Rollekonter

This is a work in progress.

The Rollekonter (ロールコンター) is a Japanese 6×6 TLR made from early 1938 to 1944. The name is an obvious rip-off of Rolleiflex and Ikonta (イコンター in Japanese). The camera was made by Mori Seisakusho. It was distributed by Ōsawa, Yamashita and Seibidō, then by Mizuno and Hakkōdō.

General description of the knob-advance models

The Rollekonter was inspired by the 1936 Rolleicord models. All the models share the same body casting; it is said that this part was re-used after the war on various other TLR cameras, perhaps because the dies survived and were used by some sub-contractor supplying parts to other manufacturers.

The camera is focused 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, a mere dummy name (see Camera Works). The distance scale is engraved on the side of the knob, usually on a black background. It is surrounded by a metal plate, either chrome or black, looking like a depth-of-field scale but only engraved Rolle konter.

The viewing hood is made of two parts only. There is a mirror inside, released by a lever visible on the right. It is used for eye-level focusing through a round eyepiece on the rear. There is also a magnifying lens hinged to the rear of the hood. The front part of the hood has a logo in the middle, reading K&T. This logo is read from behind when the hood is closed, and it appears upside down when it is open.

The back is hinged to the top for film loading. There is an exposure table in English language attached at the rear. The 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 used to set the position of the first exposure.

All the models have a 75mm lens called Hitonar Anastigmat or U Hitonar Anastigmat. The name Hitonar (ヒトナー) probably refers to Hitler (written ヒトラー in Japanese). An original document lists the U Hitonar 75mm f/3.5 as a three-element lens made by Kokusaku. At least one recent source says that the Hitonar was made by Miyoshi Kōgaku; this may be a mistake or might indicate that the supplier was changed at some point.

The case is made of brown leather and is embossed Rollekonter or Rolle Konter at the front.

The original Rollekonter and Rollekonter I

Description

The original Rollekonter has the first type of advance mechanism. It automatically stops after each exposure, and reportedly provides double exposure prevention. There is a lever in front of the wind knob, with O and R indications, and it seems that the central part of the wind knob is fixed, unlike the contemporary Rolleicord. Other details of the mechanism are unclear, and it is not known how the exposure counter is engaged or reset.

The camera has a regular latch at the rear of the viewing hood, unlike the later Rollekonter II. The Rolle konter plate around the focus knob is normally black, as well as the back latch under the camera. The viewing lens has f/3.2 maximum aperture, unlike later models.

Early cameras

The early cameras are recognized by the small nameplate, only inscribed Rolle konter in two words. The lens is a Hitonar Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5. The shutter, advertised as a Tokyo Compur (トーキョーコンパー), provides T, B, 1–300 speeds. This is not a genuine Compur but a Japanese copy made by Bikōdō. The shutter plate has an MB logo and is engraved Compur on one side. The name Rolle konter and the aperture scale are on separate plates, attached by two screws. The release lever is combined with the setting lever, under the shutter casing.

At least two surviving examples are known with the original nameplate, including that pictured in McKeown.

Early documents

The original Rollekonter was first advertised in the January issue of Asahi Camera and was featured in the new products column of the February issue of the same magazine. In the June 1938 advertisement in Asahi Camera, the camera is merely called "Rollekonter" and is offered for ¥210. The document shows a picture of the camera with the early nameplate. Three authorized dealers are mentioned: Ōsawa Shōkai, Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten and Seibidō, but no other company name is given.

New nameplate

Rollekonter I, late nameplate, "Compur-Rapid" shutter, U Hitonar Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 taking lens no.7575. Pictures courtesy of eBayer tuiteka. (Image rights)

The original model soon received a larger nameplate, shaped like that of the Rolleicord, marked Rollekonter and MADE IN TOKYO with no mention of a model number. It was renamed Rollekonter I after the introduction of the Rollekonter II in mid-1940, and was advertised until April 1941.

Various surviving examples are known with the larger nameplate. At least one camera has the Hitonar Anastigmat f/3.5 taking lens. Most others have the newer U Hitonar Anastigmat f/3.5 instead, with lens numbers in the 7xxx and 8xxx range. The viewing lens is either a Hitonar Anastigmat f/3.2 with a serial number, or a U Hitonar Anastigmat f/3.2 with no number.

Most Rollekonter I have the "Tokyo Compur" shutter (T, B, 1–300) with MB logo. Others have a shutter giving T, B, 1–500 speeds, engraved COMPUR–RAPID on the rim. This shutter was made by Bikōdō too, and was advertised as the "Rapid-Compur" on later models of the Rollekonter, but does not appear with the Rollekonter I on the original documents. The front plate is normally similar to that of the "Tokyo Compur", with an MB logo and Rolle konter nameplate.

The example pictured on the right has the "Compur-Rapid" but lacks the MB logo, and has a non original synch socket and a separate setting lever, perhaps the result of a repair. Another camera with the "Compur-Rapid" has a KODAK shutter plate, certainly because the part was replaced at some time.

Variant with lens casing

An isolated camera is known with a rounded casing around the taking and viewing lenses, completely covering the shutter. There are three levers on the sides of the casing, certainly to set the speed and aperture, and for shutter cocking and release. A black plate is screwed between the two lenses, with the words ROLLE KONTER WORK, and the camera lacks the K&T logo at the top.

The rest of the camera body, including the film advance mechanism, is the same as on the Rollekonter I with large nameplate. The taking lens is a U.Hitonar with a low serial number (no.1419), and the viewing lens is a Ricoh Anastigmat.

The camera is extremely similar to the Ricohflex A, made by Mori Seisakusho for Riken from 1939, which only differs by its Ricohflex nameplate, RIKEN KOHGAKU KOGYO CO., LTD. marking and Ricoh Anastigmat taking lens.

That particular camera has been presented in recent sources as a "Rollekonter III", but this is probably a mistake. (The Rollekonter III was released at a later period and was surely based on the Rollekonter II with the newer film advance mechanism.) It is actually a variant of the original Rollekonter, made in 1939 at the same time as the Ricohflex A. The camera was perhaps assembled from an unsold Ricohflex body, with the black ROLLE KONTER WORK plate added as an afterthought to cover the RIKEN KOHGAKU KOGYO CO., LTD. marking.

The Rollekonter II and III

Description and variations

The Rollekonter II is recognized by its large nameplate, similar to that of the model I but marked Rollekonter II and MADE IN TOKYO. It is said that the viewing hood automatically comes up when the focus knob is moved, and indeed no latch is visible on the back of the hood.

It is also said that the auto-stop mechanism was improved, and minor changes are visible in the advance unlock mechanism. Early cameras have a second type of advance unlock lever, slightly different from that of the model I (see the December 1940 advertisement below). Intermediate examples have a third type of advance unlock lever, with a shorter stroke. Late cameras have a small sliding button placed behind the focusing knob and replacing the lever of the previous cameras.

The shutter is either the Tokyo Compur (1–300), sometimes called New Compur, or a Rapid-Compur (1–500), also made by Bikōdō. Both have the same front plate, with the MB logo and Rolle konter nameplate; the faster type is engraved COMPUR–RAPID on the rim.

The lens is called "U Hitonar" on all the examples of the Rollekonter II observed so far, but early advertisements give the lens name as "Hitonar" only (see below).

Documents

The Rollekonter II was first advertised in the May 1940 issue of Asahi Camera. The camera appears in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, along with the Rollekonter B and a "Rollekonter III". Curiously, all three models share the same set price of ¥252, perhaps by mistake. The "Rollekonter III" listed in that document is certainly not the same as the model III released in 1943, and perhaps corresponds to the Rollekonter II with shutter to 1/500.

In an advertisement by Mizuno Shashinki-ten dated December 1940, the Rollekonter II is offered with the two shutter options, along with the Rollekonter I with the cheaper shutter. The lens listed for all the models is the Hitonar f/3.5, and no price is given. The picture shows the second type of advance unlock lever.

In some advertisements by Hakkōdō, including that in Asahi Camera February 1942, the pictured camera has a smaller nameplate with stepped sides (as on the Rolleicord IIb), a feature which has not been observed on any actual example so far. It also has no visible unlock lever, and perhaps has a sliding button behind the focusing knob instead, as on the late Rollekonter II. In the February 1942 advertisement, the model number is not specified and the two shutter options are listed, priced at ¥260 and ¥278.

The model name "Rollekonter II" appears again in an advertisement by Mizuno dated c.1942, where the camera is listed as the "Rollekonter II" with the U Hitonar lens and the same shutter options, at an unchanged price. In the document, the picture shows an intermediate example, with the regular nameplate and the third type of advance unlock lever.

The Rollekonter B

The Rollekonter B is recognized by its nameplate, similar to that of the Rollekonter I and II, but marked Rollekonter B and MADE IN TOKYO. This model is a less expensive version of the Rollekonter II. It seems that the camera has no auto-stop mechanism: one source says that the film advance is manually controlled by watching the frame counter, and another says that it is manually controlled via a red window.

The lens is a Hitonar Anastigmat f/4.5 lens. The shutter is reported by some sources as a Light, perhaps giving 5–200 speeds. The shutter plate is marked Patent Pending at the top.

The Rollekonter B was first advertised in the February 1941 issue of Asahi Camera, and soon replaced the model I. In an advertisement by Mizuno dated April 1942, the Rollekonter B is listed for ¥178, together with the cheaper version of the Rollekonter II for ¥260. The advertising picture shows a Rollekonter B, externally similar to the intermediate Rollekonter II except for the nameplate.

