Difference between revisions of "Weha Six"
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| − | The '''Weha Six''' (ウエハーシックス) is a Japanese 6×6 folding camera. It was distributed by [[Yamamoto Shashinki-ten]] | + | The '''Weha Six''' (ウエハーシックス) is a Japanese 6×6 folding camera. It was made by [[Ehira]] and distributed by [[Yamamoto Shashinki-ten]] from 1938 to about 1943.<REF> Made by Ehira: {{Inquiry1943_short}}, item 197. Dates: advertisements and articles listed in {{Kokusan}}, p. 334, and mention in the 1943 {{Inquiry1943_short}}. </REF> |
== General description == | == General description == | ||
| − | The Weha Six is a horizontal folder. It has rounded body edges and folding struts inspired by the [[Balda]] products. The advance knob is at the top right and the back is hinged to the left. The tubular optical finder is in the middle of the top plate. | + | The Weha Six is a horizontal folder. It has rounded body edges and folding struts inspired by the [[Balda]] products. The advance knob is at the top right and the back is hinged to the left. The tubular optical finder is in the middle of the top plate. There is a body release on the left and a smaller folding bed release button on the right. |
== Advertising == | == Advertising == | ||
| − | The Weha Six was released in early 1938.<REF> The earliest advertisement listed in {{Kokusan}}, p. 334, is dated January 1938. </REF> | + | The Weha Six was released in early 1938.<REF> The earliest advertisement listed in {{Kokusan}}, p. 334, is dated January 1938. </REF> An advertisement dated June 1938 listed three lens and shutter combinations:<REF> [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/j.jpg Advertisement] published in the 8 June 1938 issue of ''[[Asahi Graph]],'' reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. </REF> |
| − | |||
| − | An advertisement dated June 1938<REF> [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/j.jpg Advertisement] published in the 8 June 1938 issue of ''Asahi Graph,'' reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. </REF> | ||
* Lidex C shutter, Weha Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens ({{yen|53|1938}}); | * Lidex C shutter, Weha Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens ({{yen|53|1938}}); | ||
* [[Prontor II]] shutter, body release, Weha Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens ({{yen|85|1938}}); | * [[Prontor II]] shutter, body release, Weha Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens ({{yen|85|1938}}); | ||
| Line 14: | Line 12: | ||
The Lidex shutter has the same name as the first shutter made by [[Molta|Minolta]] at the beginning of the 1930s, it is not known if it is related. | The Lidex shutter has the same name as the first shutter made by [[Molta|Minolta]] at the beginning of the 1930s, it is not known if it is related. | ||
| − | An advertisement dated April 1939<REF> Advertisement published in ''Asahi Camera,'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 59. </REF> | + | An advertisement dated April 1939 listed similar combinations:<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 59. </REF> |
* '''Weha Six I''' (Ⅰ型): "C shutter", f/4.5 lens ({{yen|53|1939}}); | * '''Weha Six I''' (Ⅰ型): "C shutter", f/4.5 lens ({{yen|53|1939}}); | ||
* '''Weha Six II''' (Ⅱ型): [[Prontor II]] shutter, f/4.5 lens ({{yen|95|1939}}); | * '''Weha Six II''' (Ⅱ型): [[Prontor II]] shutter, f/4.5 lens ({{yen|95|1939}}); | ||
* '''Weha Six II''': [[Prontor II]] shutter, f/3.5 lens ({{yen|105|1939}}). | * '''Weha Six II''': [[Prontor II]] shutter, f/3.5 lens ({{yen|105|1939}}). | ||
| + | The fact that the name Weha Six II applies to two different versions perhaps indicates that the models I and II differ by the body features. In both advertisements observed, the picture is the same and shows a Prontor II shutter and a manual parallax-correcting device placed under the tubular finder, similar to the device mounted on some [[Balda]] cameras. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Weha Six I and Weha Six II were listed in the {{Kakaku1940_short}}, compiled on October 25, 1940 and published in January 1941, for ¥94 and ¥110 respectively.<REF> {{Kakaku1940_short}}, type 4, sections 4 and 6A. </REF> | ||
| + | |||
| + | They were still mentioned in the {{Inquiry1943_short}}, listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943.<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, items 92 and 197. The Weha Six is mentioned as made of bakelite and the Weha Six II as made of steel; this is obviously a mistake. </REF> In this document, the Weha Six is said to have a Weha 75/4.5 three-element lens made by [[Takemoto]]<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item Lc22. </REF> and a Wester II shutter (T, B, 1–200, self-timer) made by [[Nishida]], whereas the Weha Six II is said to have a Weha 75/3.5 three-element lens and a Kōki T.T.S.H. shutter giving T, B, 1–400 speeds and made by [[Ehira]].<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, shutter item 24-R-2. The reproduction of the document reads "T.T.S.R." by mistake and actual examples have the marking "T.T.S.H." </REF> | ||
