Difference between revisions of "Silver Six"

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(reproduction of an advertisement)
(announcement in Asahi Camera)
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|image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4020477104/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/4020477104_66c07f93d5_m_d.jpg]<br>''Silver Six.<br>From {{ACA}} January 1954. {{public domain Japan new}}''
 
|image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4020477104/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/4020477104_66c07f93d5_m_d.jpg]<br>''Silver Six.<br>From {{ACA}} January 1954. {{public domain Japan new}}''
 
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The '''Silver Six''' (シルバーシックス) is a Japanese 6×6cm folding camera made by [[Nippon Kōki]] in 1954–5.
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The '''Silver Six''' (シルバーシックス) is a Japanese folding camera taking 6×6cm or 4.5×6cm exposures, made by [[Nippon Kōki]] from 1953 to 1955.
  
 
== General description ==
 
== General description ==
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The advance knob is at the right end, the shutter release is at its usual location next to it, and the folding bed release is on the front door itself. There is an accessory shoe above the rangefinder.
 
The advance knob is at the right end, the shutter release is at its usual location next to it, and the folding bed release is on the front door itself. There is an accessory shoe above the rangefinder.
  
The back is hinged to the left and contains two red windows, one above the other; these are protected by a common cover and there is a selector switching from 6×6cm to 4.5×6cm format, certainly controlling a secondary cover for the unused window. It seems that the company name ''NIPPON KOKI'' is embossed in the leather covering at the rear.
+
The back is hinged to the left and contains two red windows, one above the other; these are protected by a common cover and there is a selector switching from 6×6cm to 4.5×6cm format, certainly controlling a secondary cover for the unused window. A removable mask was supplied for 4.5×6cm exposures. It seems that the company name ''NIPPON KOKI'' is embossed in the leather covering at the rear.
  
 
On all the models, the lens is a Tri-Lausar 8cm f/3.5 by [[Tomioka]], the shutter has a self-timer and is synchronized for flash.
 
On all the models, the lens is a Tri-Lausar 8cm f/3.5 by [[Tomioka]], the shutter has a self-timer and is synchronized for flash.
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In the advertisement placed in the January to April 1954 issues of {{ACA}}, the model is called "Silver Six with uncoupled rangefinder" (シルバーシックス単独距離計付) and the price is given as {{yen|13,850|1954}}, case included.<REF name="ACA 01-04/54"> Advertisement in {{ACA}} January 1954, p.187, February 1954, p.75, March 1954, p.51, and April 1954, p.167. It is also reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.140, and in [http://blog.livedoor.jp/united3arrows/archives/51212433.html this page at Shashin-Bako]. </REF> The picture shows a camera with lens no.2721. No other picture of the camera has been observed yet, and no surviving example is known so far.
+
In the advertisement placed in the January to April 1954 issues of {{ACA}}, the model is called "Silver Six with uncoupled rangefinder" (シルバーシックス単独距離計付) and the price is given as {{yen|13,850|1954}}, case included.<REF name="ACA 01-04/54"> Advertisement in {{ACA}} January 1954, p.187, February 1954, p.75, March 1954, p.51, and April 1954, p.167. It is also reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.140, and in [http://blog.livedoor.jp/united3arrows/archives/51212433.html this page at Shashin-Bako]. </REF> The picture shows a camera with lens no.2721. The camera was advertised along with the Silver Super Six up to November 1954. No other picture of the camera has been observed, and no surviving example is known so far.
  
 
== The Silver Super Six ==
 
== The Silver Super Six ==
 
The '''Silver Super Six''' has a coupled rangefinder and unit focusing. The lens and shutter unit is mounted on a helical with a round focusing tab. The second image window is rectangular, and the name ''Silver <small>SUPER SIX</small>'' is engraved on the top housing, together with the body serial number. There are translucent red stripes in the viewfinder, indicating the field of view for 4.5×6cm exposures, which are perhaps also present on the plain Silver Six.
 
The '''Silver Super Six''' has a coupled rangefinder and unit focusing. The lens and shutter unit is mounted on a helical with a round focusing tab. The second image window is rectangular, and the name ''Silver <small>SUPER SIX</small>'' is engraved on the top housing, together with the body serial number. There are translucent red stripes in the viewfinder, indicating the field of view for 4.5×6cm exposures, which are perhaps also present on the plain Silver Six.
  
