Difference between revisions of "Seica and Andes Four"
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| − | The '''Seica''' (セイカ) | + | The '''Seica''' (セイカ) and '''Andes Four''' (アンデスフォアー) are Japanese cameras taking 4×4cm pictures on [[127 film]]. They are nearly identical except for the name and they were probably name variants of each other. The Andes Four was distributed by [[Misuzu|Misuzu Shōkai]] and the Seica by [[Kuwata|Kuwata Shōkai]]. They were certainly made by the same company. Some sources attribute the two cameras to a company called "Kondo Seikō" (近藤精工), while others attribute the Seica to [[Ricoh|Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō]].<REF> Kondo Seikō: Sugiyama, items 3003 and 3051; McKeown, p. 537. Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō: {{Kokusan}}, p. 337; </REF> It is said that the [[Cordlef]] 4×4 TLR is based on the body of the Seica and Andes Four. |
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| − | + | ''See also the [[Seica (6×6)]] rangefinder folding camera.'' | |
| − | The Seica | + | == General description == |
| + | The Seica and Andes Four have a metal body with round edges and a telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly. The tubular optical finder is offset to the left and there is an accessory shoe at the left end of the top plate. The right half of the top plate is covered by a long housing, supporting the advance knob at the right end and containing an exposure counter. It is unclear if there was automatic stop advance or if the film advance was controlled by the exposure counter alone (some control device was necessary because the rollfilm paper backing was not marked for 4×4cm pictures at the time).<REF> It is said on p. 21 of ''Kurashikku Kamera Senka'' no. 14 that the Seica has no auto-stop advance but the device was perhaps broken on the particular example presented. </REF> It is said that the exposure counter is reset by a lever placed behind the housing.<REF> ''Kurashikku Kamera Senka'' no. 14, p. 21. </REF> The back is fixed and the film is loaded through the removable bottom plate. | ||
| − | {{ | + | == The Seica == |
| + | The Seica was featured in the new products column of the January 1939 issue of ''Asahi Camera.'' It seems that it was attributed to [[Ricoh|Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō]] and that the name was written 精華, thus meaning "bloom", "flower" or "elite".<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p. 337. </REF> (During the war period, Riken used "patriotic" names, as well as names reminding Japan's alliance with Germany.) The lens was announced as a Seica 50/4.5 and the shutter as giving T, B, 5–250 speeds.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p. 337. </REF> | ||
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| + | The Seica was advertised in October 1940 and February 1941<REF> Advertisements published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}: October 1940 on p. 95 and February 1941 on p. 77. </REF> by the distributor [[Kuwata|Kuwata Shōkai]], with no mention of Riken. This time the name was written セイカ in ''katakana'' and the camera was offered in two versions, both with an f/4.5 lens whose name is not given: | ||
| + | * '''Seica I''': T, B, 25–250 speeds ({{yen|60|1941}} in 1941); | ||
| + | * '''Seica II''': T, B, 5–250 speeds ({{yen|70|1941}} in 1941). | ||
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| + | The pictures of two surviving examples have been observed.<REF> Example pictured in McKeown, p. 537, and example pictured in ''Kurashikku Kamera Senka'' no. 14, p. 21. A small picture of the latter is also reproduced in [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/seica.html this page of the Ricoh official website]. </REF> The exposure counter housing is engraved ''Seica''. Both examples have a [[Perfect]] shutter by [[Neumann & Heilemann]], giving 25, 50, 100, 250, B, T speeds. The shutter plate has a ''Neumann & Heilemann'' nameplate screwed to the top, is marked ''PERFECT'' at the bottom and has a ''NH'' logo on the right. Another crescent-shape metal plate with the aperture scale is screwed to the bottom. Both examples have a front-cell focusing Helios Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, and the focal length is 5cm on at least one of them.<REF> The mention of a Seica 60/3.5 lens on p. 21 of ''Kurashikku Kamera Senka'' no. 14 and in http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/seica.html this page of the Ricoh official website] seems to be a mistake. </REF> | ||
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| + | == The Andes Four == | ||
| + | The Andes Four was featured in the March 1941 issue of ''Asahi Camera,'' where it was attributed to [[Misuzu|Misuzu Shōkai]], certainly the distributor, and called '''Andes Four II'''.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p. 334. </REF> There is no record of an Andes Four I. It has an Andes Anastigmat 50/3.5 lens and a Verio shutter giving T, B, 150, 100, 50, 25 speeds. The shutter plate has a ''VERIO'' marking at the top and the aperture scale at the bottom. The only surviving example observed so far is pictured in {{Sugiyama}}.<REF> Sugiyama, item 3003. The same picture is reproduced in small on p. 334 of {{Kokusan}}. </REF> An ''ANDES'' nameplate is screwed above the exposure counter housing. | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
| − | == | + | == Bibliography == |
| − | * {{Showa10}} Items 132–3. | + | * {{Showa10}} Items 17 and 132–3. |
* {{McKeown12}} P. 537. | * {{McKeown12}} P. 537. | ||
| + | * {{Zukan}} Items 3003 and 3051. | ||
| + | * ''Senzen no rikō kamera – hoi'' (戦前のリコーカメラ・補遺, Prewar Ricoh cameras – appendix). {{KKS014}} Pp. 21–2. | ||
| + | * Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Rikō kamera no nagare" (リコーカメラの流れ, Evolution of the Ricoh cameras). {{KKS014}} Pp. 8–11. | ||
== Links == | == Links == | ||
In Japanese: | In Japanese: | ||
| − | * [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/ | + | * [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/seica.html Seica] in the [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/index.html camera list] of the [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/ Ricoh official website] (see also the [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera_lib/column/war-camera.html article about Riken wartime camera names]) |
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{{riken prewar}} | {{riken prewar}} | ||
Revision as of 23:16, 28 January 2007
The Seica (セイカ) and Andes Four (アンデスフォアー) are Japanese cameras taking 4×4cm pictures on 127 film. They are nearly identical except for the name and they were probably name variants of each other. The Andes Four was distributed by Misuzu Shōkai and the Seica by Kuwata Shōkai. They were certainly made by the same company. Some sources attribute the two cameras to a company called "Kondo Seikō" (近藤精工), while others attribute the Seica to Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō.[1] It is said that the Cordlef 4×4 TLR is based on the body of the Seica and Andes Four.