== Actual examples == | == Actual examples == | ||
| Line 27: | Line 30: | ||
== Bibliography == | == Bibliography == | ||
* {{Showa10}} Item 20. | * {{Showa10}} Item 20. | ||
| + | * {{Inquiry1943}} Items 92 and 197. | ||
| + | * {{Kakaku1940}} | ||
* {{Zukan}} Items 1266–7. | * {{Zukan}} Items 1266–7. | ||
Revision as of 23:00, 16 March 2007
The Weha Six (ウエハーシックス) is a Japanese 6×6 folding camera. It was made by Ehira and distributed by Yamamoto Shashinki-ten from 1938 to about 1943.[1]
General description
The Weha Six is a horizontal folder. It has rounded body edges and folding struts inspired by the Balda products. The advance knob is at the top right and the back is hinged to the left. The tubular optical finder is in the middle of the top plate. There is a body release on the left and a smaller folding bed release button on the right.
Advertising
The Weha Six was released in early 1938.[2] An advertisement dated June 1938 listed three lens and shutter combinations:[3]
- Lidex C shutter, Weha Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens (¥53);
- Prontor II shutter, body release, Weha Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens (¥85);
- Prontor II shutter, body release, Weha Anastigmat 75/3.5 lens (¥95).
The Lidex shutter has the same name as the first shutter made by Minolta at the beginning of the 1930s, it is not known if it is related.
An advertisement dated April 1939 listed similar combinations:[4]
- Weha Six I (Ⅰ型): "C shutter", f/4.5 lens (¥53);
- Weha Six II (Ⅱ型): Prontor II shutter, f/4.5 lens (¥95);
- Weha Six II: Prontor II shutter, f/3.5 lens (¥105).
The fact that the name Weha Six II applies to two different versions perhaps indicates that the models I and II differ by the body features. In both advertisements observed, the picture is the same and shows a Prontor II shutter and a manual parallax-correcting device placed under the tubular finder, similar to the device mounted on some Balda cameras.
The Weha Six I and Weha Six II were listed in the Template:Kakaku1940 short, compiled on October 25, 1940 and published in January 1941, for ¥94 and ¥110 respectively.[5]
They were still mentioned in the "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943.[6] In this document, the Weha Six is said to have a Weha 75/4.5 three-element lens made by Takemoto[7] and a Wester II shutter (T, B, 1–200, self-timer) made by Nishida, whereas the Weha Six II is said to have a Weha 75/3.5 three-element lens and a Kōki T.T.S.H. shutter giving T, B, 1–400 speeds and made by Ehira.[8]
Actual examples
Three actual examples have been observed so far, all with a body release. One has the parallax correcting finder, an Orion Anastigmat 7.5cm f/4.5 lens and a shutter giving T, B, 5–200 speeds, marked Mars Tokyo at the top and Lex at the bottom.[9] The other two have a larger finder with no parallax compensation, a Weha Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens and a shutter giving 400–1, B, T speeds, marked Kōki T.T.S.H. at the top and probably Patents pending at the bottom.[10]
Notes
- ↑ Made by Ehira: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), item 197. Dates: advertisements and articles listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 334, and mention in the 1943 "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras").
- ↑ The earliest advertisement listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 334, is dated January 1938.
- ↑ Advertisement published in the 8 June 1938 issue of Asahi Graph, reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 59.
- ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 4, sections 4 and 6A.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), items 92 and 197. The Weha Six is mentioned as made of bakelite and the Weha Six II as made of steel; this is obviously a mistake.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lc22.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), shutter item 24-R-2. The reproduction of the document reads "T.T.S.R." by mistake and actual examples have the marking "T.T.S.H."
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 1266.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 1267, and 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. Item 20.
- "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced in Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp.180–7. Items 92 and 197.
- Template:Kakaku1940
- 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 1266–7.
Links
In Japanese:
- Advertisement for the Weha Six and other cameras published in the 8 June 1938 issue of Asahi Graph, reproduced in the camera company page of the Gochamaze website
