Difference between revisions of "Rollekonter"
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A number of other controls are visible but their use is unknown: there is an additional knob and one or two sliding buttons on the side plate, to the left of the photographer. On the other side, there is another sliding button between the advance and focus knobs. It seems that the advance unlock lever has been suppressed, certainly because the shutter release is interlocked with the advance system and provides double exposure prevention. At least one advertisement emphasizes a "body release" and an "automatic shutter device" (自動シャッター装置), it is not known if this means double exposure prevention or a self-timer.<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Shashin Bunka]]'' July 1943, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 106. </REF> | A number of other controls are visible but their use is unknown: there is an additional knob and one or two sliding buttons on the side plate, to the left of the photographer. On the other side, there is another sliding button between the advance and focus knobs. It seems that the advance unlock lever has been suppressed, certainly because the shutter release is interlocked with the advance system and provides double exposure prevention. At least one advertisement emphasizes a "body release" and an "automatic shutter device" (自動シャッター装置), it is not known if this means double exposure prevention or a self-timer.<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Shashin Bunka]]'' July 1943, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 106. </REF> | ||
| − | + | The nameplate is inscribed ''Rollekonter'' or ''Rollekonter A'' and ''<small>MADE IN TOKYO</small>.'' | |
| + | |||
| + | An advertisement by [[Mizuno]] dated March 1943 and advertisements by [[Hakkōdō]] dated July 1943 and September 1944 showed the following price evolution:<REF> March 1943: advertisement published in ''[[Hōdō Shashin]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 106. July 1943: advertisement published in ''[[Shashin Bunka]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 106. September 1944: [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki52.jpg advertisement] published in ''[[Hōdō Shashin]],'' reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. </REF> | ||
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| + | The {{Inquiry1943_short}}, listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943, only mentioned the Rollekonter A and the Rollekonter II.<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, items 117–8. </REF> The manufacturer's name is unfortunately missing from the document. | ||
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| + | The actual examples observed of the Rollekonter A have a sliding lever at the bottom of the left-hand side plate,<REF> Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 2022; example observed in an online auction; example pictured in [http://homepage3.nifty.com/camera-d/Yojouhan/Rollekonter.htm this page] and [http://homepage3.nifty.com/camera-d/Yojouhan/Rollekonter_front.htm this page] of [http://homepage3.nifty.com/camera-d/index.htm D-Grade Camera World]. </REF> which is not present in the March 1943 advertising picture (in the other advertisements, the picture shows the right side of the camera). The advertising pictures have a ''Rollekonter A'' nameplate whereas it is simply inscribed ''Rollekonter'' on the surviving examples. | ||
Examples of the Rollekonter II have been observed in {{Sugiyama}} and in various websites.<REF> Sugiyama, item 2021, with no model number on the nameplate; [http://homepage3.nifty.com/camera-d/Yojouhan/rollekonter2/rollekonter2.htm this page] at [http://homepage3.nifty.com/camera-d/index.htm D-Grade Camera World]. </REF> | Examples of the Rollekonter II have been observed in {{Sugiyama}} and in various websites.<REF> Sugiyama, item 2021, with no model number on the nameplate; [http://homepage3.nifty.com/camera-d/Yojouhan/rollekonter2/rollekonter2.htm this page] at [http://homepage3.nifty.com/camera-d/index.htm D-Grade Camera World]. </REF> | ||
Revision as of 18:21, 2 April 2007
The Rollekonter (ロールコンター) is a Japanese 6×6 TLR made from early 1938 to 1944.[1] The name is an obvious rip-off of Rolleiflex and Ikonta (イコンター in Japanese).
Contents
General description
The Rollekonter is inspired from the 1936 Rolleicord models. The focusing is done by moving the front plate back and forth. The focusing and film advance knobs are on the photographer's right. The film advance is semi-automatic and there is a round exposure counter window at the top of the right-hand side plate. The focusing knob is inscribed Rolle Konter Work. It is surrounded by a metal plate looking like a depth-of-field scale but which is simply written Rolle Konter. There is a magnifying glass hinged to the back of the viewing hood. There is also a lever on the right-hand side of the hood, certainly releasing a mirror for eye-level reflex viewing.
The back is hinged to the top and has an exposure table written in English. This table is exactly identical to that of the First Reflex, and it seems that these cameras share other parts too. There is a red window under the camera, on the left-hand side next to the tripod screw. It is protected by a sliding cover and is certainly used to set the position of the first exposure.
There is a logo in the middle of the viewing hood, reading K&T. This logo is read from behind when the viewing hood is closed, and it appears upside down when the hood is open.
All the models have a 75/3.5 lens called Hitonar Anastigmat or U Hitonar Anastigmat. The name Hitonar (ヒトナー) obviously refers to Hitler (written ヒトラー in Japanese).
Evolution
The original Rollekonter
The original Rollekonter was released in early 1938.[2] It is recognizable by its smaller nameplate, only inscribed Rolle konter in two words. There is a lever in front of the wind knob, certainly used to unlock the film advance. The shutter release is directly mounted under the shutter casing.
The lens is a Hitonar Anastigmat 75/3.5 and the shutter, advertised as a Tokyo Compur (トーキョーコンパー), provides T, B, 1–300 speeds. It seems that the shutter plate is inscribed Rolle Konter. The shutter is sometimes reported as an "MB Compur", perhaps because it is inscribed as such.[3]
This model was offered for ¥210 in an advertisement dated June 1938, where it was simply called "Rollekonter".[4] Three authorized dealers were mentioned: Ōsawa Shōkai, Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten and Seibidō, but no other company name was given.
One actual example is pictured in McKeown.[5]
The Rollekonter II, III and B
The Rollekonter II was released in mid-1940.[6] It has a larger nameplate, shaped like that of the Rolleicord, marked Rollekonter or Rollekonter II and MADE IN TOKYO. The advance unlock lever has a slightly different shape and it is said that the auto-stop mechanism was improved.[7] The Rollekonter II exists in two versions: one has the Tokyo Compur shutter (1–300), sometimes called New Compur, already mounted on the Rollekonter I, and the other has a Rapid-Compur shutter giving 1–500 speeds. These shutters were not genuine Compur shutters but Japanese copies made by Bikōdō.[8]
After the introduction of the Rollekonter II, the original model was renamed Rollekonter I. The Rollekonter II with Rapid-Compur shutter was sometimes called Rollekonter III.[9]
The Rollekonter B is a less expensive version of the Rollekonter II, with an f/4.5 lens. It was first advertised in early 1941.[10] The nameplate is engraved Rollekonter B and MADE IN TOKYO.
The Template:Kakaku1940 short, compiled on October 25, 1940 and published in January 1941, listed the "Rollekonter II", "Rollekonter III" and "Rollekonter B".[11] Curiously, all three models had the same set price of ¥252.
In an advertisement by Mizuno Shashinki-ten dated December 1940,[12] the two versions of the Rollekonter II were offered along with the Rollekonter I. All the cameras had the Hitonar f/3.5 lens and no price was given.
In another advertisement by Mizuno dated about 1942,[13] the Rollekonter II was offered alone, in the same two versions, priced ¥260 and ¥278. The lens name had become U Hitonar.
In some advertisements by Hakkōdō, dated 1941 and February 1942,[14] the pictured camera had a smaller nameplate with stepped sides, which has never been observed on any actual example. The same two versions were offered and the prices in February 1942 were ¥260 and ¥278 too.
In an advertisement by Mizuno dated April 1942, the cheaper version of the Rollekonter II was offered for ¥260 together with the Rollekonter B for ¥178.[15] The advertising picture was showing a Rollekonter B, externally similar to the model II.
The Rollekonter A
The Rollekonter A was introduced in late 1942 at the top of the range.[16] It has a large housing around the taking and viewing lenses. Two levers are protruding from this casing, one underneath and the other to the right of the photographer. When viewed from the front, the casing shows the aperture scale on the right of the taking lens and a round window on the left, certainly displaying the selected speed. There is a plate engraved Rolle konter between the taking and viewing lenses.
