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{{Japanese Baby and Four}}
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{{Japanese Baby and Four
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|image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/3980344912/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/3980344912_32cf32e8ec_m_d.jpg]<br>''Picture courtesy of Bruce Benedict. {{with permission}}''
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The '''Kinsi''' (キンシ) is a 3×4 strut folding camera, made by Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō (now [[Ricoh]]) from 1941 to c.1943.<REF> Made by Riken: {{Inquiry1943_short}}, item 165. [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/kinsi.html This page] of the Ricoh official website says otherwise, certainly by mistake. </REF> It was produced in Riken's Ōji plant.<REF> Arimura, p.6 of {{KKS}} no.14. </REF>
 
The '''Kinsi''' (キンシ) is a 3×4 strut folding camera, made by Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō (now [[Ricoh]]) from 1941 to c.1943.<REF> Made by Riken: {{Inquiry1943_short}}, item 165. [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/cameralist/kinsi.html This page] of the Ricoh official website says otherwise, certainly by mistake. </REF> It was produced in Riken's Ōji plant.<REF> Arimura, p.6 of {{KKS}} no.14. </REF>
   
''The New Olympic II (a 4.5×6 bakelite camera) also has ''Kinsi'' engravings, see [[Semi Olympic]].''
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''See also the [[Semi Olympic|Semi Kinsi]], a 4.5×6 bakelite camera, variant of the New Olympic II.''
   
 
== Name ==
 
== Name ==
The name Kinsi (pronounced ''kinshi'') can be written 金鵄, then meaning "golden kite".<REF> [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera_lib/column/war-camera.html This page] of the Ricoh official website gives the word 金鴉 (read ''kina''), certainly by mistake. </REF> {{SUG}} says that the name comes from the ''Kinshi kunshō'' (金鵄勲章) or "Order of the Golden Kite", a Japanese military award.<REF> {{SUG}}, p.11. For a description of the military award, see [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%91%E9%B5%84%E5%8B%B2%E7%AB%A0 this Japanese Wikipedia page] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Golden_Kite this English Wikipedia page]. </REF> Riken used many such "patriotic" names at the time.<REF> See [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera_lib/column/war-camera.html this article] of the Ricoh official website. </REF> In all the advertisements observed, the name is written in ''katakana'': キンシ. On the camera itself, it is written "Kinsi".<REF> The camera is called "Baby Kinshi" by mistake in {{SUG}}, item 1076 and in {{MK}}, p.828. </REF>
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The name Kinsi (pronounced ''kinshi'') can be written 金鵄, then meaning "golden kite".<REF> [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera_lib/column/war-camera.html This page] of the Ricoh official website gives the word 金鴉 (read ''kin'a''), certainly by mistake. </REF> {{SUG}} says that the name comes from the ''Kinshi kunshō'' (金鵄勲章) or "Order of the Golden Kite", a Japanese military award.<REF> {{SUG}}, p.11. For a description of the military award, see [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%91%E9%B5%84%E5%8B%B2%E7%AB%A0 this Japanese Wikipedia page] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Golden_Kite this English Wikipedia page]. </REF> Riken used many such "patriotic" names at the time.<REF> See [http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera_lib/column/war-camera.html this article] of the Ricoh official website. </REF> In all the advertisements observed, the name is written in ''katakana'': キンシ. On the camera itself, it is written "Kinsi".<REF> The camera is called "Baby Kinshi" by mistake in {{SUG}}, item 1076 and in {{MK}}, p.828. </REF>
   
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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== Advertisements and other documents ==
 
== Advertisements and other documents ==
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The Kinsi was announced in advertisements for the [[Olympic|Olympic Four]] dated March and April 1940, together with the [[Gaica]] and [[Roico]].<REF> Advertisement in {{ACA}} March 1940, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.104, and advertisement in {{ACA}} April 1940, p.A86, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.64. </REF> In these documents, the camera is only announced for future release (予告); no price is indicated and no picture is provided.
The Kinsi was announced in advertisements for the [[Olympic|Olympic Four]] dated March and April 1940, together with the [[Gaica]] and [[Roico]].<REF> Advertisements published in {{ACA}}, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.64 and 104. </REF> The camera was listed in the list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, under the name "Kinsi I" (¥48).<REF> {{Kakaku0141_short}}, type 1, section 4B. </REF> It was pictured in advertisements dated January and February 1941 for the Riken camera range, with no further detail.<REF> [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/Ri1.jpg Advertisement] published in ''[[Gakusei no Kagaku]]'' January 1941 and [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/Ri2.jpg advertisement] published in ''[[Gakusei no Kagaku]]'' February 1941, reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. </REF> It was described as the '''Kinsi I''' (キンシⅠ型) in advertisements dated February and April 1941, where it was offered for {{yen|48|1941}}.<REF> Advertisement in {{ACA}} February 1941, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.104; [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/R6.jpg advertisement] in ''[[Gakusei no Kagaku]]'' April 1941, reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. </REF> In advertisements dated March, October and November 1942, the description was identical but the price was {{yen|56.80|1942}}.<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Shashin Bunka]]'' March 1942, reproduced in Tanaka, p.10 of {{KKS}} no.14. Advertisement published in ''[[Shashin Bunka]]'' October 1942, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.58. [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki6.jpg Advertisement] published in ''[[Asahi Graph]]'' 18 November 1942, reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. </REF>
 
   
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
The camera was still described in the {{Inquiry1943_short}}, listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943, under the name "Kinsi I" again.<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, item 165. </REF> There is no record of a Kinsi II.
 
