Difference between revisions of "Semi Hobix"
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The '''Semi Hobix''' is a Japanese 4.5×6 camera, made in 1953 and 1954 by [[Tougodo]]. It has a rigid body and the lens and shutter are mounted on a metal tube. There is a massive metal ring at the base of the tube, engraved ''SEMI HOBIX''. This configuration is reminiscent of prewar cameras like the [[New Semi Renky]]. | The '''Semi Hobix''' is a Japanese 4.5×6 camera, made in 1953 and 1954 by [[Tougodo]]. It has a rigid body and the lens and shutter are mounted on a metal tube. There is a massive metal ring at the base of the tube, engraved ''SEMI HOBIX''. This configuration is reminiscent of prewar cameras like the [[New Semi Renky]]. | ||
− | The '''early version''' has no body release and no accessory shoe. The top plate is flat, in chrome finish, with a centered tubular finder. The advance knob is at the left end and there is a smaller knob at the right end, that probably lifts up to insert the film spool. It seems that the tube supporting the lens and shutter is telescopic. There is a button on the right of the finder, that is meant to look like a body release but is probably a release for the spring-loaded tube. The back is hinged to the right. The lens is a Hobi Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5. The shutter has B, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150 speeds and it is synchronized via an ASA bayonet connector. An advertisement in the June 1953 issue of ''Asahi Camera''<REF> Reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 182. </REF> offers this version for | + | The '''early version''' has no body release and no accessory shoe. The top plate is flat, in chrome finish, with a centered tubular finder. The advance knob is at the left end and there is a smaller knob at the right end, that probably lifts up to insert the film spool. It seems that the tube supporting the lens and shutter is telescopic. There is a button on the right of the finder, that is meant to look like a body release but is probably a release for the spring-loaded tube. The back is hinged to the right. The lens is a Hobi Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5. The shutter has B, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150 speeds and it is synchronized via an ASA bayonet connector. An advertisement in the June 1953 issue of ''Asahi Camera''<REF> Reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 182. </REF> offers this version for {{yen|4,500|1953}}. The company name is Toyohashi Tōgō-dō (豊橋 東郷堂)<REF> The address is in Toyohashi-shi Komoguchi-chō (豊橋市菰口町津夫良30<!-- Can't read 津夫良 -->). </REF>. |
− | The '''second version''' has a body release and an accessory shoe. It seems that the tube is not telescopic any more. There is a metal plate screwed in front of the body to accomodate the body release linkage, with a pin protruding to attain the release lever on the shutter housing. The finder is slightly offset to the left to leave space for the accessory shoe. An advertisement in the July 1953 issue of ''Asahi Camera''<REF> Reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 182. </REF> offers this version for | + | The '''second version''' has a body release and an accessory shoe. It seems that the tube is not telescopic any more. There is a metal plate screwed in front of the body to accomodate the body release linkage, with a pin protruding to attain the release lever on the shutter housing. The finder is slightly offset to the left to leave space for the accessory shoe. An advertisement in the July 1953 issue of ''Asahi Camera''<REF> Reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 182. </REF> offers this version for {{yen|4,500|1953}}, the same price as before. It is simply called Semi Hobix, with no particular model name. The lens is now advertised to be a coated one. The shutter is called TKM but its characteristics are unchanged. |
− | The '''third version''' has a short top housing containing the finder and supporting the accessory shoe. It does not extend to the knobs. The rest of the characteristics is the same. An advertisement in the February 1954 issue of ''Asahi Camera''<REF> Reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 182. </REF> offers this version for the same price of | + | The '''third version''' has a short top housing containing the finder and supporting the accessory shoe. It does not extend to the knobs. The rest of the characteristics is the same. An advertisement in the February 1954 issue of ''Asahi Camera''<REF> Reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 182. </REF> offers this version for the same price of {{yen|4,500|1954}}. The company name is Toyohashi Yūgen-gaisha Tōgō-dō (豊橋 有限会社 東郷堂)<REF> The address is still in Toyohashi-shi Komoguchi-chō, now 3-chōme 95, maybe after a local reorganization of the address names (豊橋市菰口町3丁目95). </REF>. |
== Notes == | == Notes == |
Revision as of 15:04, 25 August 2006
The Semi Hobix is a Japanese 4.5×6 camera, made in 1953 and 1954 by Tougodo. It has a rigid body and the lens and shutter are mounted on a metal tube. There is a massive metal ring at the base of the tube, engraved SEMI HOBIX. This configuration is reminiscent of prewar cameras like the New Semi Renky.
The early version has no body release and no accessory shoe. The top plate is flat, in chrome finish, with a centered tubular finder. The advance knob is at the left end and there is a smaller knob at the right end, that probably lifts up to insert the film spool. It seems that the tube supporting the lens and shutter is telescopic. There is a button on the right of the finder, that is meant to look like a body release but is probably a release for the spring-loaded tube. The back is hinged to the right. The lens is a Hobi Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5. The shutter has B, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150 speeds and it is synchronized via an ASA bayonet connector. An advertisement in the June 1953 issue of Asahi Camera[1] offers this version for ¥4,500. The company name is Toyohashi Tōgō-dō (豊橋 東郷堂)[2].
The second version has a body release and an accessory shoe. It seems that the tube is not telescopic any more. There is a metal plate screwed in front of the body to accomodate the body release linkage, with a pin protruding to attain the release lever on the shutter housing. The finder is slightly offset to the left to leave space for the accessory shoe. An advertisement in the July 1953 issue of Asahi Camera[3] offers this version for ¥4,500, the same price as before. It is simply called Semi Hobix, with no particular model name. The lens is now advertised to be a coated one. The shutter is called TKM but its characteristics are unchanged.
The third version has a short top housing containing the finder and supporting the accessory shoe. It does not extend to the knobs. The rest of the characteristics is the same. An advertisement in the February 1954 issue of Asahi Camera[4] offers this version for the same price of ¥4,500. The company name is Toyohashi Yūgen-gaisha Tōgō-dō (豊橋 有限会社 東郷堂)[5].
Notes
- ↑ Reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 182.
- ↑ The address is in Toyohashi-shi Komoguchi-chō (豊橋市菰口町津夫良30).
- ↑ Reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 182.
- ↑ Reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 182.
- ↑ The address is still in Toyohashi-shi Komoguchi-chō, now 3-chōme 95, maybe after a local reorganization of the address names (豊橋市菰口町3丁目95).
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. Items 837–8. (See also the advertisement for item 835.)