Difference between revisions of "Well Standard"
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== Well Super == | == Well Super == | ||
{{Japanese Semi}} | {{Japanese Semi}} | ||
| − | The '''Well Super''' (ウエルスーパー) | + | The '''Well Super''' (ウエルスーパー) takes 4.5×6cm pictures on [[120 film]]. It looks similar to the Well Standard, except that it is a little higher and that the top housing extends somewhat under the fake rewind knob. The front of the top housing is marked ''ウエル'' ("Well" in ''katakana'' writing). The marking above the top housing reads ''WELL SUPER'', ''4.5x6'' and something else, maybe an ''NKK'' logo<REF> Example observed in a Yahoo Japan auction. </REF>. The advance knob has the same shape as the Well Standard, with the same crude exposure counter. There is one red window at the bottom of the back, protected by a horizontally sliding cover. |
| − | Three models were advertised, all with a Well Anastigmat lens, focal unknown: | + | The Well Super appears on a wartime advertisement (published at [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/nostalgic_camera.html this page]). Three models were advertised, all with a Well Anastigmat lens, focal unknown: |
* '''Well Super I''', with 4.5 lens and T, B, 25–150 shutter (¥88) | * '''Well Super I''', with 4.5 lens and T, B, 25–150 shutter (¥88) | ||
* '''Well Super II''', with 4.5 lens and T, B, 1–300 shutter (¥111), probably the model observed, with the shutter rim marked ''SUPER-WELL'' | * '''Well Super II''', with 4.5 lens and T, B, 1–300 shutter (¥111), probably the model observed, with the shutter rim marked ''SUPER-WELL'' | ||
Revision as of 20:24, 28 July 2006
The Well are Japanese cameras made by Nihon Kōki between 1939 and 1942 and distributed by Misuzu Shōkai.
Well Standard
Template:127 Japan The Well Standard (ウエルスタンダード) takes ten 4×5cm pictures on 127 film. It was made between 1939 and 1942. At the beginning, between 1939 and 1941, it was only called Well (ウエル).
It was meant to imitate the luxury 35mm rangefinder it was not. It only has a direct vision finder and a brilliant finder, one on each side of the top housing, thus showing two windows like a rangefinder. There is an accessory shoe between the two finders.
To confuse you even more, it has two knobs, at each end of the top plate. The right knob is a real one, and is used to advance the film. The left one is a fake rewind knob, because 127 film does not need to be rewound.
Under the advance knob is what looks like an exposure counter. In fact it is just another fake, an exposure counter of the crudest type: numbers engraved in the rotating knob. It is not possible to use the traditional red window advance because the 127 film paperback is not marked for this unusual 4×5cm format. A serious maker would have made an automatic stop advance device, that equips almost all other Japanese 4×4cm and 4×5cm cameras of the time. But not Nihon Kōki: to advance one exposue, you have to manually stop turning when the correct number is facing an index. There is just one red window, at the back's extreme left, for the first exposure. Irregular spacing is probably frequent.
The lens and shutter housing are mounted on a telescopic tube. The Well is offered in 1940[1] with a Well Anastigmat f:4.5 lens and a shutter providing T, B, 25, 50, 100, 150 speeds, for ¥60. From 1941 the Well Standard is offered in three variants:
- Model I, with f:3.5 lens and a Well Rapid shutter (with selftimer, speeds said to be T, B, 1–500[2]), for ¥129;
- Model II, with f:4.5 lens and T, B, 25, 50, 100, 150 shutter, for ¥71;
- Model III, with f:3.5 lens and T, B, 25, 50, 100, 150 shutter, for ¥94.
The camera has been observed with a Well Anastigmat 65mm f:4.5 lens (black lens bezel) and a shutter giving T, B, 150, 100, 50, 25 speeds, engraved Well Standard, MODEL 1 and N.K.K. on the top housing.[3] This engraving seems contradictory with the advertised model numbers.
It has been reported with a Well Anastigmat 60/3.5 lens (but the focal length seems dubious) and a Well Rapid 1–500 shutter.[4] It is pictured in McKeown with a Well Anastigmat 65mm f:3.5 lens (white lens bezel) and a T, B, 1–500 shutter. The shutter rim has a marking that begins with WELL (maybe "WELL RAPID"), and the top housing is either unmarked or the marking has been erased.
Well Super
The Well Super (ウエルスーパー) takes 4.5×6cm pictures on 120 film. It looks similar to the Well Standard, except that it is a little higher and that the top housing extends somewhat under the fake rewind knob. The front of the top housing is marked ウエル ("Well" in katakana writing). The marking above the top housing reads WELL SUPER, 4.5x6 and something else, maybe an NKK logo[5]. The advance knob has the same shape as the Well Standard, with the same crude exposure counter. There is one red window at the bottom of the back, protected by a horizontally sliding cover.
The Well Super appears on a wartime advertisement (published at this page). Three models were advertised, all with a Well Anastigmat lens, focal unknown:
- Well Super I, with 4.5 lens and T, B, 25–150 shutter (¥88)
- Well Super II, with 4.5 lens and T, B, 1–300 shutter (¥111), probably the model observed, with the shutter rim marked SUPER-WELL
- Well Super IIB, with 3.5 lens and T, B, 1–300 shutter (¥129)
The case was sold for an extra ¥8.35. There was a short mention of the Well Standard in the ad. The only company name mentioned was Misuzu Shōkai, surely the distributor's name. There was no mention of Nihon Kōki.
Notes
- ↑ Advertisement for the Well, published in the April 1940 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 25.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 334.
- ↑ Sold by a Japanese dealer, the same variant pictured in this page of the Asacame website.
- ↑ Reported by a Russian dealer.
- ↑ Example observed in a Yahoo Japan auction.
Printed 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 25–7.
- 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). P. 721.