See also the Seica (6×6) rangefinder folding camera.
General description
The Seica and Andes Four have a metal body with round edges and a telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly. The tubular optical finder is offset to the left and there is an accessory shoe at the left end of the top plate. The right half of the top plate is covered by a long housing, supporting the advance knob at the right end and containing an exposure counter. It is unclear if there was automatic stop advance or if the film advance was controlled by the exposure counter alone (some control device was necessary because the rollfilm paper backing was not marked for 4×4cm pictures at the time).[2] It is said that the exposure counter is reset by a lever placed behind the housing.[3] The back is fixed and the film is loaded through the removable bottom plate.
The Seica
The Seica was featured in the new products column of the January 1939 issue of Asahi Camera. It seems that it was attributed to Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō and that the name was written 精華, thus meaning "bloom", "flower" or "elite".[4] (During the war period, Riken used "patriotic" names, as well as names reminding Japan's alliance with Germany.) The lens was announced as a Seica 50/4.5 and the shutter as giving T, B, 5–250 speeds.[5]
The Seica was advertised in October 1940 and February 1941[6] by the distributor Kuwata Shōkai, with no mention of Riken. This time the name was written セイカ in katakana and the camera was offered in two versions, both with an f/4.5 lens whose name is not given:
The pictures of two surviving examples have been observed.[7] The exposure counter housing is engraved Seica. Both examples have a Perfect shutter by Neumann & Heilemann, giving 25, 50, 100, 250, B, T speeds. The shutter plate has a Neumann & Heilemann nameplate screwed to the top, is marked PERFECT at the bottom and has a NH logo on the right. Another crescent-shape metal plate with the aperture scale is screwed to the bottom. Both examples have a front-cell focusing Helios Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, and the focal length is 5cm on at least one of them.[8]
The Andes Four
The Andes Four was featured in the March 1941 issue of Asahi Camera, where it was attributed to Misuzu Shōkai, certainly the distributor, and called Andes Four II.[9] There is no record of an Andes Four I. It has an Andes Anastigmat 50/3.5 lens and a Verio shutter giving T, B, 150, 100, 50, 25 speeds. The shutter plate has a VERIO marking at the top and the aperture scale at the bottom. The only surviving example observed so far is pictured in Sugiyama.[10] An ANDES nameplate is screwed above the exposure counter housing.
Notes
- ↑ Kondo Seikō: Sugiyama, items 3003 and 3051; McKeown, p. 537. Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337;
- ↑ It is said on p. 21 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 14 that the Seica has no auto-stop advance but the device was perhaps broken on the particular example presented.
- ↑ Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 14, p. 21.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337.
- ↑ Advertisements published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi: October 1940 on p. 95 and February 1941 on p. 77.
- ↑ Example pictured in McKeown, p. 537, and example pictured in Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 14, p. 21. A small picture of the latter is also reproduced in this page of the Ricoh official website.
- ↑ The mention of a Seica 60/3.5 lens on p. 21 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 14 and in http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/seica.html this page of the Ricoh official website] seems to be a mistake.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 334.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 3003. The same picture is reproduced in small on p. 334 of Kokusan kamera no rekishi.
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 17 and 132–3.
- 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. 537.
- 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 3003 and 3051.
- Senzen no rikō kamera – hoi (戦前のリコーカメラ・補遺, Prewar Ricoh cameras – appendix). 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. 21–2.
- Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Rikō kamera no nagare" (リコーカメラの流れ, Evolution of the Ricoh 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. 8–11.
Links
In Japanese:
- Seica in the camera list of the Ricoh official website (see also the article about Riken wartime camera names)
| Asahi Bussan and Riken prewar and wartime cameras () | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