In advertisement in {{ACA}} January to April 1954, already cited above, the camera is simply called "Silver Six with coupled rangefinder" (シルバーシックス連動距離計付).<REF name="ACA 01-04/54" /> The document mentions B, 1–200 shutter speeds and gives the price of {{yen|19,850|1954}}. The picture shows a camera with lens no.2260.
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/4020573196/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2434/4020573196_62c187b654_d.jpg]
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|-
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|| ''Announcement of the Silver Super Six in {{ACA}} January 1954. {{public domain Japan new}}''
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The Silver Super Six was first announced in October 1953.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.352. </REF> It was featured as the "Super Silver Six" in the new products column of the January 1954 issue of {{ACA}}, reproduced above.<REF name="ACA 01/54"> Column in {{ACA}} January 1954, pp.214–5. </REF> The document says that this model was launched after the plain Silver Six, and produced from late 1953 in a newly opened plant in Setagaya, Tokyo. The camera is presented as the first low-price folding camera equipped with a coupled rangefinder. The rangefinder coupling mechanism was kept simple, with no rotating parts, and a patent was applied for by the company.<REF name="ACA 01/54" /> Two optical elements are placed in front of a fixed second-image mirror; the convex front element is fixed and the concave rear element moves laterally, thus deflecting the light path.<REF name="ACA 01/54" /> Finally, the shutter is described as an [[NKS]] (B, 1–200).
 +
 
 +
In the advertisement placed in {{ACA}} from January to April 1954 already cited above the camera is simply called "Silver Six with coupled rangefinder" (シルバーシックス連動距離計付).<REF name="ACA 01-04/54" /> The document mentions B, 1–200 shutter speeds and gives the price of {{yen|19,850|1954}}. The picture shows a camera with lens no.2260.
  
 
{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
 
{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
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Surviving examples are known with various types of shutter. The example pictured in {{SUG}} has a plain [[NKS]] (B, 1–200) with an ASA synch post, engraved ''NKS'' at the bottom of the speed ring and at the top of the front plate.<REF> {{SUG}}, item 1418. </REF> Other examples are known with an [[NKS|NKS-SC]], differing by the bottom marking ''NKS–SC'' and by the PC synch post.<REF> Example sold as [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=35257&acat=35257&offset=2&_ssl=off lot no.273 of Westlicht Auction no.7], and example observed in an online auction. </REF> Finally, at least one surviving camera is known with a [[Copal]] shutter (B, 1–300) and a PC synch post.<REF> Example pictured [http://signora.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/silver_super_six/index.html here at Rolling-life] and previously in an online auction. </REF>
 
Surviving examples are known with various types of shutter. The example pictured in {{SUG}} has a plain [[NKS]] (B, 1–200) with an ASA synch post, engraved ''NKS'' at the bottom of the speed ring and at the top of the front plate.<REF> {{SUG}}, item 1418. </REF> Other examples are known with an [[NKS|NKS-SC]], differing by the bottom marking ''NKS–SC'' and by the PC synch post.<REF> Example sold as [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=35257&acat=35257&offset=2&_ssl=off lot no.273 of Westlicht Auction no.7], and example observed in an online auction. </REF> Finally, at least one surviving camera is known with a [[Copal]] shutter (B, 1–300) and a PC synch post.<REF> Example pictured [http://signora.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/silver_super_six/index.html here at Rolling-life] and previously in an online auction. </REF>
  
The Silver Six and Silver Super Six were replaced by the [[Calm Six]] in mid-1955.
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The Silver Super Six were replaced by the [[Calm Six]] in mid-1955.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
 
=== Original documents ===
 
=== Original documents ===
 +
* {{ACA}} January 1954. "Shinseihin memo" (新製品, New Products Memo). Pp.214–5.
 
* {{ACA}}. Advertisements by [[Nippon Kōki]]:
 
* {{ACA}}. Advertisements by [[Nippon Kōki]]:
 
** January 1954, p.187;
 
** January 1954, p.187;

Revision as of 21:58, 17 October 2009

Japanese Six (6×6)
Postwar models (edit)
folding
Aires Viceroy | Angel Six | Aram Six | Astoria Super Six | Atom Six | Balm Six | Baron | Beauty Six (1950) | Beauty Six (1953) | Calm Six | Carl Six | Centre Six | Crown | Crystar Six | Daido Six | Dorima Six | Doris Six | Ehira Six | Elbow Six | First Six | Flora Six | Fodor Six | Frank Six | Fujica Six | Super Fujica Six | Futami Six | Gotex | Grace Six | Kohken Chrome Six | Kyowa Six | Liner Six | Lyra Six | Mamiya Six | Middl Six | Mihama Six | Mine Six | Minon Six | Mizuho Six | Motoka Six | Mount Six | Muse Six | Super Naiku | Ofuna Six | Olympus Six | Olympus Chrome Six | Orion Six | Oscar Six | Pigeon Six | Planet | Please Six | Pluto Six | Poppy Six | Press Van | Press Van-120 | Proud Chrome Six | Proud Super Six | Renown Six | Ricoh Six | Ruvikon | Ruvinal | Sanon Six | Silver Six | Sisley 1 | Sisley 2 & 3 | Sister Six | Tenar Six | Toho Six | Tomic | Toyoca Six | Ugein Six | Wagen Six | Walcon 6 | Welmy Six | Wester | Windsor Six
rigid or collapsible
Dia Six | Ehira Chrome Six | Enon Six | Flora | Flashline | Fujipet | Harmony | Mikono-6 | Orion | Ponix | Rich-Ray-6 | Shumy | Weha Chrome Six
Japanese 6×6 TLR, pseudo TLR and medium format SLR ->
Japanese Semi (4.5×6) and older 6×9 ->

The Silver Six (シルバーシックス) is a Japanese folding camera taking 6×6cm or 4.5×6cm exposures, made by Nippon Kōki from 1953 to 1955.

