Ruvinal

See also the Ruvinalflex 6×6 TLR.

The Ruvinal (ルビナル) is a Japanese dual-format 6×6 and 4.5×6 folding camera, made between about 1950 and 1955. It is attributed to Shōei Kōgaku or Shōei Sangyō. The camera was first distributed by Maki Shōji, the new name of the prewar distributor Eikōdō. The distributor was named Eikōdō again in 1953.

Origins and description

The Ruvinal is a continuation of the wartime dual-format Ugein, released in 1943. The horizontal folding body, with folding struts inspired from the Balda folders and a back hinged to the left, is inherited from the National folders, predecessors of the Ugein. There is a top housing covering all the top plate, containing the finder in the middle and supporting the advance knob on the left end. It seems that the only change from the Ugein is the addition of a swinging mask in the viewfinder for 4.5×6 pictures, actioned by a small button on the top.

The back has two red windows, with horizontally sliding covers and 16 EX and 12 EX indications embossed in the leather. Near the bottom, the back leather is also embossed RUVINAL 120.

The top plate is engraved RUVINAL MOD. III. The camera was never advertised as such, but it is certainly for this reason that some sources mention a Ruvinal 120 or a Ruvinal III. Some sources mention a Model I and a Model II, but no confirmation has been found yet.

The MOD. III engraving seems to be inherited from the National Six III and Ugein III prewar ancestors, and the company probably felt that it added to the value of the camera. This went to the point that it added a MODEL III engraving to the Ruvinal Flex TLR on the occasion of a minimal change, again with no Model II.

Evolution

It is said that the Ruvinal was released in 1950. A camera called Ugein Six (ユーゲンシックス) was featured in the December 1949 issue of the Japanese magazine Camera Art, with a Wester 75/3.5 lens and T, B, 1–200 speeds. It was probably the name that was first proposed for the Ruvinal.

The earliest advertisement mentioned is in the November 1951 issue of Asahi Camera. The camera is simply called Ruvinal and has a coated 80/3.5 lens and a synchronized NKK shutter (B, 1–200, self-timer).

This variant was renamed Ruvinal A the following month, while a Ruvinal B was introduced with the same characteristics except a low speed of 1/10. In April 1953, the shutter name appearing in the advertising pictures became R.V.L., with identical specifications.

McKeown also reports and pictures a Ruvikon 120, that looks identical to the Ruvinal A. It is probably an engraving variant.

The following lens and shutter combinations are known:

• C Pentagor Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5 lens, R.V.L. shutter (200–1, B, self-timer, one-pin synch);
• C Pentagor Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5 lens, Model-B shutter (B, 10–200, self-timer, one-pin synch);
• C Pentagor Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5 lens, no-name shutter (self-timer, one-pin synch);
• Ruvinal Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5 lens, N.K.K. Wester shutter (B, 1–200, self-timer, one-pin synch);
• Ruvinal Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5 lens, NKS shutter (B, 1–200, self-timer, two-pin synch);
• Seriter Anastigmat, Model-B shutter (B, 10–200, self-timer, one-pin synch);
• C Seriter Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens, Model-A shutter (B, 1–200, self-timer, one-pin synch);
• C. Wester NKK 7.5cm f/3.5 lens, N.K.K. Wester shutter (B, 1–200, self-timer, one-pin synch);
• Wester Anastigmat 75/3.5 lens, N.K.K. Wester shutter (B, 1–200, self-timer, no synch visible), on an example reported as a Ruvikon.

The Ruvinal A and B were advertised at least until 1954, but it seems likely that it was still sold in 1955.

Rangefinder version

An uncoupled rangefinder version with lever advance, called Ruvinal R, was featured in the news column of the November 1955 issue of Sankei Camera. Another source mentions the 1955 uncoupled rangefinder version but calls it "R.L.L. II" (perhaps after the shutter's name). No picture has been observed yet and it is unknown if this camera was effectively sold.

Records have been found of a past eBay auction for a Ruvinal IV with uncoupled rangefinder, lever advance, Pentagor 80/3.5 lens and TKS shutter (B, 1–200), but no picture has yet been observed.

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 974 and 1022–4. (See also the advertisements for items 1025–7.)
• Kawamata Masataku (川又正卓). Ruvinal 120. 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: The use of and actual examples from 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. P. 113.
• 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). Pp. 73 and 83 (brief mentions only).
• 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. 891.
• 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 1414–5.

Links

In Japanese:

• Ruvinal III at the Mokomoko Nikki blog
• Advertisement for the Ruvinal and Ruvinalflex dated 1954, reproduced in Shashin-Bako