertised under that name from October to December 1953 and was featured in the November issue of Kohga Gekkan.[1] It has a front-cell focusing Yamasaki Congo 75/3.5 lens, and a Vario-type shutter (B, 25, 50, 100), synchronized via an ASA bayonet post. In an advertisement in the October 1953 issue of Shashin Salon, Fujiwara describes it as an introductory camera (入門カメラ), and prices it at ¥8,300 (including the leather case).[2]
No surviving example of the Oscar Six has been observed yet, and it is not known if the camera was actually sold under that name.
The Renown Six Ia
The camera was soon renamed Renown Six Ia, perhaps because the Oscar brand was already registered by someone else. It was featured under that name in the January 1954 issue of Ars Camera and was advertised from January to May of the same year.[3] In the May advertisement in Sankei Camera, no difference is visible from the previous model, except for the lens name H-Congo and the price of ¥8,500.
The Renown Six IIa
The Renown Six IIa has a Renown shutter with speeds of B, 1–200, and a film reminder added at the left end of the top plate. It was advertised in the May to December 1954 issues of the Japanese photo magazines.
In an advertisement in the May 1954 issue of Sankei Kamera (サンケイカメラ), the distributor of the Renown Six 1a is named as San'yō Shōkai (三陽商会; address Tōkyō-to, Minato-ku, Shibata Murachō 2–2, and it is priced at ¥8,800. In an advertisement (with no mention of a distributor) in the August 1954 issue of Camera Mainichi the hard-coated Congo lens from Yamasaki, with its thirty-year history, is made a sales point of the IIa; the camera is priced at ¥9,800.[4]
Notes
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.348.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.124.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.374.
- ↑ The advertisements are reproduced in Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.212.
Sources / further reading
- 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 432 and 1041–2.
- 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.332.
- 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 1411–2.
