Difference between revisions of "Vero Four"

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The second variant was pictured in advertisements dated August and November 1940 and January 1941, where it was offered at an unchanged price (an advertisement dated December 1940 made use of an older picture showing the previous exposure counter).<REF> Advertisements published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.&nbsp;72, 76 and 77. The December 1940 picture is the same retouched picture of a Vero Four D mentioned above. </REF> The camera was also listed in the list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, under the names "Vero Four" and "Vero Four F", both for the same price of &yen;125.<REF> {{Kakaku1940_short}}, type 1, section 10. </REF> This perhaps indicates that the front-cell focusing model was still available for sale.
 
The second variant was pictured in advertisements dated August and November 1940 and January 1941, where it was offered at an unchanged price (an advertisement dated December 1940 made use of an older picture showing the previous exposure counter).<REF> Advertisements published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.&nbsp;72, 76 and 77. The December 1940 picture is the same retouched picture of a Vero Four D mentioned above. </REF> The camera was also listed in the list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, under the names "Vero Four" and "Vero Four F", both for the same price of &yen;125.<REF> {{Kakaku1940_short}}, type 1, section 10. </REF> This perhaps indicates that the front-cell focusing model was still available for sale.
  
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On the '''third variant''', a frame was added to the front of the viewfinder, attached by two screws. One example with this frame and the crescent-shaped exposure counter is pictured in [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/sub1.41.html#Vero this page of the AJCC] and another appears in a Christies auction catalogue.<REF> Christies auction dated 13 January 1994, lot 221. Body no.&nbsp;2529. Lens number reported as no.&nbsp;0771. The example of the AJCC has body no.&nbsp;2x25 and lens no.&nbsp;0838. </REF>
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On the '''third variant''', a frame was added to the front of the viewfinder, attached by two screws. One example with this frame and the crescent-shaped exposure counter is pictured in [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/sub1.41.html#Vero this page of the AJCC] and another appears in a Christies auction catalogue.<REF> Christies auction dated 13 January 1994, lot 221. Body no.2529. Lens number reported as no.0771. The example of the AJCC has body no.2x25 and lens no.0838. </REF>
  
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The examples of the '''fourth variant''' have a round exposure counter window replacing the crescent-shaped one. This variant is the most common, and one example is pictured in this page.<REF> Examples observed: body no.&nbsp;3118 (online auction, lens not original); body no.&nbsp;44xx, lens no.&nbsp;2889 (online auction); body no.&nbsp;4784, lens no.&nbsp;3080 (this page); lens no.&nbsp;3220 ({{Sugiyama}}, item 3054); lens no.&nbsp;44xx (McKeown, p.&nbsp;943); body no.&nbsp;6617, lens no.&nbsp;4513 (online auction). </REF>
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The examples of the '''fourth variant''' have a round exposure counter window replacing the crescent-shaped one. This variant is the most common, and one example is pictured in this page.<REF> Examples observed: body no.3118 (online auction, lens not original); body no.44xx, lens no.2889 (online auction); body no.4784, lens no.3080 (this page); lens no.3220 ({{Sugiyama}}, item 3054); lens no.44xx ({{McKeown}}, p.943); body no.6367, lens no.4255 ([http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~rd2h-ari/OTH_RAPID_VERO.htm page at Japan Family Camera]); body no.6617, lens no.4513 (online auction). </REF>
  
 
The Vero Four was still mentioned in the April 1943 government inquiry (with the shutter listed as a Rapid-Presto).<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943, item 153. </REF>
 
The Vero Four was still mentioned in the April 1943 government inquiry (with the shutter listed as a Rapid-Presto).<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943, item 153. </REF>
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/358513335/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/358513335_847a0f8233_t_d.jpg]
 
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|-
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| colspan="3" |''Vero Four F n°4784, Verona Anastigmat 6cm f/3.5 lens n°3080.''<br>''Pictures courtesy of eBayer ipruksleica. {{with permission}}''
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| colspan="3" |''Vero Four F no.4784, Verona Anastigmat 6cm f/3.5 lens no.3080.''<br>''Pictures courtesy of eBayer ipruksleica. {{with permission}}''
 
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== Links ==
 
== Links ==
 
In Japanese:
 
