Difference between revisions of "Tsubasa Chrome"

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The shutter plate is marked ''TSUBASA SHUTTER'' at the top, with a ''NE'' logo between both words, and ''NEW GOLD'' at the bottom. The speeds are written on the shutter plate itself and they are selected by turning a very thin rim. The aperture scale is at the bottom.
 
The shutter plate is marked ''TSUBASA SHUTTER'' at the top, with a ''NE'' logo between both words, and ''NEW GOLD'' at the bottom. The speeds are written on the shutter plate itself and they are selected by turning a very thin rim. The aperture scale is at the bottom.
  
The camera was featured in the new products column of the August 1937 issue of ''[[Asahi Camera]]''.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.337. </REF> An advertisement dated August 1937<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.78. </REF> offered the model with a Lucomar f/6.3 lens ({{yen|19.50|1937}}) or a Lucomar f/4.5 lens ({{yen|28.50|1937}}) — case cost extra ¥4. In an advertisement dated June 1938,<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.78. Eight authorized dealers are mentioned: [[Asanuma|Asanuma Shōkai]], [[Hagi|Hagi Kōgyō Bōeki]], [[Misuzu Shōkai]], [[Mizuno|Mizuno Shashinki-ten]], [[Yamashita|Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten]], [[Eikōdō]], [[Matsuzaki|Matsuzaki Shashinki-ten]] and [[Ueda|Ueda Shashinki-ten]]. </REF> the prices were respectively {{yen|23|1938}} and {{yen|34|1938}} (case for ¥4.50).
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The camera was featured in the new products column of the August 1937 issue of {{ACA}}.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.337. </REF> An advertisement dated August 1937<REF> Advertisement published in {{ACA}}, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.78. </REF> offered the model with a Lucomar f/6.3 lens ({{yen|19.50|1937}}) or a Lucomar f/4.5 lens ({{yen|28.50|1937}}) — case cost extra ¥4. In an advertisement dated June 1938,<REF> Advertisement published in {{ACA}}, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.78. Eight authorized dealers are mentioned: [[Asanuma Shōkai]], [[Hagi|Hagi Kōgyō Bōeki]], [[Misuzu Shōkai]], [[Mizuno|Mizuno Shashinki-ten]], [[Yamashita|Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten]], [[Eikōdō]], [[Matsuzaki|Matsuzaki Shashinki-ten]] and [[Ueda|Ueda Shashinki-ten]]. </REF> the prices were respectively {{yen|23|1938}} and {{yen|34|1938}} (case for ¥4.50).
  
 
Three examples have been observed.<REF> Examples observed in online auctions. </REF> Their advance knob is smaller and higher than on the advertising pictures and it has three rows of knurls. Two of them have a Lucomar Anastigmat f/6.3 fixed-focus lens and speeds marked T, B, 25, 50, 100 in that order. The aperture scale has 6.3, 8, 11, 16, 22 settings. The shutter plate has a single metal strip on each side of the lens and the ''NEW GOLD'' name is written in rounded letters. The third one has a Lucomar Anastigmat f/4.5 front-cell focusing lens and speeds marked T, B, 100, 50, 25. The aperture scale has 4.5, 6.3, 9, 12.5, 18, 25 settings. The shutter plate has three metal strips on each side of the lens and the ''NEW GOLD'' name is written in square letters.
 
Three examples have been observed.<REF> Examples observed in online auctions. </REF> Their advance knob is smaller and higher than on the advertising pictures and it has three rows of knurls. Two of them have a Lucomar Anastigmat f/6.3 fixed-focus lens and speeds marked T, B, 25, 50, 100 in that order. The aperture scale has 6.3, 8, 11, 16, 22 settings. The shutter plate has a single metal strip on each side of the lens and the ''NEW GOLD'' name is written in rounded letters. The third one has a Lucomar Anastigmat f/4.5 front-cell focusing lens and speeds marked T, B, 100, 50, 25. The aperture scale has 4.5, 6.3, 9, 12.5, 18, 25 settings. The shutter plate has three metal strips on each side of the lens and the ''NEW GOLD'' name is written in square letters.

Revision as of 22:24, 29 May 2008

Japanese Vest (4×5 and 4×6.5) (edit)
folding
4×4.5 Orient
4×5 Minion
4×6.5 Clover Vest | Dianette | Eagle | Friend | Kooa | National | New Vest | Nifcarette | Pearlette | B Pearlette | Special Pearlette | Pionette | Pocket Prince | Sirius Bebe | Speed Pocket | Tsubasa Spring | Victory
rigid or collapsible
4×5 Alfax | Olympus Standard | Sakura (bakelite) | Well Standard
4×6.5 Vest Adler | Vest Alex | Kowa Kid | Light | Light Super | Baby Minolta | Minolta Vest | Regal Olympic | Vest Olympic | Tsubasa Chrome | Zen-99
box
4×6.5 Baby Clover | Sakura (box) | Spirit
unknown
4×5 Vesten
4×6.5 Victor Vest
unknown Meiro
Japanese 3×4 and 4×4, 4.5×6, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

The Tsubasa Chrome is a Japanese camera taking 4×6.5cm and 3×4cm exposures on 127 film. It was sold by the Japanese company Optochrom from 1937.

General description

All the models have a telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly. They have a tubular optical finder in the middle of the top plate, with two bars indicating the field of view for 3×4 format. The advance knob is at the left end and the release lever is on the shutter housing itself. The back is hinged to the right and film advance is controlled by red window. The front leather is embossed TSUBASA.

Original model

The original Tsubasa Chrome (ツバサ・クローム) has T, B, 25, 50, 100 speeds. The advance knob has a cylindrical shape and their is a smaller cylindrical knob at the opposite end of the top plate. There is a button on the right of the top plate, looking like a body release. Actually it is probably the release of the spring loaded telescopic tube. The back contains two uncovered red windows.

The shutter plate is marked TSUBASA SHUTTER at the top, with a NE logo between both words, and NEW GOLD at the bottom. The speeds are written on the shutter plate itself and they are selected by turning a very thin rim. The aperture scale is at the bottom.

The camera was featured in the new products column of the August 1937 issue of Asahi Camera.[1] An advertisement dated August 1937[2] offered the model with a Lucomar f/6.3 lens (¥19.50) or a Lucomar f/4.5 lens (¥28.50) — case cost extra ¥4. In an advertisement dated June 1938,[3] the prices were respectively ¥23 and ¥34 (case for ¥4.50).

Three examples have been observed.[4] Their advance knob is smaller and higher than on the advertising pictures and it has three rows of knurls. Two of them have a Lucomar Anastigmat f/6.3 fixed-focus lens and speeds marked T, B, 25, 50, 100 in that order. The aperture scale has 6.3, 8, 11, 16, 22 settings. The shutter plate has a single metal strip on each side of the lens and the NEW GOLD name is written in rounded letters. The third one has a Lucomar Anastigmat f/4.5 front-cell focusing lens and speeds marked T, B, 100, 50, 25. The aperture scale has 4.5, 6.3, 9, 12.5, 18, 25 settings. The shutter plate has three metal strips on each side of the lens and the NEW GOLD name is written in square letters.

Tsubasa Chrome New

The Tsubasa Chrome New (ツバサ・クローム・新型) adds 1/150 top speed. The advance knob has a more rounded shape and a hollow top, and the small knob at the right end of the top plate has a conical shape.

The shutter plate is marked WING ANCHOR at the top, MADE IN JAPAN at the bottom, and the NE logo is on the right. The speeds are engraved T, B, 150, 100, 50, 25 in that order in the shutter rim. There is a distant release connector added next to the release lever.

An advertisement dated September 1938[5] offered the camera with the Lucomar f/6.3 lens (¥25) or the Lucomar f/4.5 lens (¥34, case ¥5 extra). In the advertising picture, the new shutter plate is of the new type and there is still a button on the right of the top plate.

This button is no more visible in the picture of an advertisement dated February 1939, which offered the camera at unchanged prices.[6] The disappearance of the button probably means that the telescopic tube was no longer spring-loaded.

The camera is simply called Tsubasa Chrome again in advertisements dated April and December 1939, which give the higher price of ¥28 for the f/6.3 version.[7]

The Tsubasa Chrome is mentioned in the list of set prices compiled in October 1940, under the names "Tsubasa Chrome" (¥28), "Tsubasa Chrome II" (¥33) and "Tsubasa Chrome IIA" (¥42), with no further detail.[8] A Japanese catalogue reportedly dated 1942 lists the Tsubasa Chrome with Lucomar f/6.3 only, for ¥40 — case ¥6.70 extra.[9]

Actual examples of the Tsubasa Chrome New have been observed on various occasions, with or without the telescopic tube release.[10] There are variations in the shape of the film flange at the top right. All the examples observed so far have a fixed-focus f/6.3 lens.

Later version

A single example of a probably later version has been observed.[11] It has a big key in place of the advance knob. The back latch is different and consists of a long sliding bar. The back has a round metal plate in the middle and a single red window on the right. This does not necessarily mean that the dual-format capability was dropped, and the viewfinder still has the two bars for 3×4cm pictures. (It seems that at least some of the 127 film rolls sold in Japan at the time had indications for half-frame pictures on the paper backing.) There is an accessory shoe (perhaps not original) to the right of the viewfinder, in place of the telescopic tube release of the early version.

Notes

  1. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.337.
  2. Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.78.
  3. Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.78. Eight authorized dealers are mentioned: Asanuma Shōkai, Hagi Kōgyō Bōeki, Misuzu Shōkai, Mizuno Shashinki-ten, Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten, Eikōdō, Matsuzaki Shashinki-ten and Ueda Shashinki-ten.
  4. Examples observed in online auctions.
  5. Advertisement for the Tsubasa range published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
  6. Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.78. It is looking the same as the September 1938 advertisement cited above, but there are detail differences.
  7. Advertisement published in Asahi Camera April 1939 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.79, and advertisement on p.18 of Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin, December 15, 1939, reproduced on p.52 of Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku. (The last advertisement listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.337, is dated June 1939.)
  8. "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku", type 1, section 3 and type 2, sections 3 and 5A.
  9. Scans observed in an online auction.
  10. Compare e.g. the examples pictured in Sugiyama: item 4102 with the tube release and item 4099 without. Item 4102 has a folding frame finder which does not look original, and it is simply called "Tsubasa" by mistake.
  11. Example 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. Items 143–4. (See also the advertisements for items 146–7.)
  • "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; type 2, sections 3 and 5A.
  • 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). P.464.
  • Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin (日本写真興業通信). Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku (百号ごと十回の記録, Ten records, every hundred issues). Tokyo: Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin Sha (日本写真興業通信社), 1967. No ISBN number. Advertisement on p.52, corresponding to p.18 of the December 15, 1939 issue.
  • 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 4099 and 4102.

Links

In Japanese: