Difference between revisions of "Rollekonter"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
m (minor)
m (minor)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Japanese prewar and wartime TLR}}
 
{{Japanese prewar and wartime TLR}}
  
−
The '''Rollekonter''' (ロールコンター) is a Japanese 6&times;6 TLR made from early 1938 to 1944.<REF> Dates: advertisements and articles listed in {{Kokusan}}, pp.&nbsp;343&ndash;4. </REF> The name is an obvious rip-off of <U>Rolle</U>iflex and I<U>kont</U>a (イコンター in Japanese). The camera was distributed by [[Mizuno]] and [[Hakkōdō]], and it is said to have been made by [[Mori]].<REF> Attribution to [[Mori]]: Tanaka, p.&nbsp;19 of {{KKS}} no.&nbsp;14, says that the Rollekonter was made by Mori Seisakusho. {{Sugiyama}}, item 2021&ndash;3, says "Seibi-do Co. (Mori Manufacturing)", but the attribution to [[Seibidō]] is not confirmed by any other document. {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;336, attributes the [[Semi Konter]] to Mori Seisakusho. McKeown, p.&nbsp;849, attributes the Rollekonter to "Rolle Konter Work" but this was certainly a dummy name inscribed on the cameras. </REF>
+
The '''Rollekonter''' (ロールコンター) is a Japanese 6&times;6 TLR made from early 1938 to 1944.<REF> Dates: advertisements and articles listed in {{Kokusan}}, pp.&nbsp;343&ndash;4. </REF> The name is an obvious rip-off of <U>Rolle</U>iflex and I<U>kont</U>a (イコンター in Japanese). The camera was distributed by [[Mizuno]] and [[Hakkōdō]], and it is said to have been made by [[Mori]].<REF> Attribution to [[Mori]]: Tanaka, p.&nbsp;19 of {{KKS}} no.&nbsp;14, says that the Rollekonter was made by Mori Seisakusho. {{Sugiyama}}, items 2021&ndash;3, says "Seibi-do Co. (Mori Manufacturing)", but the attribution to [[Seibidō]] is not confirmed by any other document. McKeown, p.&nbsp;849, attributes the Rollekonter to "Rolle Konter Work" but this was certainly a dummy name inscribed on the cameras. {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;336, attributes the similarly named [[Semi Konter]] to Mori Seisakusho. </REF>
  
 
== General description ==
 
== General description ==

Revision as of 20:39, 7 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 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). The camera was distributed by Mizuno and Hakkōdō, and it is said to have been made by Mori.[2]

General description

The Rollekonter is inspired by 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 on 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 75mm lens called Hitonar Anastigmat or U Hitonar Anastigmat. The U Hitonar 75/3.5 has three elements and was made by Kokusaku,[3] and the other models were probably made by the same company. The name Hitonar (ヒトナー) probably refers to Hitler (written ヒトラー in Japanese).

Evolution

The original Rollekonter

The original Rollekonter was released in early 1938.[4] 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.[5]

This model was offered for ¥210 in an advertisement dated June 1938, where it was simply called "Rollekonter".[6] 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.[7]

The Rollekonter II and B

The Rollekonter II was released in mid-1940, and the original model was renamed Rollekonter I at the same time.[8] The model II 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.[9]

At least one example of the Rollekonter II has been observed without the advance unlock lever next to the wind knob. It seems that they have an unlock button instead, placed behind the distance knob.[10] This is perhaps a distinguishing feature of the late examples.

The early examples of the Rollekonter II have the Hitonar lens, the others have the U Hitonar.[11]

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 are not genuine Compur shutters but Japanese copies made by Bikōdō.[12] The shutter rim is nonetheless engraved COMPUR–RAPID on the most expensive version, while the shutter plate has Rolle konter.[13] The release lever protrudes from the bottom of the shutter casing.

The Rollekonter B is a less expensive version of the Rollekonter II, with a Hitonar Anastigmat f/4.5 lens. It was first advertised in early 1941.[14] The nameplate is engraved Rollekonter B and MADE IN TOKYO. The shutter is reported by some sources as a Light but the speed range is unclear.[15] The shutter plate is marked Patent Pending at the top. It is said that the film advance only relies on the exposure counter and that there is no auto-stop mechanism, but this is dubious.[16]

The list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, listed the "Rollekonter II", "Rollekonter III" and "Rollekonter B".[17] Curiously, all three models had the same set price of ¥252.

In an advertisement by Mizuno Shashinki-ten dated December 1940,[18] 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,[19] 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,[20] 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.[21] The advertising picture was showing a Rollekonter B, externally similar to the model II.

