Sister Six, Crystar Six and Super Naiku
The Crystar Six is a series of Japanese 6×6 folding cameras made from 1954 to 1957 by Crystar Kōki, later Crystal. The Sister Six and Super Naiku are rebadged versions.
Contents
Common features
All the models share the same horizontally folding body with smoothly tapered ends. The three-part folding struts are inspired from the 6×6 Ikonta, and they are engraved COC, certainly for Crystar Optical Company. The film is advanced by a knob at the left end of the top plate, as seen by the photographer, and there is a decorative flange on the other end. The shutter release is at its usual location on the right. The back is hinged to the right, and contains two red windows, one above the other, protected by horizontally sliding individual covers. The upper red window is for 4.5×6cm exposures and the middle one is for 6×6cm; the cover housings are accordingly engraved 4.5X6 and 6X6. The tripod thread is in the middle of the bottom plate and there are film flanges at both ends. All the models have a striated covering, certainly made of some synthetic material.
The viewfinder models
Description
The Sister Six and the Crystar Six or Crystar-15 are viewfinder-only models. The viewfinder is contained in the middle of the top housing, and the accessory shoe is placed immediately above. The folding bed release is placed on the left, next to the advance knob. The name Crystar or Sister is engraved on the top housing, in front of the accessory shoe.
The shutter gives B, 1–200 speeds, has a self-timer and is synchronized via an ASA bayonet post. The lens is a front-cell focusing C-Master C Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5.
The Sister Six
It seems that the camera was first released as the Sister Six (シスターシックス). It was featured in Japanese magazines dated January to March 1954 and was advertised in February and March.[1] The February advertisement in Asahi Camera lists the camera together with the Crystar-25, for ¥9,800 (case included). The shutter is called Crystar. The maker is mentioned as Crystar Kōki and the distributor as Sumimitsu.
The surviving examples observed so far have an SOC logo stamped on the covering of the front door, and no marking on the back; one of them has the name SISTER engraved at the bottom of the speed rim and some marking, perhaps OKK, at the top of the shutter plate; another has the name CRYSTAR on the speed rim and no other marking.[2]
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 499–501, 533 and 647. (See also the advertisement for item 502.)
- 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). Pp.231–2.
- 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 1291 and 1367.
Links
In Japanese:
- Crystar 15 in the first page of the Yamada Camera Museum
- Sister Six transformed into a pinhole camera, at SCR's camera site
- Crystar Six IIIA in a page of the AJCC
