Ricohflex B
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]
Contents
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, including a column for f/3.5 aperture whereas the camera only has an f/4.5 lens. 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.
The viewing and taking lenses are either Ukas Anastigmat, R.K.K. Koa[4] Anastigmat or Wester Anastigmat. 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 no visible marking and is of the setting type, with a single lever for cocking and releasing.
It is said that the early cameras have the Ukas lenses and Heil shutter and that the late ones have the Koa lenses and setting shutter.[5]
Actual examples have been observed with the following combinations:
- Ukas taking and viewing lens, Heil shutter, incurved nameplate;[6]
- Koa taking and viewing lens, no name shutter, incurved nameplate;[7]
- Koa taking and viewing lens, no name shutter, straight nameplate;[8]
- Wester taking and viewing lens, shutter certainly a Heil, incurved nameplate.[9]
Advertisements and other documents
The Ricohflex B was already listed in the official price list compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941.[10] 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,[11] 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
- ↑ Dates: advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343.
- ↑ Pressed steel: see this page of the Ricoh website.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Cameras called "Koa I" (コーアⅠ型) and "Koa II" (コーアⅡ型) are listed in the Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 2, sections 3 and 6. It is not known if they are related.
- ↑ Tanaka, p. 20 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 14, and Tomuro, p. 72 of the same magazine.
- ↑ Example pictured in Tanaka, p. 20 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 14, and in Tomuro, pp. 72–3 of the same magazine.
- ↑ Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 2020, in Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten, p. 21, and in Lewis, p. 57.
- ↑ Example pictured in the October 1941 and March 1942 advertisements cited below.
- ↑ Example pictured in an online auction. The HEIL nameplate is missing.
- ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 7, section 1.
- ↑ 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
- 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. Item 311.
- Template:Kakaku1940 Type 7, section 1.
- 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. 57.
- 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. 832. (See also pp. 823–4, 883 and 1014 for the Reflecta and its name variants.)
- 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. 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). 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.14, October 1989. No ISBN number. Rikō kamera no subete (リコーカメラのすべて, special issue on Ricoh). Pp. 8–11.
- 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). 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.14, October 1989. No ISBN number. Rikō kamera no subete (リコーカメラのすべて, special issue on Ricoh). Pp. 19–20.
- 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). 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.14, October 1989. No ISBN number. Rikō kamera no subete (リコーカメラのすべて, special issue on Ricoh). Pp. 72–8.
- Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten (私の二眼レフカメラ展, Exhibition of twin lens reflex cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P. 21.
Links
In Japanese:
- Pages from the Ricoh corporate site:
- Advertisement for the Ricohflex B published in the March 1942 issue of Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Japanese camera page of the Gochamaze website
- Advertisement for the Heil C dated 1942, also listing the Ricohflex B, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera, a page of old Japanese advertisements by Toshio Inamura
| Asahi Bussan and Riken prewar and wartime cameras () | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
