Semi Gelto

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Japanese Semi (4.5×6)
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
folding
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The Semi Gelto is a series of Japanese 4.5×6 folders made by Tōa Kōki and distributed by Hattori Tokei-ten from 1941 to 1944.[1]

General description

The Semi Gelto is a vertical folder, with straight diagonal struts, engraved N.T on the root. The finder is to the right, as seen by the photographer holding the camera vertically, the reverse of the usual arrangement. There is a body release actioned by the right hand finger. The film is advanced by a knob or a key on the left of the viewfinder. The back is hinged to the right. The name GELTO is embossed in the front leather.

Advertisements and other documents

The Semi Gelto was already listed among the official set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, under the names "Semi Gelto I" (¥74) and "Semi Gelto II" (¥88).[2] The same versions appeared in a similar price list dated November 1941, together with a "Semi Gelto S".[3] The camera was attributed to Tōa Kōki in the latter document.

In an advertisement dated October 1942,[4] the Semi Gelto was still presented as a new product, sister of the Gelto, and three versions were listed:

  • Semi Gelto I: Grimmel 7.5cm f/4.5 lens, Gelto-I shutter giving T, B, 5–250 speeds (¥87);
  • Semi Gelto II: Grimmel 7.5cm f/4.5 lens, Gelto shutter, speeds from 1s to 1/200 (¥104);
  • Semi Gelto S: automatic film advance, Grimmel 7.5cm f/3.5 lens, Gelto shutter, speeds from 1s to 1/200 (¥170).

The Grimmel f/3.5 and f/4.5 lenses have three elements and were made by Fujita Kōgaku Kikai.[5]

The Semi Gelto was still mentioned in the government inquiry listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943.[6] Two versions appear, one has a Grimmel 75/4.5 and an unknown shutter, the other has a Grimmel 75/3.5 and a Yamato Rapid shutter made by Yamato and giving T, B, 1–500 speeds, the same as on the Baby Leotax.[7]

Actual examples

Semi Gelto I and II

The Semi Gelto I and Semi Gelto II are recognized by their folding optical finder.[8] Variations are known in the film advance control and in the position of the red window.

In the advertising picture and on some actual examples, the advance knob has two hinged parts and can be used as a key as well. It has two engraved arrows to indicate the winding direction. This version is known with an f/4.5 lens and a Gelto I shutter, giving T, B, 5–250 speeds and engraved GELTO–I at the base of the rim.[9] It is also known with an f/3.5 lens and a different shutter giving T, B, 1–300 speeds.[10]

Other cameras have a regular advance knob, with a round patch of leather in the middle. One is known with an f/4.5 lens and the red window at the top right of the back.[11] Another has the f/4.5 lens and Gelto-I shutter, and the red window at the top left of the back.[12]

One example is known with a regular advance key and the red window at the top right of the back.[13] This particular example has a Rieze-Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 front-cell focusing lens, mounted on a B, 1–300 shutter inscribed KRAFT–WORKS at the base of the speed rim. The Rieze lenses have three elements and were made by Fujita Kōgaku Kikai (as the Grimmel). They were normally mounted on the Semi Leotax. The Kraft shutter is normally found on the Kraft camera. Despite the maximum aperture of the lens, the aperture scale only goes from 4.5 to 22 and this equipment is probably not original.

Semi Gelto S

The Semi Gelto S has a top housing containing the viewfinder and the automatic film advance mechanism.[14] The shutter release and the folding bed release protrude from the top housing, on the right and on the left of the viewfinder. The accessory shoe is above the top housing on the right. The advance knob has a round leather patch, an arrow and perhaps the body serial number are engraved on the rim. There is a round hole on the right of the knob, certainly for an exposure counter. The advance unlock lever is on the back of the top housing, to the extreme left. There is a red window in the top right of the back, protected by a vertically sliding cover, to set the position of the first exposure.

The lens is a Grimmel Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 with front cell focusing. Most examples observed have a Gelto II shutter providing T, B, 1–300 speeds, engraved GELTO–II at the base of the rim.[15] One example is known with an NKS shutter engraved NKS TOKYO, probably giving B, 1–200 speeds (the top speed is barely legible).[16]

Notes

  1. Attribution to Tōa Kōki: "Kamera no kōtei kakaku kanpō happyō", November 1941. Dates: in addition to the November 1941 price list, articles and advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336, run from September 1942 to March 1944.
  2. "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku", type 3, sections 4A and 6A.
  3. "Kamera no kōtei kakaku kanpō happyō", November 1941, type 3, sections 4A, 6A and 7B.
  4. Advertisement published in Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 70.
  5. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens items Lb6 and Lc10.
  6. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), items 46 and 47. The lens code Lc6 for item 47 is clearly a typo for Lb6.
  7. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), shutter item 18-R-10.
  8. They certainly correspond to the model called "Semi Gelto (1939)" in McKeown, p. 922.
  9. Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 1068, example pictured in Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten, p. 27 (lens n°4080), and example observed in an online auction.
  10. Example pictured in this page (lens n°9887).
  11. Example observed in an online auction.
  12. Example observed in an online auction, body n°5207 (reportedly), lens n°6337. See also the example pictured in Tanaka, p. 7 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 8 (the position of the red window is unknown).
  13. Example observed in an online auction.
  14. It is called "Semi Gelto (Later Version) in Sugiyama, item 1069, and it is certainly the model called "Semi Gelto (1940)" in McKeown, p. 922. The date of 1940 is wrong.
  15. Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 1069 (the 1/200 top speed reported in the text is belied by the picture); example pictured in this page at Japan Family Camera (lens n°2578); example offered for sale by a Chinese dealer; examples observed in online auctions (lens n°6157 and n°8176).
  16. Example observed in an online auction, lens n°3380.

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.
  • "Kamera no kōtei kakaku kanpō happyō" (カメラの公定価格官報発表, Official announcement of the set prices of the cameras), November 1941. Extract of a table listing Japanese camera production and setting the retail prices, reproduced in "Bebī Semi Fāsuto 'Kore ha bebī wo nanotta semi-ki da'" (ベビーセミファースト"これはベビーを名乗ったセミ機だ", Baby Semi First, 'this is a Semi camera called Baby'), an article by Furukawa Yasuo (古川保男) in Camera Collectors' News no. 277 (July 2000). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. P. 27. Type 3, sections 4A, 6A and 7B.
  • "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced in Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp.180–7. Items 46–7.
  • "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku" (国産写真機の公定価格, Set prices of the Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of October 25, 1940 and setting the retail prices from December 10, 1940. Published in Asahi Camera January 1941 and reproduced in 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. Pp.108—9. Type 3, sections 4A and 6A.
  • 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.) P. 27.
  • 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 1068–9.
  • Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Sonota no nihon no supuringu-kamera" (その他の日本のスプリングカメラ, "Other Japanese folding 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.8, September 1986. No ISBN number. Supuringu kamera (スプリングカメラ, special issue on spring cameras). Pp. 76–80.

Links

In Japanese: