Difference between revisions of "Super Flex Baby"

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{{Japanese Baby and Four}}
 
{{Japanese Baby and Four}}
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The '''Super Flex Baby''' (スーパー・フレックス・ベビー) was a 4×4 [[SLR]] made in Japan from 1938. It was sold and advertised by a company called [[Kikō-dō]], but it was manufactured by [[Umemoto]] Seisakusho, as we can learn from today's Umemoto website.
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The '''Super Flex Baby''' (スーパー・フレックス・ベビー) is a Japanese 4&times;4 [[SLR]] made between 1938 and 1942 or 1943.<REF> Dates: the advertisements mentioned in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;337, run from 1938 to 1942, and the [http://umemoto.ecnet.jp/corp2/corp2.htm Umemoto company history] says that it was perhaps made until the beginning of 1943. </REF> It was sold and advertised by the retailer [[Kikō-dō]], but it was manufactured by [[Umemoto|Umemoto Seisakusho]].<REF> No original document has been found to confirm this but it is stated in the [http://umemoto.ecnet.jp/corp2/corp2.htm Umemoto company history] that seems to be redacted by the son of the Umemoto founder. </REF>
  
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The Super Flex Baby looked like the [[Karma Flex]]. It had a behind the lens shutter, with the shutter wheel at the top right of the front plate. There were some variants. Two ads, one in the Mar. 1942 issue of ''Hōdō Shashin'', 報道写真, (published on [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki.htm this page]) and the other in another magazine (published on [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/nostalgic_camera.html this page]) announced the following:
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== Description ==
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* '''Super Flex Baby II''' with Super Anastigmat 7cm f/4.5 and T, B, 25-50-100 shutter, for &yen;90
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The Super Flex Baby is inspired from the [[Karma Flex]] 4&times;4 SLR, with a near cubic shape altered by the film spool compartments on both sides. The lens is removable and the shutter is placed behind the lens mount. The speeds are set by a wheel attached to the front plate, placed at the top right as seen from the front. The shutter release is situated on the right hand side of the body, as seen by the photographer.
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* '''Super Flex Baby IIIA''' with Super Anastigmat 6.5cm f/3.2 lens, for &yen;102
 
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The case cost &yen;9.25.
 
  
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One version has been observed [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371069&APage=7 on this page] with a black and chrome B, 25-50-100 shutter wheel and a black pivoting release lever at the right. The lens is black and chrome, with unknown characteristics.
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Most of the top plate is occupied by the viewfinder. The viewing hood contains a sports finder that is marked ''SUPER FLEX BABY'' inside a coat of arms. The advance knob is at the left end of the body and there are strap lugs on both sides. The back is hinged to the left and contains three red windows, protected by a common cover vertically sliding under a metal plate having ''1 3 5 7'', ''2 4 6 8'', ''1 3 5 7'' markings. This complicated system was required by the 4&times;4cm format, for which there was no indication in the rollfilm back paper.
  
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Another version has been observed twice at Yahoo Japan auctions, with an all chrome B, 25-50-100 shutter wheel, a metal descending release plate and an all chrome Super Anastigmat 65mm f/3.2 lens, interchangeable with a screw mount. On this version, there were three red windows in the back, with a sliding cover and ''1 3 5 7'', ''2 4 6 8'', ''1 3 5 7'' markings. This complicated system was required by the particular 4&times;4cm format, for which there was no indication in the rollfilm back paper.
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== Evolution ==
 +
The Super Flex Baby appeared in mid 1938. {{Kokusan}} says that it was featured in the new products column of the August 1938 issue of ''Asahi Camera''.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;337 </REF>
  
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Some people call this camera "Baby Super Flex", it is not the word order that appears on the camera nor on the ads. However in one of the ads the case is advertised as "for the Baby Super Ref" (ベビースーパーレフ用). "Ref" was an abbreviation used in Japan at the time for "Reflex".
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The '''original model''' has a black and chrome speed wheel and lens barrel. The engraving on the viewing hood is black filled. The shutter release is a simple pivoting lever and is painted black.<REF> An example of this model is pictured in [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371069&APage=7 this page of the JCII collection]. </REF> The shutter speeds are B, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100.
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An advertisement dated June 1938<REF> Published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;75. </REF> offers the camera for {{yen|49|1938}} with a [[U.L.L.]] Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens. {{Kokusan}} says that it was the only advertisement to offer this lens option and that the camera was normally sold with a Super Anastigmat 70/4.5, as appears in an advertisement dated February 1939<REF> Published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;74. </REF> where the camera is priced {{yen|58|1939}}.
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 +
The '''Super Flex Baby II''' appeared in mid 1939.<REF> Date: advertisements mentioned in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;337. </REF> has an all chrome speed wheel and lens barrel. It was offered for {{yen|65|1939}} in an advertisement dated June 1939.<REF> Published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;75. </REF>
 +
 
 +
It was replaced by the '''Super Flex Baby III''' at the beginning of 1940.<REF> Date: advertisements mentioned in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;337. </REF> This model adds the possibility of Time exposures. It seems that there is no T setting added to the speed wheel but that the release lever was modified and a lock was added. The new type of release lever consists of a bent metal plate vertically sliding on the right hand side of the camera. A button is visible near the bottom of the release mechanism, that is believed to be the release lock for Time exposures.
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 +
An advertisement dated April 1940<REF> Published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;75. </REF> still offers the model II for {{yen|65|1940}} along with the new model III for {{yen|78|1940}}, explicitly stating that the difference resides in the Time exposure feature.
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 +
The '''Super Flex Baby IIIA''' was added at the beginning of 1941<REF> Date: advertisements mentioned in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;337. </REF> with a Super Anastigmat 65mm f/3.2 lens. It seems that the body presents no difference, so that a III can become a IIIA and vice versa by swapping the lens.
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 +
An advertisement dated March 1941<REF> Published in ''Shashin Bunka'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;75. </REF> offers the model III for {{yen|77|1941}} and the model IIIA for {{yen|88|1941}}. In an advertisement dated March 1942, the prices are respectively {{yen|90|1942}} and {{yen|102|1942}}, and the f/4.5 model is called model II probably by mistake.<REF> [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki53.jpg Advertisement] published in ''Hōdō Shashin'', reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. Another advertisement is reproduced in [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/nostalgic_camera.html Nostalgic Camera] by Toshio Inamura and gives the same prices. </REF> This March 1942 advertisement is the last one listed in {{Kokusan}}<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;337 </REF> and the camera production was soon interrupted by the war.
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 +
== About the name ==
 +
The name "Super Flex Baby" has been used throughout this article. The original documentation is not consistent and the camera is called "Super Flex Baby" or "Baby Super Flex" or simply "Super Flex", depending on the advertisement. (There is even one advertisement where the case is mentioned as "for the Baby Super Ref"<REF> "Ref" is an abbreviation often used for "Reflex" in Japan at the time. <:/REF> (ベビースーパーレフ用) while the camera is called "Super Flex Baby" in the header.) The camera itself is always marked "Super Flex Baby".
 +
 
 +
== Notes ==
 +
<references />
 +
 
 +
== Bibliography ==
 +
* {{Showa10}} Items 126&ndash;8.
 +
* {{Lewis}} P.&nbsp;55.
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
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* [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371069&APage=7 The Super Flex Baby page] in the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/set_brws_01.php?id=1033 Camera database] of the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/ Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology]
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In Japanese:
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* [http://www.umemoto.ecnet.jp/corp2/corp2.htm The history of Umemoto Seisakusho] at [http://www.umemoto.ecnet.jp/ Umemoto's corporate website]
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* [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371069&APage=7 Super Flex Baby (original model)] in the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/set_brws_01.php?id=1033 Camera database] of the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/ Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology]
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* [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki.htm Old Japanese ads, including the Super Flex Baby]
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* [http://umemoto.ecnet.jp/corp2/corp2.htm Company history] (with pictures of a Super Flex Baby IIIA) at the [http://umemoto.ecnet.jp/index.htm Umemoto official website]
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* [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/nostalgic_camera.html More old Japanese ads, including the Super Flex Baby]
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* [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki53.jpg Advertisement] published in the March 1942 issue of ''Hōdō Shashin'', reproduced in the [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki.htm Japanese camera page] of the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]
 +
* Advertisement dated between 1942 and 1945, reproduced in [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/nostalgic_camera.html Nostalgic Camera], a page of old Japanese advertisements by Toshio Inamura
  
 
[[Category: Japanese 4x4 SLR]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 4x4 SLR]]
 
[[Category: S]]
 
[[Category: S]]

Revision as of 22:37, 7 December 2006

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The Super Flex Baby (スーパー・フレックス・ベビー) is a Japanese 4×4 SLR made between 1938 and 1942 or 1943.[1] It was sold and advertised by the retailer Kikō-dō, but it was manufactured by Umemoto Seisakusho.[2]

Description

The Super Flex Baby is inspired from the Karma Flex 4×4 SLR, with a near cubic shape altered by the film spool compartments on both sides. The lens is removable and the shutter is placed behind the lens mount. The speeds are set by a wheel attached to the front plate, placed at the top right as seen from the front. The shutter release is situated on the right hand side of the body, as seen by the photographer.

Most of the top plate is occupied by the viewfinder. The viewing hood contains a sports finder that is marked SUPER FLEX BABY inside a coat of arms. The advance knob is at the left end of the body and there are strap lugs on both sides. The back is hinged to the left and contains three red windows, protected by a common cover vertically sliding under a metal plate having 1 3 5 7, 2 4 6 8, 1 3 5 7 markings. This complicated system was required by the 4×4cm format, for which there was no indication in the rollfilm back paper.

Evolution

The Super Flex Baby appeared in mid 1938. Kokusan kamera no rekishi says that it was featured in the new products column of the August 1938 issue of Asahi Camera.[3]

The original model has a black and chrome speed wheel and lens barrel. The engraving on the viewing hood is black filled. The shutter release is a simple pivoting lever and is painted black.[4] The shutter speeds are B, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100.

An advertisement dated June 1938[5] offers the camera for ¥49 with a U.L.L. Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens. Kokusan kamera no rekishi says that it was the only advertisement to offer this lens option and that the camera was normally sold with a Super Anastigmat 70/4.5, as appears in an advertisement dated February 1939[6] where the camera is priced ¥58.

The Super Flex Baby II appeared in mid 1939.[7] has an all chrome speed wheel and lens barrel. It was offered for ¥65 in an advertisement dated June 1939.[8]

It was replaced by the Super Flex Baby III at the beginning of 1940.[9] This model adds the possibility of Time exposures. It seems that there is no T setting added to the speed wheel but that the release lever was modified and a lock was added. The new type of release lever consists of a bent metal plate vertically sliding on the right hand side of the camera. A button is visible near the bottom of the release mechanism, that is believed to be the release lock for Time exposures.

An advertisement dated April 1940[10] still offers the model II for ¥65 along with the new model III for ¥78, explicitly stating that the difference resides in the Time exposure feature.

The Super Flex Baby IIIA was added at the beginning of 1941[11] with a Super Anastigmat 65mm f/3.2 lens. It seems that the body presents no difference, so that a III can become a IIIA and vice versa by swapping the lens.

An advertisement dated March 1941[12] offers the model III for ¥77 and the model IIIA for ¥88. In an advertisement dated March 1942, the prices are respectively ¥90 and ¥102, and the f/4.5 model is called model II probably by mistake.[13] This March 1942 advertisement is the last one listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi[14] and the camera production was soon interrupted by the war.

About the name

The name "Super Flex Baby" has been used throughout this article. The original documentation is not consistent and the camera is called "Super Flex Baby" or "Baby Super Flex" or simply "Super Flex", depending on the advertisement. (There is even one advertisement where the case is mentioned as "for the Baby Super Ref"<REF> "Ref" is an abbreviation often used for "Reflex" in Japan at the time. <:/REF> (ベビースーパーレフ用) while the camera is called "Super Flex Baby" in the header.) The camera itself is always marked "Super Flex Baby".

Notes

  1. ↑ Dates: the advertisements mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337, run from 1938 to 1942, and the Umemoto company history says that it was perhaps made until the beginning of 1943.
  2. ↑ No original document has been found to confirm this but it is stated in the Umemoto company history that seems to be redacted by the son of the Umemoto founder.
  3. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337
  4. ↑ An example of this model is pictured in this page of the JCII collection.
  5. ↑ Published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 75.
  6. ↑ Published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 74.
  7. ↑ Date: advertisements mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337.
  8. ↑ Published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 75.
  9. ↑ Date: advertisements mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337.
  10. ↑ Published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 75.
  11. ↑ Date: advertisements mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337.
  12. ↑ Published in Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 75.
  13. ↑ Advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in the Gochamaze website. Another advertisement is reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura and gives the same prices.
  14. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337

Bibliography

Links

In Japanese:

Retrieved from "http://camera-wiki.org/index.php?title=Super_Flex_Baby&oldid=71097"