Difference between revisions of "Vest Alex and Vest Olympic"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
(article completed)
(better analysis of the BJPA 1938 ad)
Line 15: Line 15:
  
 
== The Vest Olympic ==
 
== The Vest Olympic ==
−
The '''Vest Olympic''' is based on the Vest Alex with an f/4.5 lens. It is said that it was introduced around 1938.<REF> The 1938 release date is given in ''Ricoh kamera no subete'' by Arimura (p.&nbsp;8) and by Tanaka (p.&nbsp;16). The body is exactly similar to the Vest Alex. One example has been observed with a black accessory shoe added to the right of the viewfinder but this is perhaps not original.<REF> Example pictured in Tanaka, p.&nbsp;16 of ''Ricoh kamera no subete''. A small copy of one of the pictures is also reproduced in [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/best_OPC.html this page] of the [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/ Ricoh official website]. </REF> In the only picture of the back observed so far<REF> In [http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~RD2H-ARI/RI_VEST_OLYMPIC.htm this page] at [http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~RD2H-ARI/ Japan Family Camera]. </REF>, only one red window is visible in the middle, with a pivoting black cover and ''Vest Olympic'' embossed in the leather above. It is currently unexplained how the camera can be dual format and take 3&times;4 exposures with a single red window, except in the most crudest way, only taking eight exposures in 3&times;4 format.
+
The '''Vest Olympic''' is based on the Vest Alex with an f/4.5 lens. It is said that it was introduced around 1938.<REF> The Vest Olympic is briefly mentioned in an advertisement published in the 1938 issue of the British Journal Photographic Almanac. The 1938 release date is also given in ''Ricoh kamera no subete'' by Arimura (p.&nbsp;8) and by Tanaka (p.&nbsp;16). </REF> The body is exactly similar to the Vest Alex. One example has been observed with a black accessory shoe added to the right of the viewfinder but this is perhaps not original.<REF> Example pictured in Tanaka, p.&nbsp;16 of ''Ricoh kamera no subete''. A small copy of one of the pictures is also reproduced in [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/best_OPC.html this page] of the [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/ Ricoh official website]. </REF> In the only picture of the back observed so far<REF> In [http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~RD2H-ARI/RI_VEST_OLYMPIC.htm this page] at [http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~RD2H-ARI/ Japan Family Camera]. </REF>, only one red window is visible in the middle, with a pivoting black cover and ''Vest Olympic'' embossed in the leather above. It is currently unexplained how the camera can be dual format and take 3&times;4 exposures with a single red window, except in the most crudest way, only taking eight exposures in 3&times;4 format.
  
 
The lens of the Vest Olympic is an Ukas Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5 and the shutter is a Fiskus. The speeds are selected by turning the shutter rim, engraved 25, 50, 50, 100, 150, T, B in that order. The shutter plate is marked ''VEST OLYMPIC'' at the top and ''FISKUS'' at the bottom, with an ''AKK'' logo on the right certainly standing for <U>A</U>sahi <U>K</U>ōgaku <U>K</U>ōgyō. The lens and shutter equipment is thus identical to the [[Semi Olympic]].
 
The lens of the Vest Olympic is an Ukas Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5 and the shutter is a Fiskus. The speeds are selected by turning the shutter rim, engraved 25, 50, 50, 100, 150, T, B in that order. The shutter plate is marked ''VEST OLYMPIC'' at the top and ''FISKUS'' at the bottom, with an ''AKK'' logo on the right certainly standing for <U>A</U>sahi <U>K</U>ōgaku <U>K</U>ōgyō. The lens and shutter equipment is thus identical to the [[Semi Olympic]].
Line 27: Line 27:
 
An advertisement published in the 1938 issue of the British Journal Photographic Almanac shows a '''Regal Olympic''' dual format (4&times;6.5 and 3&times;4) camera. This advertisement was inserted by Asahi Bussan, the distributor of the Olympic cameras, that was bought by Riken and reorganized as Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō in 1937. The presence of Asahi Bussan in an advertisement dated 1938 probably reflects more than anything the long delays needed at the time to publish in Great-Britain an advertisement from Japan.
 
An advertisement published in the 1938 issue of the British Journal Photographic Almanac shows a '''Regal Olympic''' dual format (4&times;6.5 and 3&times;4) camera. This advertisement was inserted by Asahi Bussan, the distributor of the Olympic cameras, that was bought by Riken and reorganized as Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō in 1937. The presence of Asahi Bussan in an advertisement dated 1938 probably reflects more than anything the long delays needed at the time to publish in Great-Britain an advertisement from Japan.
  
−
According to the advertising picture, the body of the Regal Olympic is probably metallic and looks similar to the Vest Olympic. The knobs on each end of the top plate are thin and large. The lens and shutter assembly seems to be mounted on a helical pulled out by turning a heavy metal ring, like on the bakelite [[Olympic]] models.
+
According to the advertising picture, the Regal Olympic seems to have a metallic body and to be a modified version of the Vest Olympic, that is also briefly mentioned in the advertisement. The knobs on each end of the top plate are thin and large. The lens and shutter assembly seems to be mounted on a helical pulled out by turning a massive metal ring, like on the bakelite [[Olympic]] models.
  
−
The camera is offered with a Ukas Anastigmat 75mm f:4.5 lens and a shutter announced as "Olympic System". The speed settings are engraved on the speed rim in that order: T, B, 25, 50, 100, 150 (unlike the Fiskus of the Vest Olympic). The shutter plate is marked ''Regal Olympic'' at the top and has an ''AB'' logo on the right, certainly for <U>A</U>sahi <U>B</U>ussan.
+
The camera is offered with a Ukas Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5 lens and a shutter announced as "Olympic System". The speed settings are engraved on the speed rim in that order: T, B, 25, 50, 100, 150 (unlike the Fiskus of the Vest Olympic). The shutter plate is marked ''Regal Olympic'' at the top and has an ''AB'' logo on the right, certainly for <U>A</U>sahi <U>B</U>ussan.
  
−
The Regal Olympic is otherwise unknown. It is suspected to be a prototype version of the Vest Olympic, based on the Vest Alex but modified to insert better in the Olympic range. It is probable that after the absorption by Riken, the mother company did not see the need to modify the design of the Vest Alex further than fitting an f/4.5 lens, thus it sold the Vest Olympic instead.
+
The Regal Olympic is otherwise unknown. It is suspected to be a version of the Vest Olympic, modified with a helical instead of the telescopic tube to fit better in the Olympic range.
 +
 
 +
== Miscellaneous ==
 +
Shutters giving T, B, 1&ndash;250 speeds and f/3.5 lenses were advertised in the 1938 British Photography Journal Almanac as "available on request". None has been observed since.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==

Revision as of 21:49, 18 November 2006

Template:127 Japan The Vest Alex and the Vest Olympic are prewar Japanese cameras taking 4×6.5cm pictures on 127 film, sold from 1936 until maybe 1941 or 1942.[1] The Vest Alex was sold by Misuzu Shōkai between 1936 and 1938[2] and it was replaced by the Vest Olympic sold by Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō. The actual maker of the body is unknown, but the shutter of the Vest Olympic was certainly made by Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō, the dependent company of Riken that was making the bakelite Olympic cameras. The Vest Adler and Regal Olympic are variants about which few is known.

General description

All the models have a metal body and the lens and shutter seembly is mounted on a bright metal telescopic tube. There are tabs on each side of this tube to pull it forward. The tubular finder is in the middle of the top plate and the advance knob is on the left end. The release lever is on the shutter housing and the lens is front cell focusing. The back is hinged to the right and film advance is controlled by red window. Some models (perhaps not all) are dual format and can take 3×4cm exposures.

The Vest Alex

The Vest Alex was introduced first and was sold by Misuzu Shōkai from 1936 to 1938. An advertisement dated March 1936[3] offers the camera for ¥19.50 as a new model and makes no mention of 3×4 exposures. Compared with actual examples observed, the pictured camera has a differently shaped advance knob and lacks the metal film flange on the right end of the top plate. All the actual examples observed have two red lines in the viewfinder delimiting the frame for 3×4 pictures, but they do not seem to be present in the advertising picture.

The lens of the Vest Alex is an Erith[4] Anastigmat 75mm f/6.3.

The shutter is called Complete and gives B, 25, 50, 100 speeds. The shutter plate is marked Vest Alex at the top and COMPLETE at the bottom, with an intricate logo on the right.[5] On some examples[6], the speed is selected by a movable index and the settings are engraved on the shutter plate in the B, 25, 50, 100 order. On others[7], the speed is selected by turning the shutter rim and the settings are engraved in the reverse order on the rim itself.

The Vest Olympic

The Vest Olympic is based on the Vest Alex with an f/4.5 lens. It is said that it was introduced around 1938.[8] The body is exactly similar to the Vest Alex. One example has been observed with a black accessory shoe added to the right of the viewfinder but this is perhaps not original.[9] In the only picture of the back observed so far[10], only one red window is visible in the middle, with a pivoting black cover and Vest Olympic embossed in the leather above. It is currently unexplained how the camera can be dual format and take 3×4 exposures with a single red window, except in the most crudest way, only taking eight exposures in 3×4 format.

The lens of the Vest Olympic is an Ukas Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5 and the shutter is a Fiskus. The speeds are selected by turning the shutter rim, engraved 25, 50, 50, 100, 150, T, B in that order. The shutter plate is marked VEST OLYMPIC at the top and FISKUS at the bottom, with an AKK logo on the right certainly standing for Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō. The lens and shutter equipment is thus identical to the Semi Olympic.

An advertisement dated September 1941[11] offers the camera for ¥42. The advertisement was inserted by Doi Shōten and says that the camera is sold (not necessarily made) by Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō. A catalogue said to be dated 1942 still lists the Vest Olympic for ¥48.[12]

The Vest Adler

A Vest Adler has been reported with a Ukas Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens, a Fiskus shutter and telescopic tube.[13] It is probably a name variant of the Vest Olympic.

The Regal Olympic

An advertisement published in the 1938 issue of the British Journal Photographic Almanac shows a Regal Olympic dual format (4×6.5 and 3×4) camera. This advertisement was inserted by Asahi Bussan, the distributor of the Olympic cameras, that was bought by Riken and reorganized as Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō in 1937. The presence of Asahi Bussan in an advertisement dated 1938 probably reflects more than anything the long delays needed at the time to publish in Great-Britain an advertisement from Japan.

According to the advertising picture, the Regal Olympic seems to have a metallic body and to be a modified version of the Vest Olympic, that is also briefly mentioned in the advertisement. The knobs on each end of the top plate are thin and large. The lens and shutter assembly seems to be mounted on a helical pulled out by turning a massive metal ring, like on the bakelite Olympic models.

The camera is offered with a Ukas Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5 lens and a shutter announced as "Olympic System". The speed settings are engraved on the speed rim in that order: T, B, 25, 50, 100, 150 (unlike the Fiskus of the Vest Olympic). The shutter plate is marked Regal Olympic at the top and has an AB logo on the right, certainly for Asahi Bussan.

The Regal Olympic is otherwise unknown. It is suspected to be a version of the Vest Olympic, modified with a helical instead of the telescopic tube to fit better in the Olympic range.

Miscellaneous

Shutters giving T, B, 1–250 speeds and f/3.5 lenses were advertised in the 1938 British Photography Journal Almanac as "available on request". None has been observed since.

Notes

  1. ↑ Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 334–5 mentions advertisements for the Vest Alex dated 1936 to 1938, and advertisements for the Vest Olympic dated 1941. A catalogue said to be dated 1942 is still listing the Vest Olympic.
  2. ↑ Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 334.
  3. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.&nbsp:59.
  4. ↑ McKeown, p. 692, says Efith but it is a typo or a misreading. The advertisement read エリス (erisu).
  5. ↑ The logo has certainly fallen off in the example pictured in McKeown, p. 692.
  6. ↑ Example pictured in the March 1936 advertisement cited above and example pictured in McKeown, p. 692.
  7. ↑ Example pictured in this page of the AJCC and lens and shutter assembly observed for sale at a Chinese dealer.
  8. ↑ The Vest Olympic is briefly mentioned in an advertisement published in the 1938 issue of the British Journal Photographic Almanac. The 1938 release date is also given in Ricoh kamera no subete by Arimura (p. 8) and by Tanaka (p. 16).
  9. ↑ Example pictured in Tanaka, p. 16 of Ricoh kamera no subete. A small copy of one of the pictures is also reproduced in this page of the Ricoh official website.
  10. ↑ In this page at Japan Family Camera.
  11. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera and mistakenly giving a 50mm focal length, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 64.
  12. ↑ Catalogue of Gold Camera Kōgyō-sho observed in a Yahoo Japan auction.
  13. ↑ Camera reported for sale at a dealer.

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 16 and 51.
  • 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. 692 and 747.
  • Ricoh kamera no subete (リコーカメラのすべて, "All that of Ricoh cameras"), issue no. 14 (1 October 1989) of Classic Camera Senka (クラシックカメラ専科). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama. Including the following articles:
    • Arimura Katsumi (有村克巳). Ricoh Ryakushi (リコー略史, Ricoh short history). Pp. 6–7.
    • Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). Ricoh kamera no nagare (リコーカメラの流れ, Evolution of the Ricoh cameras). Pp. 8–11.
    • Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). Senzen no kamera 1- Olympic (戦前のカメラ1・オリンピック, Prewar cameras 1- Olympic). Pp. 12–16.
  • The British Journal Photographic Almanac 1938, edited by Arthur J. Dalladay, published by Henri Greenwood & Co., Ltd., London. Advertisement on pp. 694–5.

Links

In Japanese:

Retrieved from "http://camera-wiki.org/index.php?title=Vest_Alex_and_Vest_Olympic&oldid=75239"