Difference between revisions of "Semi Chrome"

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[[Category: Japanese 4.5x6 viewfinder folding]]
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[[Category: Japanese 4.5x6 viewfinder folding|Chrome, Semi]]
[[Category: 4.5x6 strut folding]]
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[[Category: 4.5x6 strut folding|Chrome, Semi]]
[[Category: Kigawa]]
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[[Category: Kigawa|Chrome, Semi]]
 
[[Category: S]]
 
[[Category: S]]
 
[[Category: C|Chrome, Semi]]
 
[[Category: C|Chrome, Semi]]

Revision as of 08:37, 14 November 2006

Japanese Semi (4.5×6)
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
folding
Semi Ace | Semi Adler | Adler III | Adler A | Adler B | Adler C | Semi Ako | Ami | Bakyna | Semi Chrome | Semi Clover | Collex | Semi Condor | Semi Dymos | Semi Elega | Semi First | Auto Semi First | Baby Semi First | Gaica | Semi Gelto | Semi Germa | Hansa Semi Rollette | Heil | Hokoku | Hope | Kadera | Kankyu | Kelly | Kiko Semi | Semi Kinka | Semi Konter | Semi Kreis | Semi Kulax | Semi Lead | Semi Leotax | Semi Lester | Loyal | Semi Lucky | Semi Lyra | Semi Makinet | Semi Metax | Semi Minolta (I) and II | Auto Semi Minolta | Semi Miss | Mizuho | Semi Mulber | Semi National | New Gold | Okaco | Oko Semi | Semi Olympus | Semi Olympus II | Semi Osamo | Semi Pearl | Primo | Semi Prince | Semi Proud | Semi Prux | Roavic | Semi Rody | Rondex | Semi Rosen | Semi Rotte | Seica | Seves | Semi Shiks | Sintax | Semi Sixteenth | Semi Solon | Semi Sport | Star Semi | Semi-Tex | Tsubasa Kiko Three | Tsubasa Nettar | Tsubasa Super Semi | Ugein | Vester-Lette | Victor | Waltax | Wester | Zeitax
collapsible
Semi Kinsi | Lord | Lyrax | Nippon | New Olympic | Semi Olympic | Semi Renky | Auto Victor | Well Super
stereo
Sun Stereo
unknown
Semi Elka | Semi Keef | Napoleon
Postwar models (edit)
folding
Apollo | Semi Blond | Semi Crystar | Daido Semi | Doris | Semi Frank | Semi Gelto | Semi Golder | Karoron | Karoron RF | Kely | Kiko Semi | Korin | Kuri | BB Kuri | Lark | Semi Leotax | Semi Leotax DL / R | Lo Ruby | Semi Lord | Luck | Semi Lyra | Semi Masmy | Middl 120 | Semi Mihama | Mikado | Million Proud | Semi Minolta III | Semi Minolta P | Semi Oscon | Semi Pearl | Pearl I–III | Pearl IV | Petri | Petri RF | Petri Super | Pioneer | Semi Proud | Semi Rocket | Rocky Semi | Rosen | Ruby | Shinkoh Rabbit | Semi Sport | Tsubasa Semi | Union Semi | Union Model U | Walcon Semi | Waltax | Semi Wester | Zenobia
rigid or collapsible
Semi Dak | Semi Hobix | Super Semi Plum | Rocket Camera | Tomy
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo models ->
Japanese 3×4 and 4×4, 4×5 and 4×6.5, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

The Semi Chrome are Japanese 4.5×6 folders that were made by the company Optochrom.

The Semi Chrome A

The Semi Chrome A is a vertical folder, with a key to wind the film. It is unclear if the folding finder is an optical one or a simple frame finder. The only advertisement mentioned by Kokusan kamera no rekishi is dated February 1937[1], and no price is indicated, it is unsure if it was ever sold. The shutter has T, B, 5–150 speeds, and it is probably a Rulex: on the picture, the shutter plate is marked Semi Chrome at the top and RULEX at the bottom, with a logo at the right that is probably the NH logo of Neumann & Heilemann. The lens aperture is f:4.5 but the lens name is a bit confusing: it could be New Gold Lausar[2], or New Gold and Lausar could be a choice of two different lenses.

The Semi Chrome B

The Semi Chrome B[3] is a strut folding camera. It is advertised in February 1937[4] with a New Gold f:4.5 lens (¥38), and in August 1937 [5] with the same lens or with a Lausar[6] f:4.5 lens (¥45) — case ¥5 extra. The camera is advertised until 1938[7]. The shutter has T, B, 25–100 speeds. On the pictures or drawings of the advertisements it is unclear if the folding finder is optical or is simply a frame finder. The front leather is sometimes embossed SEMI CHROME and sometimes simply CHROME. Sometimes the advance knob seems to be at the top left of the body and sometimes it is at the bottom right.

Notes

  1. Advertisement for the Baby Chrome, Baby Oso and Semi Chrome A and B, originally published in the February 1937 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi in two parts, items 34 and 89–91.
  2. Roman writing temptatively inferred from the katakana ニユーゴールド・ローザー.
  3. It is probably the camera called "Semi Tsubasa Chrome" by McKeown, and reported with a Lucomar Anastigmat 7.5cm/4.5 and a New Gold shutter (T, B, 25–100).
  4. February 1937 advertisement cited above.
  5. Advertisement for the Tsubasa Chrome and Semi Chrome B, published in the Aug 1937 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 143.
  6. Inferred from the katakana ローザー.
  7. Advertisement mentioned by Kokusan kamera no rekishi.

Bibliography

Timeline

Kigawa timeline (edit)
Type 1930s 1940s 1950s
6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3
                                                                                                                                                                                   
3×4 rigid Baby Chrome
Baby Oso Tsubasa Oso
Tsubasa Arawashi ...
4×6.5 telescopic Tsubasa Chrome ...
folding Tsubasa Spring ...
4.5×6 strut folding Semi Chrome B
horizontal folding Tsubasa Super Semi ... _
Tsubasa II Super Semi
Tsubasa Nettar Tsubasa Kiko Three
vertical folding Semi Chrome A Semi Sixteenth
(dates unclear)
Semi Kulax Kiko Semi ... _ Tsubasa Semi
6×6 horizontal folding Gotex ... ... Poppy Six
(dates unknown)
... Carl Six
TLR Kiko Flex Tsubasaflex Graceflex
16mm subminiature ... Poppy
(dates unknown)
...
Manufacturer: ... Kigawa Seimitsu ... Kigawa Kōgaku Carl Kōgaku
Shin Nippon
Distributor: Optochrom-sha ... Nichiei Shōkai Kikō Shōji ...
Cameras whose actual existence is dubious are in a lighter shade.
Cameras in yellow are variants sold and maybe assembled by other companies.