The Rollekonter A and III

The Rollekonter A was introduced in late 1942 at the top of the range.[22] It has a large housing around the taking and viewing lenses. Two levers protrude from this casing, one underneath and the other to the right of the photographer. One of them surely sets the self-timer, whose delay is said to be adjustable between 8 and 15 seconds, and the other certainly selects the shutter speed.[23] 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 unclear: there is an additional knob and two sliding buttons on the side plate, to the left of the photographer. It is said that the bottom one is the shutter release.[24] 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 is an allusion to double exposure prevention or to the self-timer.[25]

The nameplate is inscribed Rollekonter or Rollekonter A and MADE IN TOKYO.

The Rollekonter III was released in mid-1943 as the successor of the Rollekonter II with Rapid-Compur shutter.[26] It has a rounded shutter casing around the taking lens, with three protruding levers. There is a black plate screwed between the two lenses, inscribed ROLLE KONTER WORK. The nameplate is written Rollekonter and MADE IN TOKYO. The only actual example observed does not have the K&T logo on the viewing hood and has a U Hitonar taking lens and a Ricoh Anastigmat viewing lens.[27] The Rollekonter III was also sold as the Ricohflex A and this probably explains the lens mismatch.

An advertisement by Mizuno dated March 1943 and advertisements by Hakkōdō dated July 1943 and September 1944 showed the following price evolution:[28]

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 _ _

In the March 1943 picture, the sliding button at the bottom left is not visible, perhaps because the picture was retouched. The September 1944 advertisement blatantly said that the Rollekonter II and III are copies of the Rolleicord II: "same as the Rolleicord II" ("ローライコードⅡ型ト同ジ").

The "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943, only mentions the Rollekonter A and the Rollekonter II.[29] The manufacturer's name is unfortunately missing from the document.

Some actual examples have been observed.[30] All of them simply have Rollekonter on the nameplate whereas the advertising pictures have Rollekonter A.

Notes

  1. ↑ Dates: advertisements and articles listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 343–4.
  2. ↑ Attribution to Mori: Tanaka, p. 19 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 14, says that the Rollekonter was made by Mori Seisakusho. Sugiyama, items 2021–3, says "Seibi-do Co. (Mori Manufacturing)", but the attribution to Seibidō is not confirmed by any other document. McKeown, p. 849, attributes the Rollekonter to "Rolle Konter Work" but this was certainly a dummy name inscribed on the cameras. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336, attributes the similarly named Semi Konter to Mori Seisakusho.
  3. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb32.
  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.
  5. ↑ McKeown, p. 849. Sugiyama, item 2021 (about the Rollekonter II).
  6. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 105.
  7. ↑ McKeown, p. 849.
  8. ↑ According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343, the earliest advertisement was in the May 1940 issue of Asahi Camera.
  9. ↑ Improved auto-stop mechanism: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343.
  10. ↑ Examples pictured in this page at Galerie Y.
  11. ↑ Hitonar lens: example pictured in Sugiyama, item 2021. U Hitonar lens: example pictured in this page of D-Grade Camera World and example pictured in this page at Galerie Y.
  12. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), shutter items and 18-Q-4 and 18-R-9.
  13. ↑ One example is pictured in this page at tlr-cameras.com with a KODAK shutter plate, certainly because the part was replaced at some time.
  14. ↑ According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 344, the earliest advertisement was in the February 1941 issue of Asahi Camera.
  15. ↑ Sugiyama, item 2023, and McKeown, p. 849, both report T, B, 5–100 speeds. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 344, says T, B, 5–200. The pictures observed of actual examples have numerals that are barely legible but they probably show 5–200 or 5–250.
  16. ↑ This is said by Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 344, but the pictures show the same controls as on the Rollekonter II.
  17. ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 7, section 1.
  18. ↑ Advertisement published in Kōga Gekkan, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 105.
  19. ↑ Advertisement published in an unknown Japanese magazine around 1942, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. ↑ Advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 106.
  22. ↑ According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 344, the earliest advertisement was in the August 1942 issue of Shashin Bunka. The Rollekonter A is called "Rollekonter A-II" in Sugiyama, item 2022, certainly by mistake.
  23. ↑ Adjustable self-timer: Sugiyama, item 2022 and this page at D-Grade Camera World. The latter source gives the 8–15s range.
  24. ↑ See this page at D-Grade Camera World.
  25. ↑ Advertisement published in Shashin Bunka July 1943, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 106.
  26. ↑ According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 344, the earliest advertisement was in the July 1943 issue of Shashin Bunka.
  27. ↑ Example pictured in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 437, certainly corresponding to a Rollekonter III.
  28. ↑ 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.
  29. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), items 117–8.
  30. ↑ 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.

Bibliography

Links

General links

In English:

In Japanese:

Original documents

In Japanese:

Retrieved from "http://camera-wiki.org/index.php?title=Rollekonter&oldid=63236"