Semi Lyra
For the postwar models, made in the 1950s by Katsuma Kōgaku, see Semi Lyra (postwar).
The Semi Lyra are Japanese 4.5×6 folders. There are two distinct generations: this page describes the models made before and during the war by Fuji Kōgaku.
Contents
General description
The prewar and wartime Semi Lyra (セミライラ) is a vertical folder, copy of the Ikonta. It has a folding optical finder in the middle of the top plate (as seen by the photographer holding the camera horizontally). There is a button on the right, releasing both the folding bed and the folding finder, and an advance key at the bottom right to advance the film. The back is hinged to the left and contains two red windows.
The camera is simply embossed LYRA in the front leather, a FUJI KŌGAKU logo is embossed in the back leather and FUJI KOGAKU logos are engraved in the folding struts.
The Semi Lyra is not uncommon, at least in Japan, and it is not renowned for its quality of construction, a hint of this being that many examples are found today with torn bellows.
The original Semi Lyra
The original model (セミライラ, sometimes called "Semi Lyra I")[1] was introduced in mid-1936.[2] It has no body release and has a leather handle over the back latch. On the early examples, there is no red window cover and the back logo is embossed so as to be read with the camera hold in a vertical position.
In an advertisement dated December 1936 by the distributor Yamamoto Shashinki-ten,[3] the camera was offered with f/6.3, f/4.5 or f/3.5 lens, respectively for ¥35, ¥43 and ¥58. No further detail was given.
In an advertisement dated September 1937,[4] four versions were listed (the three first ones were probably the same as the previous year):
- Pionar f/6.3 lens, Picco shutter (¥35);[5]
- Terionar f/4.5 lens, Noblo shutter (¥43);[6]
- Terionar f/3.5 lens, Noblo shutter (¥58);[7]
- Goldar f/3.5 lens, Noblo shutter (¥70).[8]
The Goldar lens probably has four elements: a Goldar 75/3.5 lens was advertised as such with the original Lyra Flex.[9]
Original Semi Lyra, Fuji-kō Anastigmat Terionar 75mm f/3.5 lens no. 44328, Noblo shutter, T, B, 5–200 speeds.
Pictures courtesy of Sharon Riehl. (Image rights)
Both the Picco and the Noblo shutters are everset. The Picco gives T, B, 25, 50, 100 speeds and also equips the Baby Lyra. The Noblo gives T, B, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 speeds. The aperture scale is at the bottom of the shutter plate. The shutter plate is also 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.
On the late examples, there is a horizontally sliding common cover for the red windows and the back logo is embossed so as to be read with the camera held in a horizontal position. This change probably occurred at the end of 1937, together with the introduction of the New Semi Lyra. The original model was still mentioned in an advertisement dated September 1938[10] as a cheaper alternative to the newer model, with f/4.5 lens (¥52) or f/3.5 lens (¥62).
The New Semi Lyra
The New Semi Lyra (新型セミライラ, sometimes called "Semi Lyra II")[11] was released at the end of 1937.[12] It has a body release added to the left of the viewfinder and the red window sliding cover already mentioned for the late Semi Lyra. Two new shutter types were introduced, the Fujikō B (T, B, 5–250) and the Fujikō A (T, B, 1–300), both with a setting lever. The shutter plates are black, marked FUJIKŌ at the top and FUJIKŌGAKU at the bottom. The aperture scale is placed above the shutter housing.
The early examples have the same back latch as the previous model. There is an additional release lever mounted on the front of the shutter housing.
An advertisement dated December 1937[13] only offered the following two combinations:
The September 1938 advertisement cited above listed these two combinations at the same price and added two versions with the Fujikō A shutter:
At some later point, the back latch was modified, now consisting of a long sliding bar with no leather handle. The front-mounted release lever certainly disappeared at the same time.[14] The camera was advertised until 1940.[15]
The list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941 mentions four versions of the Semi Lyra II, called "Semi Lyra II L" (¥74), "Semi Lyra II Y" (¥85), "Semi Lyra II R" (¥88) and "Semi Lyra II E" (¥98).[16] They certainly correspond to the four lens and shutter combinations described above. Their names form the word "L-Y-R-E" in ascending price order and this is certainly not casual. The same document also lists four versions of the Semi Lyra I: the "Semi Lyra I L" (¥53), "Semi Lyra II Y" (¥62), "Semi Lyra II R" (¥74) and "Semi Lyra II E" (¥85).[17] This perhaps indicates that the model with no body release was offered until that time, with the newer Fujikō shutters. Pictures of a Semi Lyra have been observed with the old back latch, the Fujikō B shutter and no body release, only the front-mounted release lever, but it is not known for sure if this is a late example of the original model or an early New Semi Lyra with missing parts.[18]
Kokusan kamera no rekishi mentions other lens and shutter combinations for the New Semi Lyra:
- Pionar f/6.3 lens, Picco shutter;
- Terionar f/4.5 lens, Picco shutter;
- Goldar f/4.5 lens, Fujikō B shutter.[19]
The mention of the Picco is perhaps a mistake, because this shutter is an everset model, only known with the release lever at the top and not well suited to a body release.
The actual examples observed so far all have the Fujikō B shutter and Terionar lens, and no picture of the other versions has yet been found.
The Semi Lyra F and J
The Semi Lyra F (セミライラＦ型) was released at the end of 1940.[20] It has the new Fujikō F shutter giving T, B, 1–200 speeds and a Terionar lens. It always has the new type of back latch with no handle. The shutter plate is usually yellowish with black markings, but it perhaps also exists in black with white markings. These markings are almost the same as on the previous Fujikō shutters, except that FUJIKŌ at the top is written in two parts: FUJ and IKŌ, with an arrow between both.