The Rollekonter A

The Rollekonter A was introduced in late 1942 at the top of the range. It has a large housing around the taking and viewing lenses. When viewed from the front, this casing has an aperture index, moving on an 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. Two levers protrude from the casing, one underneath and the other to the right of the photographer. The bottom lever certainly selects the shutter speed and the side lever certainly winds the shutter.

A number of other controls are visible: the side plate on the left of the photographer has an additional knob and two sliding buttons. It is said that the bottom one is the shutter release. The knob placed behind perhaps sets the self-timer, whose delay is said to be adjustable between 8 and 15 seconds, and which is perhaps engaged by the other sliding button. On the other side of the body, there is another sliding button between the advance and focus knobs. It is probably the advance unlock lever, similar to the button of the late Rollekonter II.

In advertisements dated March and July 1943, the pictures show a Rollekonter A with a nameplate similar to that of the Rollekonter II or Rollekonter B, inscribed Rollekonter A and MADE IN TOKYO. The sliding button at the bottom left is not visible in the picture dated March 1943, which was perhaps retouched. The actual examples observed have a different thicker nameplate with stepped sides, only inscribed Rollekonter and MADE IN TOKYO with no indication of the model name.

The Rollekonter III

The Rollekonter III was released in mid-1943 as the successor of the Rollekonter II with Rapid-Compur shutter. (It is certainly not the same as the "Rollekonter III" mentioned in the late 1940 official price list.) 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. The Rollekonter III was also sold as the Ricohflex A and this probably explains the lens mismatch.

Late wartime range

The government inquiry listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943, only mentions the Rollekonter A and the Rollekonter II. The manufacturer's name is unfortunately missing from the document.

An advertisement by Mizuno dated March 1943 and advertisements by Hakkōdō dated July 1943 and September 1944 show the following price evolution:

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 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 Rollekonter Automat, with crank advance

The Rollekonter Automat is only known from an advertisement dated February 1944. The picture is a plain front view. It shows a folded advance crank on the photographer's right and a focusing knob on the left. Two smaller knobs are visible below the focusing knob, certainly corresponding to the self-timer winding knob and the bottom film flange. The nameplate is similar to that of the late Rollekonter A, with stepped sides and no mention of the model name. The lenses are surrounded by a casing, shaped the same as on the Rollekonter A. There are two wheels at the front of this casing, between the two lenses, certainly controlling the speed and aperture. It seems that the settings are directly engraved on these wheels, and cannot be viewed from the top. The front of the casing is silver-coloured, and the name Rollekonter Auto or perhaps Rollekonter Automat is inscribed on it, below the taking lens. The shutter winding lever is protruding to the photographer's right, the same as on the Rollekonter A. On the pictured camera, the taking and viewing lenses are U Hitonar Anastigmat 75mm f/2.8. The advertisement says that the camera was available with f/3.5 or f/2.8 lenses, but no price is given. No example of the Rollekonter Automat has surfaced so far, and the camera perhaps remained a prototype.

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. (See also the picture on p.437 and the interview of Tanimura Yoshihiko on pp.439–40.)
• "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.
• "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku" (国産写真機の公定価格, Set prices of the Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of October 25, 1940 and setting the retail prices from December 10, 1940. Published in Asahi Camera January 1941 and reproduced in 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. Pp.108—9. Type 7, section 1.
• 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.
• Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin July 20, 1967. "Gyōkai san-jū-nen no ashiato" (業界三十年の足跡, Records of thirty years in the business). Pp.12–33. Reproduced in Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin (日本写真興業通信). Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku (百号ごと十回の記録, Ten records, every hundred issues). Tokyo: Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin Sha (日本写真興業通信社), 1967. No ISBN number. Pp.230–51.
• Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin (日本写真興業通信). Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku (百号ごと十回の記録, Ten records, every hundred issues). Tokyo: Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin Sha (日本写真興業通信社), 1967. No ISBN number. Advertisement on p.77, corresponding to the third cover of the February 15, 1944 issue.
• 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.
• Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). Nigan-refu no hanashi (zenpen) (二眼レフのはなし[前編], TLR stories [first part]). Gendai Kamera Shinsho (現代カメラ新書) no.68. Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1980. No ISBN number. Pp.131–4.
• 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. (On the Ricohflex name variant.)

Links

General links

In English:

• Rollekonter I (late) at Barry Toogood's www.tlr-cameras.com

In Japanese:

• Pages at D-Grade Camera World by Matsu:
  • Rollekonter A, front picture and description of use
  • Rollekonter B and description of use
  • Rollekonter II
• Rollekonter I (late), with other pictures here and here
• Rollekonter I (late) at Wakamiya's site
• Rollekonter II at Galerie Y
• Rollekonter in a page of the AJCC website

Original documents

In Japanese:

• Advertisements reproduced in Nostalgic Camera 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 Shashin Kagaku September 1944, reproduced in the Japanese camera page of the Gochamaze website