In Japanese:
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* [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/sub1.41.html#Vero Vero Four] in a page of the [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/ AJCC website]
+
* [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/sub1.41.html#Vero Vero Four F] (third variant) in a page of the [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/ AJCC website]
 +
* [http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~rd2h-ari/OTH_RAPID_VERO.htm Vero Four F] (fourth variant) at [http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~rd2h-ari/ Japan Family Camera]
 
* Advertisements for the Vero Four reproduced in the [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki-v.htm small format camera page] of the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]:
 
* Advertisements for the Vero Four reproduced in the [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki-v.htm small format camera page] of the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]:
 
** [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki18.jpg Advertisement] published in the 17 January 1938 issue of ''[[Asahi Graph]]'' (the date is given as 17 January 1937 but this is probably a mistake)
 
** [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki18.jpg Advertisement] published in the 17 January 1938 issue of ''[[Asahi Graph]]'' (the date is given as 17 January 1937 but this is probably a mistake)

Revision as of 20:26, 22 October 2007

358513344_c5b089cb83_m_d.jpg
Picture courtesy of eBayer ipruksleica. (Image rights)
Japanese Baby (3×4) and Four (4×4) (edit)
folding
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4×4 Adler Four | Rosen Four
rigid or collapsible
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unknown
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Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo models ->
Japanese 4×5 and 4×6.5, 4.5×6, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

The Vero Four (ヴェロ・フォアー) is a Japanese camera taking 4×4cm pictures on 127 film. It was made by Kinshō and distributed by Ueda Shashinki-ten from 1938 to about 1943.[1] The name "Star Camera Works" appears in advertisements dated 1938 but it was probably not the name of any actual company.

Description

The Vero Four has a metal body and a telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly. The viewfinder sits in a recessed part of the top plate, slightly offset to the left. There is an accessory shoe at the left end. The advance knob is at the right end and the right half of the top plate is covered by a housing containing the auto-stop advance mechanism and an exposure counter. This was needed because the film paper backing was not marked for 4×4cm pictures at the time.

There is a single red window in the back, used to set the first exposure and protected by a horizontally sliding cover. Film loading is through the bottom plate, which is styled after the Leica screw mount models, with a single opening key at one end.

All the models observed have a Rapid-Vero shutter giving T, B, 1–500 speeds. The "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras") says that the camera was equipped with a Rapid Presto made by Kinshō and giving the same range of speeds (including a typical 1/300 setting).[2] The two shutters were probably identical. The lens is a front-cell focusing Vero Anastigmat 60/3.5 on the first models and a unit-focusing Verona Anastigmat 60/3.5 on the following models. The Verona has three elements and was made by Kinshō too.[3]

Evolution

Original model, front-cell focusing

The original model has a front-cell focusing lens and no leather covering. The lens is a Vero Anastigmat 60/3.5 lens and the shutter is a Rapid Vero giving T, B, 1–500 speeds. This model is described in advertisements dated January, March, June and September 1938.[4] The price was ¥115 (lens hood, filter holder and case included). The company name in all the advertisements is "Star Camera Works" (スター・カメラ・ウワークス), mentioned as the distributor (発売元).

In the January and March pictures, the exposure counter window looks like a simple slit and no button is visible over the top plate. In the June and September pictures, the window has the shape of a parallelogram and there is a button next to it, at the rear edge of the advance housing. It is supposed that this button interacts with the exposure counter. The name Vero is engraved on the advance housing, together with the serial number. A logo is engraved above the viewfinder, that is perhaps not the same as the K.S. logo observed on later examples.

No surviving example of the Vero Four with front-cell focusing has yet been observed.

Vero Four F, unit focusing

The range was declined in three models from October 1938. The Vero Four C seems to be identical to the previous model and the Vero Four D is the same camera with leather covering. The Vero Four F has a focusing helical at the base of the telescopic tube and a Verona lens; on the original variant, the rest of the features is the same. These three models were described in an advertisement dated October 1938, where the C and D were offered for the same price of ¥115 whereas the F cost ¥125.[5] The F appeared alone in an advertisement dated April 1939.[6]

The exposure counter was altered again after that date, on the second variant of the Vero Four F. It now appears under a crescent-shaped window, displacing the Vero engraving to the rear. The button has moved too and a small lever is added behind, with an unknown function. There is a K.S. logo above the viewfinder, probably standing for Kinshō or Kinshō Seisakusho.

This variant of the Vero Four F is pictured in Sugiyama and the same example is also pictured in Kokusan kamera no rekishi (the advance knob is not original).[7] The speed rim is engraved RAPID–VERO at the bottom. The lens is engraved Verona Anastigmat f=6.0cm 1:3.5. This paricular example has a three-digit lens number, indicating early production.

The second variant was pictured in advertisements dated August and November 1940 and January 1941, where it was offered at an unchanged price (an advertisement dated December 1940 made use of an older picture showing the previous exposure counter).[8] The camera was also listed in the list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, under the names "Vero Four" and "Vero Four F", both for the same price of ¥125.[9] This perhaps indicates that the front-cell focusing model was still available for sale.

On the third variant, a frame was added to the front of the viewfinder, attached by two screws. One example with this frame and the crescent-shaped exposure counter is pictured in this page of the AJCC and another appears in a Christies auction catalogue.[10]

The examples of the fourth variant have a round exposure counter window replacing the crescent-shaped one. This variant is the most common, and one example is pictured in this page.[11]

The Vero Four was still mentioned in the April 1943 government inquiry (with the shutter listed as a Rapid-Presto).[12]

358513349_0067dd0beb_m_d.jpg 358513344_c5b089cb83_m_d.jpg 358513333_e994f1dcc5_t_d.jpg 358513360_7cc949e289_t_d.jpg
358513335_847a0f8233_t_d.jpg
Vero Four F no.4784, Verona Anastigmat 6cm f/3.5 lens no.3080.
Pictures courtesy of eBayer ipruksleica. (Image rights)

Rangefinder conversions

The Cyclon coupled rangefinder conversion offered in 1943 and 1944 for the Gelto was also available for the Vero Four (presumably only for the unit-focusing Vero Four F).[13] The conversion is described in detail in this section of the Gelto page. It is not known if the earlier conversion with separate range- and viewfinder, called Suzuki coupled device, was offered for this camera. No surviving example has been observed with a rangefinder conversion.

Notes

  1. ↑ Made by Kinshō: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), item 153. Dates: advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 341, run from 1938 to 1941, and the camera was still mentioned in the "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras") compiled in April 1943.
  2. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), shutter item 18-R-4.
  3. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item K4.
  4. ↑ January: advertisement published in the 17 January 1938 issue of Asahi Graph, reproduced in the Gochamaze website (it is written 17 January 1937 probably by mistake). The advertisement says that the camera can take 14 exposures in 4×4cm size, obviously by mistake. It also gives the following range of speeds: T, B, 1, 2, 5, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 (with no 1/10 speed).
    March and June: advertisements published in Asahi Graph (23 March 1938 and 29 June 1938) reproduced in the Gochamaze website, and advertisement published in Asahi Camera (June 1938) reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 92.
    September: advertisement published in Asahi Camera, whose scans have been observed in an online auction. The range of speeds appears again without 1/10.
  5. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 92.
  6. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 92. The heavily retouched picture seems to show a Vero Four D instead.
  7. ↑ Sugiyama, item 3053, Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 13. Lens no. 364, body number starting with "2".
  8. ↑ Advertisements published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 72, 76 and 77. The December 1940 picture is the same retouched picture of a Vero Four D mentioned above.
  9. ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 1, section 10.
  10. ↑ Christies auction dated 13 January 1994, lot 221. Body no.2529. Lens number reported as no.0771. The example of the AJCC has body no.2x25 and lens no.0838.
  11. ↑ Examples observed: body no.3118 (online auction, lens not original); body no.44xx, lens no.2889 (online auction); body no.4784, lens no.3080 (this page); lens no.3220 (Sugiyama, item 3054); lens no.44xx (McKeown, p.943); body no.6367, lens no.4255 (page at Japan Family Camera); body no.6617, lens no.4513 (online auction).
  12. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943, item 153.
  13. ↑ Advertisements dated October 1943 and May 1944 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 112.

Bibliography

Links

In Japanese:

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