A number of other controls are visible but their use is unknown: there is an additional knob and one or two sliding buttons on the side plate, to the left of the photographer. On the other side, there is another sliding button between the advance and focus knobs. It seems that the advance unlock lever has been suppressed, certainly because the shutter release is interlocked with the advance system and provides double exposure prevention. At least one advertisement emphasizes a "body release" and an "automatic shutter device" (自動シャッター装置), it is not known if this means double exposure prevention or a self-timer.[17]
The nameplate is inscribed Rollekonter or Rollekonter A and MADE IN TOKYO.
An advertisement by Mizuno dated March 1943 and advertisements by Hakkōdō dated July 1943 and September 1944 showed the following price evolution:[18]
| Date | March 1943 | July 1943 | September 1944 |
| Model | |||
| Rollekonter A | ¥379 | ¥437.90 | ¥578 |
| Rollekonter III | _ | ¥321.94 | ¥379.90 |
| Rollekonter II | ¥260 | ¥300.02 | ¥354.04 |
| Rollekonter B | ¥178 | _ | _ |
The "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943, only mentioned the Rollekonter A and the Rollekonter II.[19] The manufacturer's name is unfortunately missing from the document.
The actual examples observed of the Rollekonter A have a sliding lever at the bottom of the left-hand side plate,[20] which is not present in the March 1943 advertising picture (in the other advertisements, the picture shows the right side of the camera). The advertising pictures have a Rollekonter A nameplate whereas it is simply inscribed Rollekonter on the surviving examples.
Examples of the Rollekonter II have been observed in Sugiyama and in various websites.[21]
Notes
- ↑ Dates: advertisements and articles listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 343–4.
- ↑ According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343, the earliest advertisement was in the January 1938 issue of Asahi Camera and the camera was featured in the new products column of the February 1938 issue of the same magazine.
- ↑ McKeown, p. 849. Sugiyama, item 2021 (about the Rollekonter II).
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 105.
- ↑ McKeown, p. 849.
- ↑ According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343, the earliest advertisement was in the May 1940 issue of Asahi Camera.
- ↑ Improved auto-stop mechanism: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), shutter items and 18-Q-4 and 18-R-9.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 344, says that the Rollekonter III has a shutter casing like the Rollekonter A or Rolleicord II. No evidence of this has been found and the small price difference between the models II and III makes this unlikely.
- ↑ According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 344, the earliest advertisement was in the February 1941 issue of Asahi Camera.
- ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 7, section 1.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Kōga Gekkan, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 105.
- ↑ Advertisement published in an unknown Japanese magazine around 1942, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura.
- ↑ Illegible advertisement dated 1941 reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura, and advertisement published in Asahi Camera February 1942, visible in this page of Xylocopal's photolog.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 106.
- ↑ According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 344, the earliest advertisement was in the August 1942 issue of Shashin Bunka.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Shashin Bunka July 1943, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 106.
- ↑ March 1943: advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 106. July 1943: advertisement published in Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 106. September 1944: advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), items 117–8.
- ↑ Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 2022; example observed in an online auction; example pictured in this page and this page of D-Grade Camera World.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 2021, with no model number on the nameplate; this page at D-Grade Camera World.
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 334–8.
- "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 117–8.
- Template:Kakaku1940
- 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. 849.
- 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 2021–3.
Links
General links
In English:
- Page with Japanese TLR cameras at the TLR Cameras Website, including the Rollekonter
In Japanese:
- Pages at D-Grade Camera World by Matsu:
- Rollekonter II at Wakamiya's site
- Rollekonter B at Galerie Y
Original documents
In Japanese:
- Advertisements reproduced in Nostalgic Camera, a page of old Japanese advertisements by Toshio Inamura:
- Advertisement for the Rollekonter dated 1941
- Advertisement for the Rollekonter dated between 1942 and 1945
- Advertisement for the Rollekonter published in Asahi Camera February 1942, visible in this page about old camera magazines of Xylocopal's photolog
- Advertisement for the Rollekonter published in the September 1944 issue of Shashin Kagaku, reproduced in the Japanese camera page of the Gochamaze website
