Difference between revisions of "Ricohflex B"

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The exposure chamber and film spool holders are grouped in a removable frame. The film advance knob is on the photographer's right. The back is hinged to the top and contains three red windows on the left, protected by a vertically sliding cover. Indications are embossed in the back leather next to the red windows: ''1357,'' ''2468'' and ''1357,'' meant to use the 1 to 12 series of numbers for the 6×9 format. This advance system was necessary for 6×6 cameras in the 1930s, when the rollfilm paper backing was not yet marked for the 6×6 frame size, but it was antiquated at the time the model was sold.
 
The exposure chamber and film spool holders are grouped in a removable frame. The film advance knob is on the photographer's right. The back is hinged to the top and contains three red windows on the left, protected by a vertically sliding cover. Indications are embossed in the back leather next to the red windows: ''1357,'' ''2468'' and ''1357,'' meant to use the 1 to 12 series of numbers for the 6×9 format. This advance system was necessary for 6×6 cameras in the 1930s, when the rollfilm paper backing was not yet marked for the 6×6 frame size, but it was antiquated at the time the model was sold.
  
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There is a depth-of-field plate on the back of the viewing hood, written in English; it is again exactly the same as on the export versions of the [[Reflecta]]. Strap attachments are mounted on both sides of the body. The nameplate is inscribed ''Ricohflex'' and ''MOD.B.'' Two variants of the nameplate are known, one is almost rectangular and has ''<small>MOD.B</small>'' written in small capital letters, the other has an incurved top and ''MOD.B'' written in larger letters.
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There is a depth-of-field plate on the back of the viewing hood, written in English; it is again exactly the same as on the export versions of the [[Reflecta]]. Strap attachments are mounted on both sides of the body. The nameplate is inscribed ''Ricohflex'' and ''MOD.B.''
  
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The shutter gives T, B, 5&ndash;200 speeds on all the versions. On the early examples, the shutter is everset and the shutter plate is inscribed ''HEIL'' at the top and has an ''AKK'' logo on the right. On the late examples, the shutter has a setting lever and no shutter name is visible.<REF> Shutter variations: Tanaka, p.&nbsp;20 of {{KKS}} no.&nbsp;14, and Tomuro, p.&nbsp;72 of the same magazine. </REF>
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In all cases, the shutter gives T, B, 5&ndash;200 speeds and the lenses are 75/4.5.
  
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The viewing lens is a Ukas Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5. The taking lens is the same Ukas Anastigmat on the early examples and it is a Koa Anastigmat 75/4.5 on the late ones.<REF> Lens and shutter equipment: Tanaka, p.&nbsp;20 of {{KKS}} no.&nbsp;14, and Tomuro, p.&nbsp;72 of the same magazine. </REF>
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== Variations ==
 +
Two variants of the nameplate are known, one is almost rectangular and has ''<small>MOD.B</small>'' written in small capital letters, the other has an incurved top and ''MOD.B'' written in larger letters.
 +
 
 +
There are two types of shutter: one is everset, is inscribed ''HEIL'' at the top of the shutter plate and has an ''AKK'' logo on the right, the other has a setting lever and no visible marking.
 +
 
 +
The taking lens is either a Ukas Anastigmat or a Koa Anastigmat 75/4.5. The viewing lens is a Ukas Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5 on all the cameras.
 +
 
 +
It is said that the early cameras have the Ukas taking lens, Heil shutter and incurved nameplate and that the late ones have the Koa lens, setting shutter and straight nameplate.<REF> Tanaka, p.&nbsp;20 of {{KKS}} no.&nbsp;14, and Tomuro, p.&nbsp;72 of the same magazine. </REF>
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 +
== Advertisements and other documents ==
 +
The Ricohflex B was already listed in the {{Kakaku1940_short}}, compiled on October 25, 1940 and published in January 1941.<REF> {{Kakaku1940_short}}, type 7, section 1. </REF> However the set price was &yen;252, the same as all the other TLR models listed despite its lesser features. This perhaps indicates that the camera was only planned and officially registered but not ready to sell.
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In advertisements dated October 1941 and March 1942,<REF> October 1941: advertisement published in ''[[Shashin Bunka]],'' reproduced in Tanaka, p.&nbsp;10 of {{KKS}} no.&nbsp;14. March 1942: [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki19.jpg advertisement] published in ''[[Hōdō Shashin]],'' reproduced in [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website] and in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;102. </REF> the camera was offered respectively for {{yen|140|1941}} and {{yen|166|1942}}. In the description, the lens is given as an RKK Koa Anastigmat 75/4.5 and the shutter is said to have a setting lever. The advertising picture is the same in both advertisements, showing a camera with the straight nameplate and no marking on the shutter plate.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;832. (See also pp.&nbsp;823&ndash;4, 883 and 1014 for the [[Reflecta]] and its name variants.)
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;832. (See also pp.&nbsp;823&ndash;4, 883 and 1014 for the [[Reflecta]] and its name variants.)
 
* {{Zukan}} Item 2020.
 
* {{Zukan}} Item 2020.
 +
* Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Rikō kamera no nagare" (リコーカメラの流れ, Evolution of the Ricoh cameras). {{KKS014}} Pp.&nbsp;8&ndash;11.
 
* Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Senzen no kamera 3: Nigan-refu kamera" (戦前のカメラ3・二眼レフカメラ, Prewar cameras 3: TLR cameras). {{KKS014}} Pp.&nbsp;19&ndash;20.
 
* Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Senzen no kamera 3: Nigan-refu kamera" (戦前のカメラ3・二眼レフカメラ, Prewar cameras 3: TLR cameras). {{KKS014}} Pp.&nbsp;19&ndash;20.
 
* Tomuro Seiwa (戸室靖和). "Rikōfurekkusu B-gata no rūtsu wo saguru" (リコーフレックスB型のルーツを探る, Looking for the roots of the Ricohflex B). {{KKS014}} Pp.&nbsp;72&ndash;8.
 
* Tomuro Seiwa (戸室靖和). "Rikōfurekkusu B-gata no rūtsu wo saguru" (リコーフレックスB型のルーツを探る, Looking for the roots of the Ricohflex B). {{KKS014}} Pp.&nbsp;72&ndash;8.

Revision as of 09:14, 15 April 2007

Japanese 6×6 TLR
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
6×6cm Elmoflex | First Reflex | Kiko Flex | Lyra Flex | Minoltaflex | Minoltaflex Automat | Minoltaflex military prototype | Nōman Flex | Ostenflex | Prince Flex | Ricohflex (original) | Ricohflex B | Rollekonter | Roll-o-Frex | Rorter Ref | Rorterflex | Sakura-flex | Simpuflex | Starflex | Taroflex | Valflex | Yokusanflex
Postwar models and other TLR ->
Pseudo TLR and medium format SLR ->
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The Ricohflex B (理光フレックスB型) is a Japanese 6×6 TLR made and sold by Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō in 1941 and 1942.[1]

Description

The Ricohflex B is a 6×6 TLR made of pressed steel.[2] It is a close copy of the export versions of the Richter Reflecta with three red windows, like the Trumpfreflex or the Wirgin Reflex.[3] The focusing is done by a lever at the bottom of the taking lens, driving a helicoid supporting the lens and shutter assembly. The viewing lens is coupled to the helical focusing, certainly by internal gears. The closest focusing distance is 3.5 feet (the distance scale is exactly the same as on the export versions of the Reflecta).

The exposure chamber and film spool holders are grouped in a removable frame. The film advance knob is on the photographer's right. The back is hinged to the top and contains three red windows on the left, protected by a vertically sliding cover. Indications are embossed in the back leather next to the red windows: 1357, 2468 and 1357, meant to use the 1 to 12 series of numbers for the 6×9 format. This advance system was necessary for 6×6 cameras in the 1930s, when the rollfilm paper backing was not yet marked for the 6×6 frame size, but it was antiquated at the time the model was sold.

There is a depth-of-field plate on the back of the viewing hood, written in English; it is again exactly the same as on the export versions of the Reflecta. Strap attachments are mounted on both sides of the body. The nameplate is inscribed Ricohflex and MOD.B.

In all cases, the shutter gives T, B, 5–200 speeds and the lenses are 75/4.5.

Variations

Two variants of the nameplate are known, one is almost rectangular and has MOD.B written in small capital letters, the other has an incurved top and MOD.B written in larger letters.

There are two types of shutter: one is everset, is inscribed HEIL at the top of the shutter plate and has an AKK logo on the right, the other has a setting lever and no visible marking.

The taking lens is either a Ukas Anastigmat or a Koa Anastigmat 75/4.5. The viewing lens is a Ukas Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5 on all the cameras.

It is said that the early cameras have the Ukas taking lens, Heil shutter and incurved nameplate and that the late ones have the Koa lens, setting shutter and straight nameplate.[4]

Advertisements and other documents

The Ricohflex B was already listed in the Template:Kakaku1940 short, compiled on October 25, 1940 and published in January 1941.[5] However the set price was ¥252, the same as all the other TLR models listed despite its lesser features. This perhaps indicates that the camera was only planned and officially registered but not ready to sell.

In advertisements dated October 1941 and March 1942,[6] the camera was offered respectively for ¥140 and ¥166. In the description, the lens is given as an RKK Koa Anastigmat 75/4.5 and the shutter is said to have a setting lever. The advertising picture is the same in both advertisements, showing a camera with the straight nameplate and no marking on the shutter plate.

Notes

  1. ↑ Dates: advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343.
  2. ↑ Pressed steel: see this page of the Ricoh website.
  3. ↑ Tomuro, pp. 72–77 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 14, demonstrates that the Ricohflex B is a copy of the Sears Trumpfreflex because it has three red windows, the exact same depth-of-field plate and distance scale. However other name variants of the Reflecta have the same features, like the Wirgin Reflex sold by Wirgin. See McKeown, p. 
  4. ↑ Tanaka, p. 20 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 14, and Tomuro, p. 72 of the same magazine.
  5. ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 7, section 1.
  6. ↑ October 1941: advertisement published in Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Tanaka, p. 10 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 14. March 1942: advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Gochamaze website and in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 102.

Bibliography

Links

In Japanese:


Asahi Bussan and Riken prewar and wartime cameras (edit)
rigid or collapsible
Vest Adler | Gokoku | Semi Kinsi | Letix | Olympic | New Olympic | Regal Olympic | Semi Olympic | Super Olympic | Vest Olympic | Riken No.1 | Ricohl | Roico | Seica | Zessan
folders pseudo TLR TLR
Semi Adler | Adler III | Adler A | Adler B | Adler C | Adler Four | Adler Six | Gaica | Heil | Kinsi Chukon Ref Ricohflex | Ricohflex B
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