Difference between revisions of "Seica and Andes Four"

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{{127 Japan}}
 
{{127 Japan}}
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The [[Riken]] '''Seica''' was a 4x4cm format camera sold by [[Riken]] around 1939. The lens and shutter assembly was  mounted on a telescopic tube. According to Ricoh, the lens was a Seica 60/4.5 triplet and the shutter speeds were 25-50-100-250-B-T. The Seica had a tubular optical finder and an accessory shoe. At the time, the rollfilm paperback was not marked for 4x4 pictures, so the film advance was not by red window but there was an exposure counter with the same mechanism as on the [[Adler IV]]. Film loading was by the bottom plate.
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The '''Seica''' (セイカ) is a 4&times;4cm format camera. It is featured in the new products column of the January 1939 issue of ''Asahi Camera'' and attributed to Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō (today [[Ricoh]]). In this article, the name is written 精華<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;337. It means "bloom" or "flower" in the figurate sense of "elite". During the war period, Riken used "patriotic" names, as well as names reminding Japan's alliance with Germany. </REF>. It is advertised in 1940 and 1941<REF> {{Showa10ad|[[Mulix]] I&ndash;III and Seica I&ndash;II|133|February 1941|Asahi Camera}} </REF> by the distributor K.K. Kuwata Shōkai (株式会社桑田商会), with the name written in ''katakana'': セイカ. It is offered in two variants, both with an f:4.5 lens:
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* '''Seica I''', with T, B, 25&ndash;250 shutter (&yen;60);
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* '''Seica II''', with T, B, 5&ndash;250 shutter (&yen;70).
  
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Note: Seica means "bloom" or "flower" in the figurate sense of "elite". It is written 精華 (modern transcription would be Seika). During the war period, Riken used "patriotic" names, as well as names reminding Japan's alliance with Germany.
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The lens and shutter assembly is mounted on a telescopic tube. According to [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/seica.html this page of the Ricoh official website], the lens is a Seica 60/4.5 triplet. An example of the Seica is pictured in {{McKeown}} with a 5cm f/4.5 lens, said to be an Helios Anastigmat, and a [[Neumann & Heilemann]] shutter, giving 25, 50, 100, 250, B, T speeds and said to be a Perfekt.
  
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The Seica is listed in McKeown under the entry Kondo Seiko Co, pictured with a [[Neumann & Heilemann]] 25-50-100-250-B-T shutter said to be a Perfekt and a 5cm f/4.5 lens said to be an Helios Anastigmat. In photographica-world.de the company is named Kondo Seiki (probably 近藤精機), also said to have made a camera named Cordlef.
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The Seica has a tubular optical finder, offset to the left, and an accessory shoe at the left end of the top plate. There is a long housing on the right of the top plate, with the advance knob above. At the time, the rollfilm paperback was not marked for 4&times;4cm pictures, so there is a device to control film advance, maybe an exposure counter, or automatic stop advance, or both. The mechanism is the same as on the [[Adler IV]]<REF> According to [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/seica.html this page of the Ricoh official website] </REF>. Film loading is by the bottom plate.
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{{McKeown}} attributes the Seica to a company called "Kondo Seiko Co", and [http://www.photographica-world.de/k.htm this page at photographica-world.de] attributes it to "Kondo Seiki"<REF> Probably 近藤精機. </REF>. (Both also attribute a camera named Cordlef to the same company. Photographica-world.de also mentions the Andes Four and Cometflex I and II.)
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== Notes ==
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<references />
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== Printed bibliography ==
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* {{Showa10}} Items 132&ndash;3.
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* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;537.
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
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Ricoh's corporate website:
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In Japanese:
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* [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/seica.html Seica]
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* [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/index.html Ricoh camera list] at the [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/ Ricoh official website], with:
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* [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera_lib/column/war-camera.html Riken wartime camera names: featured article]
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** [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/seica.html Seica]
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** [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera_lib/column/war-camera.html an article about Riken wartime camera names]
  
 
{{riken prewar}}
 
{{riken prewar}}

Revision as of 15:29, 27 July 2006

Template:127 Japan The Seica (セイカ) is a 4×4cm format camera. It is featured in the new products column of the January 1939 issue of Asahi Camera and attributed to Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō (today Ricoh). In this article, the name is written 精華[1]. It is advertised in 1940 and 1941[2] by the distributor K.K. Kuwata Shōkai (株式会社桑田商会), with the name written in katakana: セイカ. It is offered in two variants, both with an f:4.5 lens:

  • Seica I, with T, B, 25–250 shutter (¥60);
  • Seica II, with T, B, 5–250 shutter (¥70).

The lens and shutter assembly is mounted on a telescopic tube. According to this page of the Ricoh official website, the lens is a Seica 60/4.5 triplet. An example of the Seica is pictured in McKeown with a 5cm f/4.5 lens, said to be an Helios Anastigmat, and a Neumann & Heilemann shutter, giving 25, 50, 100, 250, B, T speeds and said to be a Perfekt.

The Seica has a tubular optical finder, offset to the left, and an accessory shoe at the left end of the top plate. There is a long housing on the right of the top plate, with the advance knob above. At the time, the rollfilm paperback was not marked for 4×4cm pictures, so there is a device to control film advance, maybe an exposure counter, or automatic stop advance, or both. The mechanism is the same as on the Adler IV[3]. Film loading is by the bottom plate.

McKeown attributes the Seica to a company called "Kondo Seiko Co", and this page at photographica-world.de attributes it to "Kondo Seiki"[4]. (Both also attribute a camera named Cordlef to the same company. Photographica-world.de also mentions the Andes Four and Cometflex I and II.)

Notes

  1. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337. It means "bloom" or "flower" in the figurate sense of "elite". During the war period, Riken used "patriotic" names, as well as names reminding Japan's alliance with Germany.
  2. ↑ Advertisement for the Mulix I–III and Seica I–II, published in the February 1941 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 133.
  3. ↑ According to this page of the Ricoh official website
  4. ↑ Probably 近藤精機.

Printed bibliography

Links

In Japanese:

Asahi Bussan and Riken prewar and wartime cameras (edit)
rigid or collapsible
Vest Adler | Gokoku | Semi Kinsi | Letix | Olympic | New Olympic | Regal Olympic | Semi Olympic | Super Olympic | Vest Olympic | Riken No.1 | Ricohl | Roico | Seica | Zessan
folders pseudo TLR TLR
Semi Adler | Adler III | Adler A | Adler B | Adler C | Adler Four | Adler Six | Gaica | Heil | Kinsi Chukon Ref Ricohflex | Ricohflex B
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