Difference between revisions of "Roll-o-Frex"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
m (Advertisements and actual examples: m)
(not in the late 1940 price list)
Line 6: Line 6:
  
 
== Advertisements and actual examples ==
 
== Advertisements and actual examples ==
The Roll-o-Frex was described in an advertisement by [[Taikodō]] dated September 1941.<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;106. </REF> The shutter was mentioned as an Elect<REF> Name inferred from the ''katakana'' エレクト. </REF> giving 5&ndash;200, T, B speeds and the lens as an Electar<REF> Name inferred from the ''katakana'' エレクター. </REF> Anastigmat 75/4.5.
+
The Roll-o-Frex was not mentioned in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, presumably because it was not yet in production.<REF> {{Kakaku1940_short}}. </REF> The camera was described in an advertisement by [[Taikodō]] dated September 1941.<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;106. </REF> The shutter was mentioned as an Elect<REF> Name inferred from the ''katakana'' エレクト. </REF> giving 5&ndash;200, T, B speeds and the lens as an Electar<REF> Name inferred from the ''katakana'' エレクター. </REF> Anastigmat 75/4.5.
  
 
The camera pictured in the advertisement has a ''Roll-o-Frex'' nameplate. It seems that the words ''MADE IN TOKYO'' are inscribed in small letters on the nameplate too, as on some examples of the [[Rollekonter]].
 
The camera pictured in the advertisement has a ''Roll-o-Frex'' nameplate. It seems that the words ''MADE IN TOKYO'' are inscribed in small letters on the nameplate too, as on some examples of the [[Rollekonter]].
Line 17: Line 17:
 
== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
 
* {{Showa10}} Item 340.
 
* {{Showa10}} Item 340.
 +
* {{Kakaku1940}} The Roll-o-Frex does ''not'' appear in this list.
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;860.
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;860.
 
The Roll-o-Frex is not listed in {{Sugiyama}}.
 
The Roll-o-Frex is not listed in {{Sugiyama}}.

Revision as of 17:08, 2 June 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 ->
Other Japanese 6×6, 4.5×6, 3×4 and 4×4 ->

The Roll-o-Frex (ローローフレックス) is a Japanese 6×6 TLR advertised by Taikodō in 1941.[1] The strange name is obviously copied from the Rolleiflex name ("flex" and "frex" are pronounced the same in Japanese).

Description

The Roll-o-Frex is a copy of the 1936 Rolleicord models. The focusing is done by moving the front plate back and forth. The film advance is probably semi-automatic. The focusing and film advance knobs are on the photographer's right, and there is a round exposure counter window at the top of the right-hand side plate. The focusing knob is surrounded by a depth-of-field plate and the shutter release button is placed underneath. There is a magnifying glass inside the viewing hood.[2] It seems that there is a lever on the right-hand side of the viewing hood, perhaps releasing a mirror for eye-level reflex viewing. The nameplate is shaped like the nameplate of the early Rolleicord.

Advertisements and actual examples

The Roll-o-Frex was not mentioned in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, presumably because it was not yet in production.[3] The camera was described in an advertisement by Taikodō dated September 1941.[4] The shutter was mentioned as an Elect[5] giving 5–200, T, B speeds and the lens as an Electar[6] Anastigmat 75/4.5.

The camera pictured in the advertisement has a Roll-o-Frex nameplate. It seems that the words MADE IN TOKYO are inscribed in small letters on the nameplate too, as on some examples of the Rollekonter.

The only surviving example observed so far is pictured in McKeown.[7] On this example, the nameplate is different: the MADE IN TOKYO engraving is absent and it seems that the name Rollo-Frex is written in two words instead of three.

Notes

  1. Date: advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 344.
  2. Magnifying glass: Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 106.
  3. Template:Kakaku1940 short.
  4. Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 106.
  5. Name inferred from the katakana エレクト.
  6. Name inferred from the katakana エレクター.
  7. McKeown, p. 860.

Bibliography

The Roll-o-Frex is not listed in Sugiyama.