The Semi Lyra F was already present in the January 1941 official price list cited above, in two versions called "Semi Lyra F L" (¥88) and "Semi Lyra F R" (¥98), certainly with f/4.5 and f/3.5 lens respectively.[21] These two versions were offered in advertisements dated May 1941 and July 1942:[22]
The official price list dated November 1941 has a "Semi Lyra J L" and a "Semi Lyra J Y", along with the "Semi Lyra F L" and "Semi Lyra F R".[23] These models certainly have the Fujikō J shutter, the same as the Fujikō F with an added self-timer, also mounted on the Lyra Six J and Lyra Flex J.
The camera was advertised as late as 1943.[24] The Semi Lyra F and J were still mentioned with the Terionar f/3.5 lens in the government inquiry compiled in April 1943.[25]
Rangefinder conversions were offered in 1943 by Hakkōdō for the Semi Lyra and various other copies of the Ikonta or Nettar (see this page).
Actual examples of the Semi Lyra F have only been observed with the f/3.5 lens so far.[26] All have the yellowish shutter plate and the Fuji–kō Anastigmat Terionar lens engraving, with a lens number under 120000. On the Lyra Six F and Lyra Flex F, the lens engraving was changed to Fuji–kō Terionar between lens no. 120000 and no. 126000 and the yellowish shutter plate was replaced by a black one at the same time. This perhaps also applied to the Semi Lyra F.
After the war, a different camera also called Semi Lyra was made by Katsuma Kōgaku, see Semi Lyra (postwar).
Notes
- ↑ This model is called "Semi Lyra I" in Sugiyama, item 1162, and Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten, p. 15. It is only called "Semi Lyra" in the advertisements by the company or by the Yamamoto distributor, but the model without body release is called "model I" (Ⅰ型) in a price list by Shinbidō, reproduced in the Gochamaze website, and the Template:Kakaku1940 short has a "Semi Lyra I".
- ↑ The first advertisement mentioned by Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342, is dated June 1936. The same source says that the camera was featured in the new products column of the August 1936 issue of Asahi Camera.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Sunday Mainichi (13 December 1936), reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi in two parts, p. 100.
- ↑ This version has not yet been observed. Tanaka, p. 78 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 8, says that the f/6.3 lens is called Terionar but this is perhaps a mistake.
- ↑ This version is pictured in Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten, p. 15, and has been observed in online auctions.
- ↑ This version is pictured in Sugiyama, item 1162, and has been observed in online auctions.
- ↑ This version has not yet been observed.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Lyra Flex published in Ars Camera March 1938, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.&nbp;101.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Lyra range published in Asahi Camera September 1938, scans observed in an online auction.
- ↑ This model is called "Semi Lyra II" by Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342, and by Sugiyama, items 1163–4. The advertisements observed simply have "New Semi Lyra" (新型セミライラ) or "Semi Lyra", but the January 1941 official price list has a "Semi Lyra II".
- ↑ The first advertisement mentioned by Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342, is dated November 1937. The same source says that the camera was featured in the new products column of the December 1937 issue of Asahi Camera.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Ars Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 100.
- ↑ Compare for example Sugiyama items 1163 and 1164.
- ↑ Date: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342.
- ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 3, sections 4A, 5A, 6A and 7A.
- ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 3, sections 2, 3A, 4A and 5A.
- ↑ Example observed in an online auction.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342, says that it was featured in the new products column of the October 1940 issue of Asahi Camera.
- ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 3, sections 6A and 7A.
- ↑ May 1941: advertisement for the Lyra range published in Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 100. July 1942: advertisement published in Asahi Graph (29 July 1942), reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
- ↑ "Kamera no kōtei kakaku kanpō happyō", November 1941, type 3, sections 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), items 48–9. In the available reproduction of the document, the Semi Lyra J is simply called "Semi Lyra", the Fujikō J shutter is called "Fujikō I" and its self-timer is not mentioned, certainly by mistake (shutter item 18-P-22). The Fujikō J shutter is confirmed to have a self-timer in an advertisement dated May 1941 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 100.
- ↑ See for example Sugiyama, item 1165. This camera has also been observed in various online auctions.
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. (See also the advertisement for item 164.)
- Template:Kakaku1940 Type 3, sections 6A, 6B, 7A 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 48–9.
- Template:Kakaku1940 Type 3, sections 2, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A and 7A.
- 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. 328 (pictures a Semi Lyra F).
- 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. 15.
- 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 1162–5.
- 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:
- Semi Lyra and other folders at Puppy's Island
- Advertisements reproduced in the Japanese camera page, the imported camera page the 120 film camera page and the camera company page of the Gochamaze website:
- Advertisement for the Semi Lyra and Baby Lyra, published in the December 13, 1936 issue of Sunday Mainichi
- Price list by Shinbidō, published in the September 1938 issue of Asahi Camera
- Advertisement for the Semi Lyra, published in the July 29, 1942 issue of Asahi Graph
- 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
- Semi Lyra (original model) in Sakusen Ichiman-ri's camera pages
| Fuji Kōgaku cameras () | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| prewar and wartime models | postwar models | |||
| 3×4 | 4×6.5 | subminiature | 4×4 | subminiature |
| Baby Lyra | Baby Lyra Flex | Baby Balnet | Dianette | Pionette | Lyravit | Balnet Four | Comex |
| 4.5×6 | 6×6 | 6×9 | 4.5×6 | 6×6 |
| Bakyna | Semi Lyra | Lyrax | Lyra Six | Lyra Flex | Lyra (6×9) | Semi Lyra | Pioneer | Lyra Six | Lyraflex |
