Semi Solon

From Camera-wiki.org
Revision as of 20:55, 14 January 2008 by Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (template fix)
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 ->
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo ->
Japanese 3×4, 4×4, 4×5, 4×6.5, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

The Semi Solon (セミソロン) is a Japanese 4.5×6 folding camera, distributed from 1940 by Ueda Shashinki-ten.[1]

Description

The Semi Solon is a copy of the Nettar 4.5×6, with the same straight folding struts. There is a folding optical finder in the middle of the top plate and a body release on the left (as seen by a photographer holding the camera horizontally). The advance key or advance knob is at the bottom. The back is hinged to the left. The name SOLON is embossed in the front leather.

Advertisements and other documents

In advertisements by Ueda Shashinki-ten dated December 1940 and January 1941,[2] the Semi Solon was offered with a Solon Anastigmat f/4.5 lens and two shutter options:

  • T, B, 5–200 speeds (¥74);
  • T, B, 1–200 speeds (¥88).[3]

The list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, mentioned a "Semi Solon IA" for ¥88 and a "Semi Solon IB" for ¥74, obviously corresponding to the two advertised versions.[4] A similar list dated November 1941 added a plain "Semi Solon" model.[5]

The Semi Solon IB was still mentioned in the "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943.[6] In this document, the maker's name is unfortunately missing but the lens is mentioned as a three-element Solon 75/4.5 made by Takahashi and the shutter as a Star Alpha (スターアルファー) giving T, B, 1–300 speeds and made by Takahashi too.[7] It is possible that the body was made by the same Takahashi company, which was also cited as the maker of the Star Semi 4.5×6 folder distributed by Ueda too.

Notes

  1. Date: advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337.
  2. Advertisements published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 72 and 77.
  3. The top speed is not given in the advertisements but Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337, says 1/200. The prices are given in the December 1940 advertisement only.
  4. "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku", type 3, sections 4A and 6A.
  5. "Kamera no kōtei kakaku kanpō happyō", November 1941, type 3, sections 4A, 6A and 6B.
  6. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), item 60.
  7. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lc13 and shutter item 18-Q-1.

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 136. (See also the advertisement for item 108.)
  • "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 6B.
  • "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. Item 60.
  • "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.

The Semi Solon is not listed in Sugiyama.