Difference between revisions of "Weha Six"

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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.
 
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.
  
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== Advertising ==
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== Advertisements and other documents ==
 
The Weha Six was released in early 1938.<REF> The earliest advertisement listed in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;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>
 
The Weha Six was released in early 1938.<REF> The earliest advertisement listed in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;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>
 
* Lidex C shutter, Weha Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens ({{yen|53|1938}});
 
* Lidex C shutter, Weha Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens ({{yen|53|1938}});
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* '''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}});
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* '''Weha Six II''': [[Prontor II]] shutter, f/3.5 lens ({{yen|105|1939}}).
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* '''Weha Six II''' (Ⅱ型): [[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 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.
  

Revision as of 11:01, 19 March 2007

Japanese Six (6×6)
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
folding
Adler Six | Bonny Six | Clover-Six | Condor Six | First Six | Gelto Six | Gotex | Green | Lyra Six | Super Makinet Six | Mamiya Six | Miyako Six | Mulber Six | Mulix | National Six | Neure Six | Oko Six | Olympus Six | Pilot Six | Romax | Ugein | Vester-Six | Victor Six | Weha Six
collapsible
Ehira Chrome Six | Minolta Six | Shinko Super | Weha Chrome Six
unknown
Freude Six | Heart Camera | Konter Six | Tsubasa Six
Postwar models ->
Japanese 6×6 TLR, pseudo TLR and medium format SLR ->
Japanese Semi (4.5×6) and older 6×9 ->

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.

Advertisements and other documents

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 (Ⅱ型): 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, the Weha Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens and the Kōki T.T.S.H. shutter. The speed settings are engraved in the fixed part of the shutter plate, in decreasing order 400–1, B, T. The shutter plate is marked Kōki T.T.S.H. at the top and probably Patents pending at the bottom.[10]

Notes

  1. ↑ 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").
  2. ↑ The earliest advertisement listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 334, is dated January 1938.
  3. ↑ Advertisement published in the 8 June 1938 issue of Asahi Graph, reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
  4. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 59.
  5. ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 4, sections 4 and 6A.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lc22.
  8. ↑ "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."
  9. ↑ Sugiyama, item 1266.
  10. ↑ Sugiyama, item 1267, and example observed in an online auction.

Bibliography

Links

In Japanese:

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