Semi Lyra
The Semi Lyra are Japanese 4.5×6 folders. There are two distinct generations: one was made before and during the war by Fuji Kōgaku, the other was made in the 1950s by Katsuma Kōgaku.
Prewar models
The prewar and wartime model (セミライラ) was made by Fuji Kōgaku. It is a vertical folder, copy of the Ikonta, with a folding optical finder. There is a key at the bottom right to advance the film, and two red windows in the back, protected by a horizontally sliding cover. The camera is simply embossed LYRA in the front leather, and the Fuji Kōgaku logo is embossed in the back leather.
The original model (sometimes called "Semi Lyra I"), released in 1936, has no body release, and exists in four variants[1] (prices dated September 1937):
- Pionar f:6.3 lens and Picco shutter (¥35);
- Terionar f:4.5 lens and Noblo shutter (¥43);
- Terionar f:3.5 lens and Noblo shutter (¥58);
- Goldar[2] f:3.5 lens and Noblo shutter (¥70).
The Goldar lens probably has four elements: a Goldar 75/3.5 lens is advertised as such with the original Lyra Flex[3]. The Picco shutter has T, B, 25, 50, 100 speeds and also equips the Baby Lyra. The Noblo shutter has T, B, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 speeds. Both are everset shutters. The aperture scale is at the bottom of the shutter plate. The latter is written NOBLO or Picco in handwritten style at the top, and on the right there is a logo with Fk in a circle (surely for Fuji Kōgaku), meant to look like the FD logo of the Compur shutter.
The original model is still mentioned in 1938 advertisements[4] as a cheaper alternative to the newer model, with f:4.5 lens (¥52) or f:3.5 lens (¥62). At least one example has been observed with the newer Fujikō B shutter.
The New Semi Lyra (sometimes called "Semi Lyra II")[5] is the same model with a body release, on the left of the top plate. Two new shutters are introduced, the Fujikō B (T, B, 5–250) and the Fujikō A (T, B, 1–300). The shutter plates are black, marked FUJIKō at the top and FUJIKŌGAKU at the bottom. The aperture scale is now above the shutter housing.
Various lens/shutter combinations are reported[6]:
- Pionar f:6.3 lens and Picco shutter;
- Terionar f:4.5 lens and Picco shutter;
- Terionar f:4.5 lens and Fujikō B shutter (¥60 in 1937 and 1938);
- Terionar f:3.5 lens and Fujikō B shutter (¥70 in 1937 and 1938);
- Goldar f:4.5 lens and Fujikō B shutter;
- Terionar f:4.5 lens and Fujikō A shutter (¥70 in 1938);
- Terionar f:3.5 lens and Fujikō A shutter (¥80 in 1938).
The Semi Lyra F (セミライラＦ型) is equipped with a new Fujikō F 1–200 shutter. The shutter plate is now yellowish with black markings. These markings are almost the same as on the previous shutters, except that FUJIKō at the top is written in two parts: FUJ and IKō, with a black arrow between both. Two variants are offered[7]:
- Terionar f:4.5 lens (¥88 in 1941, ¥101 in 1942);
- Terionar f:3.5 lens (¥98 in 1941, ¥112 in 1942).
Postwar models
The postwar model (セミライラー) was made by Katsuma Kōgaku. It is still a vertical folder, but the design is different, with straight folding struts. It appears in Japanese advertisements dated 1955 and 1956.
The Semi Lyra A (セミライラーＡ型) is the viewfinder version. In some advertisements it is called simply Semi Lyra (or even "Semi Lira" with a typographical mistake). The viewfinder is enclosed in a top housing, with an accessory shoe. The advance knob is on the left, together with the shutter release, while the folding bed opening button is on the right, together with a decorative knob. The camera has a Semi Lyra marking on the top housing and a LYRA marking embossed in the front leather. It is offered in 1955[8] with a Terionar 75/3.5 lens and a Lyra U shutter (B, 1–200), synchonized and equipped with a selftimer, for ¥6,800.
The Semi Lyra SR (セミライラーＳＲ型) is the uncoupled rangefinder version. It has a different top housing with a squarer shape. The viewfinder window is rectangular and the rangefinder window is round. The advance knob has moved to the right end of the top plate. The camera has Lyra markings, in handwritten style, both on the top housing and embossed in the front leather. It is offered in 1955[9] with a Terionar 75/3.2 lens (note the different aperture) and a Lyra SU shutter, for ¥9,500. The Lyra SU shutter has the same features as the Lyra U mounted on the viewfinder model, and the advertisement's picture shows a LYRA-U marking on the shutter rim of the Semi Lyra SR. The "SU" name is possibly a mistake.
Notes
- ↑ Advertisement for the Semi Lyra, Baby Lyra and Lyra Six, published in the September 1937 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi in two parts, items 291–2 and 295.
- ↑ Inferred from the katakana ゴールダー.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Lyra Flex, published in the March 1938 issue of Ars Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 299.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Lyra range, published in the September 1938 issue of Asahi Camera.
- ↑ This model is called "Semi Lyra II" by Kokusan kamera no rekishi, but the advertisement reproduced is only written 新型セミライラ, whose translation is "New Semi Lyra".
- ↑ The 1937 prices come from an advertisement for the Semi Lyra, published in the December 1937 issue of Ars Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 293. — The 1938 prices come from an advertisement for the Lyra range, published in the September 1938 issue of Asahi Camera. — The variants with no price indicated are simply mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342.
- ↑ The 1941 prices come from an advertisement for the Lyra range, published in the May 1941 issue of Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 294. — The 1942 prices come from an advertisement for the Lyra range, published in the July 29, 1942 issue of Asahi Graph, reproduced in a page of prewar and wartime advertisements for Japanese cameras at the Gochamaze website.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Semi Lyra and Semi Lyra SR, published in the December 1955 issue of Sankei Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 980.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Semi Lyra A and Semi Lyra SR, published in the June 1955 issue of Sankei Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 981.
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 292–4 and 980–1. (See also the advertisement for the item 164.)
Links
In English:
In Japanese:
- Semi Lyra and other folders at Puppy's Island
- Template:Gochamaze
- A sample picture taken by a Semi Lyra at the AJCC website
- Restoration of a Semi Lyra F and sample pictures at Shiroto shashinki shūri kōbō