General description

The Silver Six has a horizontal body with straight diagonal struts. The combined range and viewfinder is contained in a top housing and has a common eyepiece, offset to the right as seen by the photographer.

The advance knob is at the right end, the shutter release is at its usual location next to it, and the folding bed release is on the front door itself. There is an accessory shoe above the rangefinder.

The back is hinged to the left and contains two red windows, one above the other; these are protected by a common cover and there is a selector switching from 6×6cm to 4.5×6cm format, certainly controlling a secondary cover for the unused window. A removable mask was supplied for 4.5×6cm exposures. It seems that the company name NIPPON KOKI is embossed in the leather covering at the rear.

On all the models, the lens is a Tri-Lausar 8cm f/3.5 by Tomioka, the shutter has a self-timer and is synchronized for flash.

The Silver Six

The plain Silver Six has an uncoupled rangefinder and front-cell focusing. The second image window is round and the position of the knob controlling the uncoupled rangefinder is unknown. The shutter is an NKS, giving B, 1–200 speeds, engraved NKS at the bottom of the speed ring and at the top of the front plate.

In the advertisement placed in the January to April 1954 issues of Asahi Camera, the model is called "Silver Six with uncoupled rangefinder" (シルバーシックス単独距離計付) and the price is given as ¥13,850, case included.[1] The picture shows a camera with lens no.2721. The camera was advertised along with the Silver Super Six up to November 1954. No other picture of the camera has been observed, and no surviving example is known so far.

The Silver Super Six

The Silver Super Six has a coupled rangefinder and unit focusing. The lens and shutter unit is mounted on a helical with a round focusing tab. The second image window is rectangular, and the name Silver SUPER SIX is engraved on the top housing, together with the body serial number. There are translucent red stripes in the viewfinder, indicating the field of view for 4.5×6cm exposures, which are perhaps also present on the plain Silver Six.

The Silver Super Six was first announced in October 1953.[2] It was featured as the "Super Silver Six" in the new products column of the January 1954 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced above.[3] The document says that this model was launched after the plain Silver Six, and produced from late 1953 in a newly opened plant in Setagaya, Tokyo. The camera is presented as the first low-price folding camera equipped with a coupled rangefinder. The rangefinder coupling mechanism was kept simple, with no rotating parts, and a patent was applied for by the company.[3] Two optical elements are placed in front of a fixed second-image mirror; the convex front element is fixed and the concave rear element moves laterally, thus deflecting the light path.[3] Finally, the shutter is described as an NKS (B, 1–200).

In the advertisement placed in Asahi Camera from January to April 1954 — already cited above — the camera is simply called "Silver Six with coupled rangefinder" (シルバーシックス連動距離計付).[1] The document mentions B, 1–200 shutter speeds and gives the price of ¥19,850. The picture shows a camera with lens no.2260.

Surviving examples are known with various types of shutter. The example pictured in Sugiyama has a plain NKS (B, 1–200) with an ASA synch post, engraved NKS at the bottom of the speed ring and at the top of the front plate.[4] Other examples are known with an NKS-SC, differing by the bottom marking NKS–SC and by the PC synch post.[5] Finally, at least one surviving camera is known with a Copal shutter (B, 1–300) and a PC synch post.[6]

The Silver Super Six were replaced by the Calm Six in mid-1955.

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Advertisement in Asahi Camera January 1954, p.187, February 1954, p.75, March 1954, p.51, and April 1954, p.167. It is also reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.140, and in this page at Shashin-Bako.
  2. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.352.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Column in Asahi Camera January 1954, pp.214–5.
  4. Sugiyama, item 1418.
  5. Example sold as lot no.273 of Westlicht Auction no.7, and example observed in an online auction.
  6. Example pictured here at Rolling-life and previously in an online auction.

Bibliography

Original documents

  • Asahi Camera January 1954. "Shinseihin memo" (新製品, New Products Memo). Pp.214–5.
  • Asahi Camera. Advertisements by Nippon Kōki:
    • January 1954, p.187;
    • February 1954, p.75;
    • March 1954, p.51;
    • April 1954, p.167.

Recent sources

  • 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 537–8.
  • Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P.83 (brief mention only).
  • 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. Item 1418.

Links

In English:

In Japanese: