Tsubasa Semi

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 (edit)
folding
Apollo \| Semi Blond \| Semi Crystar \| Daido Semi \| Doris \| Semi Frank \| Semi Gelto \| Semi Golder \| Karoron \| Karoron RF \| Kely \| Kiko Semi \| Korin \| Kuri \| BB Kuri \| Lark \| Semi Leotax \| Semi Leotax DL / R \| Lo Ruby \| Semi Lord \| Luck \| Semi Lyra \| Semi Masmy \| Middl 120 \| Semi Mihama \| Mikado \| Million Proud \| Semi Minolta III \| Semi Minolta P \| Semi Oscon \| Semi Pearl \| Pearl I–III \| Pearl IV \| Petri \| Petri RF \| Petri Super \| Pioneer \| Semi Proud \| Semi Rocket \| Rocky Semi \| Rosen \| Ruby \| Shinkoh Rabbit \| Semi Sport \| Tsubasa Semi \| Union Semi \| Union Model U \| Walcon Semi \| Waltax \| Semi Wester \| Zenobia
rigid or collapsible
Semi Dak \| Semi Hobix \| Super Semi Plum \| Rocket Camera \| Tomy
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo models ->
Japanese 3×4 and 4×4, 4×5 and 4×6.5, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

The Tsubasa Semi is a Japanese 4.5×6 folder made by Kigawa Kōgaku between 1950 and 1952.

Description

The body of the Tsubasa Semi is copied from the Ikonta A, but the viewfinder is contained within a top housing (on the left when the camera is standing vertically). The advance knob is at the left end of the top housing, with a red arrow engraved in red. There is also an accessory shoe, a body release on the right and a folding bed opening button on the left. The back has one red window at the top, protected by a horizontally sliding cover, to control the film advance. The lens is always a 75/3.5 with front-cell focusing, and the aperture is set by an index on top of the shutter housing.

Some markings are common to all the models. The body serial number is engraved on a round plate at the right end of the top housing. Above the viewfinder, there is a KKK logo engraved in red and the words KIGAWA KōGAKU in black. There is also a KIKO TSUBASA logo engraved in the folding struts. The word TSUBASA is also embossed in the front leather, sometimes in a serif font with the T bigger than the other letters, sometimes in a sans serif font with the same height for all the letters.

The first versions

The original Tsubasa Semi can be recognized by the hexagonal trim around the finder window and the Tsubasa marking in front of the top housing.

In 1950^[1] and 1951^[2], the Tsubasa Semi is first advertised in two variants, both with a Tsubasa 75/3.5 coated lens and a synchronized shutter: the Tsubasa Semi I with B, 25–200 speeds and the Tsubasa Semi II with B, 1–250 speeds.

Later in 1951^[3], other variants are advertised, all with a synchronized shutter and a coated f:3.5 lens whose name is not precised: Tsubasa Semi I with T, B, 25–100 speeds, Tsubasa Semi II with B, 10–200 speeds and Tsubasa Semi III with B, 1–200 speeds and self-timer.

The same year 1951^[4], the variant names changed again: Tsubasa Semi I with B, 10–200 speeds and Tsubasa Semi III with B, 1–250 speeds and self-timer. This time the lens was a coated Bessel^[5] 75/3.5.

To add something to this confusion, an example has been observed with T, B, 25–150 speeds^[6]. The lens is marked TSUBASA Anastigmat.

The Tsubasa Semi F

The later Tsubasa Semi F has no hexagonal trim around the finder, nor Tsubasa marking in front of the top housing. Instead there are two black lines extending on both sides of the finder window, looking a bit like the Pearl I–III by Konishiroku.

This version is advertised in 1952^[7] in three variants, all having a Bessel 75/3.5 coated lens and a KKK synchronized shutter with ASA bayonet connector: the Tsubasa Semi F1 with B, 10–200 speeds, the Tsubasa Semi F2 with the same speeds and a self-timer and the Tsubasa Semi F3 with B, 1–200 speeds and a self-timer. On the examples observed, the shutter rim is engraved K.K.K. or some other acronym beginning with a K. and the lens is simply engraved BESSEL.

Notes

↑ Advertisement for the Tsubasa Semi I and II, published in the December 1950 issue of Ars Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 607.
↑ Advertisement for the Tsubasa Semi I and II and Tsubasaflex, published in the March 1951 issue of Ars Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 608.
↑ Advertisement for the Tsubasa Semi I, II and III and Tubasaflex I, II and III, published in the May 1951 issue of Photo Art, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 608. — Advertisement for the Tsubasa Semi I, II and III and Tubasaflex I, II and III, published in the June 1951 issue of Photo Art, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 607.
↑ Advertisement for the Tsubasa Semi I and II and Tubasaflex I and II, published in the November 1951 issue of Ars Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 607–8.
↑ Bessel is the name of a German astronomer and mathematician who lived in the 19th century. There is a method called Bessel's method to determine the focal length of a given lens, see for example here. It is unknown if the lens name is related.
↑ Example shown in this page at ksmt.com
↑ Advertisement for the Tsubasa Semi F1, F2 and F3, published in the January 1952 issue of Ars Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 606. — Advertisement for the Tsubasa Semi F1, F2 and F3 and Grace Flex I and II, published in the January 1952 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 503.

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 503, 606–8.
Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P. 73 (brief mention only).
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. 464–5.