Semi Gelto

From Camera-wiki.org
Revision as of 17:05, 2 October 2006 by Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (new source with a picture of a Semi Gelto I)
Jump to: navigation, search
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 Gelto is a series of Japanese 4.5×6 folders that was made by Takahashi (that would later become Toakoki). It is a vertically folding camera with a body release and one red window in the back, at the top right, protected by a vertically sliding cover. It is embossed GELTO in the front leather. Unlike many other vertical folders, the finder is to the right when you are holding the camera vertically.

The Semi Gelto is advertised as a new product in 1942[1] by the distributor Hattori Tokei-ten, in three versions:

  • the Semi Gelto I with a Grimmel 7.5cm f/4.5 lens and a Gelto-I shutter giving T, B, 5–250 speeds (¥87)[2];
  • the Semi Gelto II with the same lens and a Gelto shutter with speeds from 1s to 1/200 (¥104);
  • the Semi Gelto S with automatic film advance, a Grimmel 75/3.5 lens and a Gelto shutter with speeds from 1s to 1/200 (¥170)[3].

The camera pictured in the advertisement has a folding optical finder and an advance knob at the top left. There is no sign of automatic film advance, so it is probably a model I or II. A Semi Gelto with folding optical finder has also been observed at an eBay auction with a winding key in place of the advance knob. (This particular example has a Rieze-Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 front-cell focusing lens mounted on a B, 1–300 shutter marked KRAFT-WORKS on the speed rim. The aperture scale only goes from 4.5 to 22 and this equipment is maybe not original.)

The Semi Gelto S has a top housing integrating the viewfinder, an accessory shoe and the automatic film advance device. The lens is a Grimmel Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 with front cell focusing. It is pictured in this page at Japan Family Camera with a Gelto II shutter providing T, B, 1–300 speeds. Another example has been observed at a Yahoo Japan auction with a NKS shutter engraved NKS-TOKYO having probably B, 1–200 speeds (top speed barely legible).

Kokusan kamera no rekishi mentions advertisements for the Semi Gelto until 1944.

Notes

  1. Advertisement for the Semi Gelto I, II and S, published in the October 1942 issue of Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 99.
  2. It is pictured in Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten, p. 27. It is certainly the model that is called "Semi Gelto (1939)" in McKeown, p. 922.
  3. It is certainly the model that is called "Semi Gelto (1940)" in McKeown, p. 922.

Printed 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. Item 99.
  • 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. 922.
  • Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten (思い出のスプリングカメラ展, Exhibition of beloved self-erecting cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.)


Links

In Japanese: