Difference between revisions of "Tsubasa Arawashi"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
m (template fix)
m (removed inaccurate timeline)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Japanese Baby and Four}}
 
{{Japanese Baby and Four}}
The '''Tsubasa Arawashi''' (ツバサ・アラワシ) is a 3&times;4 camera sold by the Japanese company [[Kigawa|Optochrom]] in 1939&ndash;40.<REF> Dates: advertisements listed in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;338. </REF>
+
The '''Tsubasa Arawashi''' (ツバサ・アラワシ) is a 3×4 camera sold by the Japanese company [[Kigawa|Optochrom]] in 1939–40.<REF> Dates: advertisements listed in {{Kokusan}}, p.338. </REF>
  
 
== Name ==
 
== Name ==
The Japanese word ''tsubasa'', usually written 翼, means "wing" or "pair of wings", and the word ''arawashi'', usually written 荒鷲, means "wild eagle" or "ace pilot".<REF> Sugiyama, p.&nbsp;11, says that the Arawashi was "named after the famous bomber", but no Japanese aircraft seems to have been called that way. </REF> They appear in ''katakana'' (ツバサ and アラワシ) in advertisements seen so far. (An advertisement dated 1940<REF> Advertisement published in the April 1940 issue of ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;79. </REF> shows a stylized bird of prey with outstretched wings.)
+
The Japanese word ''tsubasa'', usually written 翼, means "wing" or "pair of wings", and the word ''arawashi'', usually written 荒鷲, means "wild eagle" or "ace pilot".<REF> {{Sugiyama}}, p.11, says that the Arawashi was "named after the famous bomber", but no Japanese aircraft seems to have been called that way. </REF> They appear in ''katakana'' (ツバサ and アラワシ) in advertisements seen so far. (An advertisement dated 1940<REF> Advertisement published in the April 1940 issue of ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.79. </REF> shows a stylized bird of prey with outstretched wings.)
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
Line 14: Line 14:
 
The '''early model''' has the advance knob at the bottom right and the back hinged to the left. There are film flanges on both ends of the top plate.
 
The '''early model''' has the advance knob at the bottom right and the back hinged to the left. There are film flanges on both ends of the top plate.
  
In advertisements dated June and July 1939,<REF> June 1939 advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;79. July 1939 advertisement published in ''Camera,'' reproduced in [http://www.warbirds.jp/heiki/350000.htm this page of the Heiki Seikatsu website]. </REF> this model was offered in two versions:
+
In advertisements dated June and July 1939,<REF> June 1939 advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.79. July 1939 advertisement published in ''Camera,'' reproduced in [http://www.warbirds.jp/heiki/350000.htm this page of the Heiki Seikatsu website]. </REF> this model was offered in two versions:
* New Gold f/6.3 lens and Tsubasa B, 25&ndash;100 shutter ({{yen|20|1939}});
+
* New Gold f/6.3 lens and Tsubasa B, 25–100 shutter ({{yen|20|1939}});
* New Gold f/4.5 lens and Tsubasa T, B, 25&ndash;150 shutter ({{yen|30|1939}}).
+
* New Gold f/4.5 lens and Tsubasa T, B, 25–150 shutter ({{yen|30|1939}}).
  
In an advertisement dated September 1939,<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;79. </REF> the features were the same but the lens name was changed to Lucomar.
+
In an advertisement dated September 1939,<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.79. </REF> the features were the same but the lens name was changed to Lucomar.
  
 
=== Late model, top advance ===
 
=== Late model, top advance ===
 
The '''late model''' has the advance knob at the top left and the back hinged to the right. The body is upside down compared to the previous model. The back latch is modified and consists of a long sliding bar.<REF> This model is pictured in Sugiyama, item 4101. </REF>
 
The '''late model''' has the advance knob at the top left and the back hinged to the right. The body is upside down compared to the previous model. The back latch is modified and consists of a long sliding bar.<REF> This model is pictured in Sugiyama, item 4101. </REF>
  
This model was advertised in April 1940,<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;79. </REF> in both f/6.3 and f/4.5 versions. The prices were the same and the shutter speeds were not given. The camera was also listed in the list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, under the name "Arawashi" (&yen;28) with no further detail.<REF> {{Kakaku0141_short}}, type 1, section 3. </REF> It is not known if the set price corresponded to the f/6.3 or to the f/4.5 version.
+
This model was advertised in April 1940,<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.79. </REF> in both f/6.3 and f/4.5 versions. The prices were the same and the shutter speeds were not given. The camera was also listed in the list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, under the name "Arawashi" (¥28) with no further detail.<REF> {{Kakaku0141_short}}, type 1, section 3. </REF> It is not known if the set price corresponded to the f/6.3 or to the f/4.5 version.
  
It seems that an '''intermediate model''' exists with the top advance knob, the back hinged to the right and the old type of back latch. It has been observed in an undated catalogue, where it is presented together with the [[Tsubasa Chrome]], [[Olympic|Olympic Four]] and [[Vest Alex and Vest Olympic|Vest Olympic]].<REF> Catalogue observed in an online auction. </REF> An example has also been observed in this configuration, but it has a folding frame finder for 4&times;6.5cm and 3&times;4cm format which is obviously not original, and which was perhaps attached to the bottom of the camera.
+
It seems that an '''intermediate model''' exists with the top advance knob, the back hinged to the right and the old type of back latch. It has been observed in an undated catalogue, where it is presented together with the [[Tsubasa Chrome]], [[Olympic|Olympic Four]] and [[Vest Alex and Vest Olympic|Vest Olympic]].<REF> Catalogue observed in an online auction. </REF> An example has also been observed in this configuration, but it has a folding frame finder for 4×6.5cm and 3×4cm format which is obviously not original, and which was perhaps attached to the bottom of the camera.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
Line 38: Line 38:
 
In Japanese:
 
In Japanese:
 
* Advertisement for the Tsubasa Arawashi published in the July 1939 issue of ''Camera,'' reproduced in [http://www.warbirds.jp/heiki/350000.htm this page] of the [http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~heikiseikatsu/index.html Heiki Seikatsu website]
 
* Advertisement for the Tsubasa Arawashi published in the July 1939 issue of ''Camera,'' reproduced in [http://www.warbirds.jp/heiki/350000.htm this page] of the [http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~heikiseikatsu/index.html Heiki Seikatsu website]
 
== Timeline ==
 
{{Kigawa timeline}}
 
  
 
[[Category: Japanese 3x4 viewfinder]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 3x4 viewfinder]]

Revision as of 21:31, 7 March 2008

Japanese Baby (3×4) and Four (4×4) (edit)
folding
3×4 Baby Balnet | Doris | Baby Doris | Baby Germa | Kinsi | Baby Leotax | Loren | Baby Lyra | Baby Pearl | Baby Pilot | Baby Rosen | Baby Suzuka | Walz
4×4 Adler Four | Rosen Four
rigid or collapsible
3×4 Baika | Baby Chrome | Comet | Cyclon | Gelto | Baby Germa | Gokoku | Hamond | Baby Hawk | Kinka Lucky | Lausar | Light | Baby Light | Molby | Mulber | Olympic | Baby Ōso | Peacock | Picny | Ricohl | Rorox | Shinko Baby | Slick | Baby Sport | Tsubasa Arawashi | Baby Uirus | Zessan
3.5×4 Kenko 35
4×4 Alma Four | Andes Four | Anny 44 | Arsen | Balnet Four | Bonny Four | Freude | Kalimar 44 | Auto Keef | Kraft | Letix | Mykey-4 | Olympic Four | Roico | Royal Senior | Seica | Terra Junior | Vero Four | Welmy 44 | Yashica Future 127
unknown
Baby First | Baby Lyra Flex
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo models ->
Japanese 4×5 and 4×6.5, 4.5×6, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

The Tsubasa Arawashi (ツバサ・アラワシ) is a 3×4 camera sold by the Japanese company Optochrom in 1939–40.[1]

Name

The Japanese word tsubasa, usually written 翼, means "wing" or "pair of wings", and the word arawashi, usually written 荒鷲, means "wild eagle" or "ace pilot".[2] They appear in katakana (ツバサ and アラワシ) in advertisements seen so far. (An advertisement dated 1940[3] shows a stylized bird of prey with outstretched wings.)

Description

The Tsubasa Arawashi has a crudely shaped metal body. The tubular optical finder is in the middle of the top plate. A large black knurled ring supports the lens and shutter assembly. The film advance is certainly controlled by red windows.

All the models have an everset shutter. The shutter plate is marked TSUBASA SHUTTER at the top with a NE logo between both words, and NEW GOLD at the bottom.

Evolution

Early model, bottom advance

The early model has the advance knob at the bottom right and the back hinged to the left. There are film flanges on both ends of the top plate.

In advertisements dated June and July 1939,[4] this model was offered in two versions:

  • New Gold f/6.3 lens and Tsubasa B, 25–100 shutter (¥20);
  • New Gold f/4.5 lens and Tsubasa T, B, 25–150 shutter (¥30).

In an advertisement dated September 1939,[5] the features were the same but the lens name was changed to Lucomar.

Late model, top advance

The late model has the advance knob at the top left and the back hinged to the right. The body is upside down compared to the previous model. The back latch is modified and consists of a long sliding bar.[6]

This model was advertised in April 1940,[7] in both f/6.3 and f/4.5 versions. The prices were the same and the shutter speeds were not given. The camera was also listed in the list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, under the name "Arawashi" (¥28) with no further detail.[8] It is not known if the set price corresponded to the f/6.3 or to the f/4.5 version.

It seems that an intermediate model exists with the top advance knob, the back hinged to the right and the old type of back latch. It has been observed in an undated catalogue, where it is presented together with the Tsubasa Chrome, Olympic Four and Vest Olympic.[9] An example has also been observed in this configuration, but it has a folding frame finder for 4×6.5cm and 3×4cm format which is obviously not original, and which was perhaps attached to the bottom of the camera.

Notes

  1. Dates: advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.338.
  2. Sugiyama, p.11, says that the Arawashi was "named after the famous bomber", but no Japanese aircraft seems to have been called that way.
  3. Advertisement published in the April 1940 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.79.
  4. June 1939 advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.79. July 1939 advertisement published in Camera, reproduced in this page of the Heiki Seikatsu website.
  5. Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.79.
  6. This model is pictured in Sugiyama, item 4101.
  7. Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.79.
  8. "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku", type 1, section 3.
  9. Catalogue observed in an online auction.

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 148. (See also the advertisement for item 150.)
  • "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 1, section 3.
  • 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 4101.

Links

In Japanese: