Tsubasa Nettar and Tsubasa Kiko Three

From Camera-wiki.org
Revision as of 00:03, 5 March 2008 by Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (very minor)
Jump to: navigation, search
Japanese Semi (4.5×6)
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
folding
Semi Ace | Semi Adler | Adler III | Adler A | Adler B | Adler C | Semi Ako | Ami | Bakyna | Semi Chrome | Semi Clover | Collex | Semi Condor | Semi Dymos | Semi Elega | Semi First | Auto Semi First | Baby Semi First | Gaica | Semi Gelto | Semi Germa | Hansa Semi Rollette | Heil | Hokoku | Hope | Kadera | Kankyu | Kelly | Kiko Semi | Semi Kinka | Semi Konter | Semi Kreis | Semi Kulax | Semi Lead | Semi Leotax | Semi Lester | Loyal | Semi Lucky | Semi Lyra | Semi Makinet | Semi Metax | Semi Minolta (I) and II | Auto Semi Minolta | Semi Miss | Mizuho | Semi Mulber | Semi National | New Gold | Okaco | Oko Semi | Semi Olympus | Semi Olympus II | Semi Osamo | Semi Pearl | Primo | Semi Prince | Semi Proud | Semi Prux | Roavic | Semi Rody | Rondex | Semi Rosen | Semi Rotte | Seica | Seves | Semi Shiks | Sintax | Semi Sixteenth | Semi Solon | Semi Sport | Star Semi | Semi-Tex | Tsubasa Kiko Three | Tsubasa Nettar | Tsubasa Super Semi | Ugein | Vester-Lette | Victor | Waltax | Wester | Zeitax
collapsible
Semi Kinsi | Lord | Lyrax | Nippon | New Olympic | Semi Olympic | Semi Renky | Auto Victor | Well Super
stereo
Sun Stereo
unknown
Semi Elka | Semi Keef | Napoleon
Postwar models ->
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo ->
Japanese 3×4, 4×4, 4×5, 4×6.5, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

The Tsubasa Nettar (ツバサネッター) is a Japanese 4.5×6 folder announced by Kigawa in late 1940, and the Tsubasa Kiko III (ツバサキコーⅢ型) or Tsubasa Kiko Three (ツバサキコースリー) is a derivative made in 1941.

The Tsubasa Nettar

Description

The Tsubasa Nettar is a horizontal folder. The body has tapered ends, and the three-part folding struts are similar to those of the Ikonta A by Zeiss Ikon. The name "Nettar" itself is an obvious reference to the Nettar, another product by Zeiss Ikon. The Tsubasa Nettar has a folding optical finder in the middle of the top plate, similar to the finder of the late Tsubasa Super Semi. The body release is on the right and the folding bed release is on the left, as seen by the photographer. The advance knob is at the bottom right, under the body, and the back is hinged to the left. The back latch consists of a long sliding bar.

Briefly announced

The Tsubasa Nettar was advertised in the October 1940 issue of Asahi Camera, together with the Tsubasa Super Semi.[1] The advertisement was placed by Optochrom, the sales company associated to Kigawa. The shutter is mentioned as a Kulax, giving 1–300 speeds, and the picture perhaps shows the word KULAX at the bottom of the shutter plate. There is a choice of two Erinar lenses, with f/4.5 or f/3.5 aperture, and no price is indicated. The advertisement displays a TSUBASA NETTAR logo, which is perhaps engraved on the folding struts.

The only other reported advertisement is dated December 1940.[2] No surviving example of the Tsubasa Nettar is known. The camera was perhaps never sold, and the use of the name "Nettar" perhaps caused some protest.

The Tsubasa Kiko III

Description

The Tsubasa Kiko III is an evolution of the Tsubasa Nettar, with the same horizontal folding body.

At the bottom right of the body, the advance knob seems to be replaced by an advance key. The folding optical finder is replaced by a direct vision eye level finder and a waist level brilliant finder under a short top housing, with an accessory shoe between both. The front of the top housing is engraved Kiko Three, and there is a body release protruding on the right. There is a red window in the top left of the back, protected by a vertically sliding cover. The folding bed is embossed KIKO. At least two examples observed in online auctions have a big KSK (or maybe NSK) marking on top of the eye level viewfinder, the signification is unknown but similar markings were observed on examples of the Gotex, Semi Kulax and Kiko Semi.

Advertisements

The camera is advertised in 1941[3] together with the Tsubasa Super Semi. Two variants are offered, one with a Lucomar f:4.5 lens and a Kikō (キコー) T, B, 5–200 shutter (¥85), the other with an Erinar f:3.5 lens and a Kikō (キコー) T, B, 1–200 shutter (¥130)[4].


Pictures

Notes

  1. Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.79.
  2. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.338.
  3. Advertisement for the Tsubasa Kiko III and Tsubasa Super Semi, published in the March 1941 issue of Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 152.
  4. Kokusan kamera no rekishi says that the camera appears in Kamera Zukan by Sugiyama and Naoi with a different lens and shutter. McKeown mentions an U.L.L. Anastigmat 7.5cm f:4.5 lens and a Kenzio T, B, 25–150 shutter, and the source is maybe the same book by Sugiyama.

Bibliography

Timeline

Kigawa timeline (edit)
Type 1930s 1940s 1950s
6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3
                                                                                                                                                                                   
3×4 rigid Baby Chrome
Baby Oso Tsubasa Oso
Tsubasa Arawashi ...
4×6.5 telescopic Tsubasa Chrome ...
folding Tsubasa Spring ...
4.5×6 strut folding Semi Chrome B
horizontal folding Tsubasa Super Semi ... _
Tsubasa II Super Semi
Tsubasa Nettar Tsubasa Kiko Three
vertical folding Semi Chrome A Semi Sixteenth
(dates unclear)
Semi Kulax Kiko Semi ... _ Tsubasa Semi
6×6 horizontal folding Gotex ... ... Poppy Six
(dates unknown)
... Carl Six
TLR Kiko Flex Tsubasaflex Graceflex
16mm subminiature ... Poppy
(dates unknown)
...
Manufacturer: ... Kigawa Seimitsu ... Kigawa Kōgaku Carl Kōgaku
Shin Nippon
Distributor: Optochrom-sha ... Nichiei Shōkai Kikō Shōji ...
Cameras whose actual existence is dubious are in a lighter shade.
Cameras in yellow are variants sold and maybe assembled by other companies.