Difference between revisions of "Semi Chrome"

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{{Japanese Semi prewar}}
 
{{Japanese Semi prewar}}
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The '''Semi Chrome''' are [[Japanese 4.5×6 folders]] that were made by the company [[Optochrom]].
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The '''Semi Chrome''' (セミクローム) are [[Japanese 4.5×6 folders]] made in 1937 and 1938 by [[Kigawa|Optochrom]]. Two very different versions were announced, but the first one was perhaps never sold.
  
 
== The Semi Chrome A ==
 
== The Semi Chrome A ==
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=== Description ===
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The '''Semi Chrome A''' is a vertical folder. It has a folding optical finder on one side. The advance key is at the bottom right, as seen by the photographer holding the camera horizontally. The back is hinged to the left and the back latch is covered by a leather handle.
  
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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}} is dated February 1937<REF> 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 ''[[Sources: Japanese language#Kokusan kamera no rekishi|Shōwa 10&ndash;40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi]]'' in two parts, items 34 and 89&ndash;91. </REF>, and no price is indicated, it is unsure if it was ever sold. The shutter has T, B, 5&ndash;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<REF> Roman writing temptatively inferred from the ''katakana'' ニユーゴールド・ローザー. </REF>, or New Gold and Lausar could be a choice of two different lenses.
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=== Documents ===
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The only known advertisement is in the February 1937 issue of ''[[Asahi Camera]]''.<REF name="February 1937 advert"> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}} in two parts, pp.&nbsp;61 (items 34 and 91) and 70 (items 89&ndash;90). </REF> No price is indicated, and it was perhaps never sold. The shutter has T, B, 5&ndash;150 speeds, and it is probably a [[Rulex]]: on the picture, the shutter plate is marked ''Semi Chrome'' at the top and perhaps ''RULEX'' at the bottom, with a logo on the right which 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, or more probably New Gold and Lausar would be a choice of two different lenses.<REF> The advertisement has ニユーゴールド on one line and ローザー付F4.5 on the following line. </REF>
  
 
== The Semi Chrome B ==
 
== The Semi Chrome B ==
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=== Description ===
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The '''Semi Chrome B'''<REF> This model is called "Semi Tsubasa Chrome" in {{Sugiyama}}, item 1255, and in {{McKeown}}, p.&nbsp;464. </REF> is a strut folding camera. It has a folding optical finder, apparently similar to the finder of the Semi Chrome A. There is a button on the left of the viewfinder (as seen by the photographer); it looks like a body release but it is actually the release of the front standard. There is an advance knob, whose location varies (see below). The back is hinged to the left and the back latch is covered by a leather handle, the same as on the Semi Chrome A.
  
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The '''Semi Chrome B'''<REF> 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&ndash;100). </REF> is a strut folding camera. It is advertised in February 1937<REF> February 1937 advertisement cited above. </REF> with a New Gold f:4.5 lens ({{yen|38|1937}}), and in August 1937 <REF> {{Showa10ad|Tsubasa Chrome and Semi Chrome B|143|Aug 1937|[[Asahi Camera]]}} </REF> with the same lens or with a Lausar<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' ローザー. </REF> f:4.5 lens ({{yen|45|1937}}) &mdash; case &yen;5 extra. The camera is advertised until 1938<REF> Advertisement mentioned by {{Kokusan}}. </REF>. The shutter has T, B, 25&ndash;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.
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=== Documents and variations ===
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The Semi Chrome B was announced in the advertisement cited above, dated February 1937.<REF name="February 1937 advert" /> It was priced at {{yen|38|1937}} with a New Gold f/4.5 lens. In the picture, the advance knob seems to be at the top left, next to the folding bed release, and the name ''SEMI-CHROME'' is inscribed in the front leather. The shutter is everset and gives T, B, 100, 50, 25 speeds; on the picture, the shutter plate has an illegible inscription at the top and is perhaps marked ''New Gold'' in cursive style at the bottom.
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In an advertisement dated August 1937,<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;78. </REF> the Semi Chrome B was offered with the New Gold lens for the same price, or with a Lausar f/4.5 lens for {{yen|45|1937}} (case &yen;5 extra). The pictured camera has the advance knob at the bottom right, near the back latch, and the front leather is simply embossed ''CHROME''. The shutter has the same speeds; the shutter plate has a thin silver strip on each side and its markings are illegible but look similar to the markings on the surviving example described below.
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The only surviving example known so far is pictured in {{Sugiyama}}.<REF> Example pictured in {{Sugiyama}}, item 1255, called "Semi Tsubasa Chrome". </REF> It is similar to the camera pictured in the August advertisement. The lens is reported as a Lucomar Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5. The shutter plate has three silver strips on each side and is inscribed ''TSUBASA SHUTTER'' at the top with an ''NE'' logo between both words, and ''NEW GOLD'' at the bottom.
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The Semi Chrome B was advertised until January 1938.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;336. </REF>
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
 
* {{Showa10}} Items 89&ndash;90 and 143.
 
* {{Showa10}} Items 89&ndash;90 and 143.
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* {{McKeown12}} Page 464.
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* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;464.
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The Semi Chrome is not listed in {{Sugiyama}}.
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* {{Zukan]] Item 1255.
  
 
== Timeline ==
 
== Timeline ==

Revision as of 10:37, 13 July 2007

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 ->
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo ->
Japanese 3×4, 4×4, 4×5, 4×6.5, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

The Semi Chrome (セミクローム) are Japanese 4.5×6 folders made in 1937 and 1938 by Optochrom. Two very different versions were announced, but the first one was perhaps never sold.

The Semi Chrome A

Description

The Semi Chrome A is a vertical folder. It has a folding optical finder on one side. The advance key is at the bottom right, as seen by the photographer holding the camera horizontally. The back is hinged to the left and the back latch is covered by a leather handle.

Documents

The only known advertisement is in the February 1937 issue of Asahi Camera.[1] No price is indicated, and it was perhaps never 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 perhaps RULEX at the bottom, with a logo on the right which 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, or more probably New Gold and Lausar would be a choice of two different lenses.[2]

The Semi Chrome B

Description

The Semi Chrome B[3] is a strut folding camera. It has a folding optical finder, apparently similar to the finder of the Semi Chrome A. There is a button on the left of the viewfinder (as seen by the photographer); it looks like a body release but it is actually the release of the front standard. There is an advance knob, whose location varies (see below). The back is hinged to the left and the back latch is covered by a leather handle, the same as on the Semi Chrome A.

Documents and variations

The Semi Chrome B was announced in the advertisement cited above, dated February 1937.[1] It was priced at ¥38 with a New Gold f/4.5 lens. In the picture, the advance knob seems to be at the top left, next to the folding bed release, and the name SEMI-CHROME is inscribed in the front leather. The shutter is everset and gives T, B, 100, 50, 25 speeds; on the picture, the shutter plate has an illegible inscription at the top and is perhaps marked New Gold in cursive style at the bottom.

In an advertisement dated August 1937,[4] the Semi Chrome B was offered with the New Gold lens for the same price, or with a Lausar f/4.5 lens for ¥45 (case ¥5 extra). The pictured camera has the advance knob at the bottom right, near the back latch, and the front leather is simply embossed CHROME. The shutter has the same speeds; the shutter plate has a thin silver strip on each side and its markings are illegible but look similar to the markings on the surviving example described below.

The only surviving example known so far is pictured in Sugiyama.[5] It is similar to the camera pictured in the August advertisement. The lens is reported as a Lucomar Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5. The shutter plate has three silver strips on each side and is inscribed TSUBASA SHUTTER at the top with an NE logo between both words, and NEW GOLD at the bottom.

The Semi Chrome B was advertised until January 1938.[6]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi in two parts, pp. 61 (items 34 and 91) and 70 (items 89–90).
  2. ↑ The advertisement has ニユーゴールド on one line and ローザー付F4.5 on the following line.
  3. ↑ This model is called "Semi Tsubasa Chrome" in Sugiyama, item 1255, and in McKeown, p. 464.
  4. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 78.
  5. ↑ Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 1255, called "Semi Tsubasa Chrome".
  6. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.

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.
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