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/5026670030/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/5026670030_2270f52fc4.jpg]
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|-
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|| ''Advertisement by [[Ricoh|Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō]] in {{ACA}} April 1940.<br>The Kinsi is mentioned among other future cameras. {{public domain Japan old}}''
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|}
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The camera appears in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and in January 1941, under the name "Kinsi I" (¥48).<REF> {{Kakaku0141_short}}, type 1, section 4B. </REF> Pictures of the Kinsi are displayed in advertisements dated January and February 1941 for the Riken camera range, with no further detail.<REF> [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/Ri1.jpg Advertisement] in ''[[Gakusei no Kagaku]]'' January 1941 and [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/Ri2.jpg advertisement] in ''[[Gakusei no Kagaku]]'' February 1941, reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. </REF>
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/5025392447/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5025392447_a83dea0567.jpg]
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|-
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|| ''Advertisement by [[Doi|Doi Shōten]] in {{ACA}} April 1941.<br>The Kinsi I appears at the top. {{public domain Japan old}}''
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|}
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In advertisements dated February and April 1941, the camera is described as '''Kinsi I''' (キンシⅠ型), and offered for {{yen|48|1941}} (case ¥5.70 extra).<REF> Advertisement in {{ACA}} February 1941, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.104; advertisement in {{ACA}} April 1941, p.509; [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/R6.jpg advertisement] in ''[[Gakusei no Kagaku]]'' April 1941, reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. </REF> Advertisements dated March, October and November 1942, show the higher price of {{yen|56.80|1942}}.<REF> Advertisement in {{SB}} March 1942, reproduced in Tanaka, p.10 of {{KKS}} no.14; advertisement in {{SB}} October 1942, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.58; [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki6.jpg advertisement] in ''[[Asahi Graph]]'', 18 November 1942, reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. </REF>
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The camera still appears in the April 1943 government inquiry on Japanese camera production, again under the name "Kinsi I".<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, item 165. </REF> There is no record of a Kinsi II.
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== Pictures ==
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/3979586893/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3446/3979586893_04a98a8db7_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/3979585865/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2558/3979585865_786cfda20a_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/3979586407/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2630/3979586407_5e2335f109_m_d.jpg]
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|-
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/3979586743/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/3979586743_91f14d953d_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/3980345804/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2614/3980345804_f3db1df9ec_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/3980345162/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2619/3980345162_95942e092b_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/3979586209/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/3979586209_7318178bff_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/3980345392/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2648/3980345392_cbafdedc31_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/3980325844/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2474/3980325844_e85d745c9a_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/3980325644/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2437/3980325644_c296025903_t_d.jpg]
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|-
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|| ''Kinsi I, Kinsi Anastigmat 5cm f/4.5 lens no.15662.<br>Pictures courtesy of Bruce Benedict. {{with permission}}''
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|}
   
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
  +
=== Original documents ===
  +
* {{ACA}}. Advertisement by [[Ricoh|Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō]] in April 1940, p.A86.
  +
* {{ACA}}. Advertisement by [[Doi|Doi Shōten]] in April 1941, p.509.
 
* {{Inquiry1943}} Item 165.
 
* {{Kakaku0141}} Type 1, section 4B.
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  +
=== Recent sources ===
 
* Arimura Katsumi (有村克巳). "Rikō Ryakushi" (リコー略史, Ricoh short history). {{KKS014}} Pp.6–7.
 
* Arimura Katsumi (有村克巳). "Rikō Ryakushi" (リコー略史, Ricoh short history). {{KKS014}} Pp.6–7.
 
* {{Showa10}} Item 70. (See also the advertisements for items 47 and 323–4.)
 
* {{Showa10}} Item 70. (See also the advertisements for items 47 and 323–4.)
 
* Fujishima Kōichi (藤島広一). "Shattā ni yoru nendai shibetsu" (シャッターによる年代識別, Dating a camera from its shutter). {{KKS008}} Pp.21–4. (Contains a picture of a Kinsi but no other detail.)
 
* Fujishima Kōichi (藤島広一). "Shattā ni yoru nendai shibetsu" (シャッターによる年代識別, Dating a camera from its shutter). {{KKS008}} Pp.21–4. (Contains a picture of a Kinsi but no other detail.)
* {{Inquiry1943}} Item 165.
 
* {{Kakaku0141}} Type 1, section 4B.
 
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.828.
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.828.
 
* ''Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten'' (思い出のスプリングカメラ展, Exhibition of beloved self-erecting cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P.25.
 
* ''Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten'' (思い出のスプリングカメラ展, Exhibition of beloved self-erecting cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P.25.

Latest revision as of 13:47, 17 August 2014

Japanese Baby (3×4) and Four (4×4) (edit)
folding
3×4 Baby Balnet | Doris | Baby Doris | Baby Germa | Kinsi | Baby Leotax | Loren | Baby Lyra | Baby Pearl | Baby Pilot | Baby Rosen | Baby Suzuka | Walz
4×4 Adler Four | Rosen Four
rigid or collapsible
3×4 Baika | Baby Chrome | Comet | Cyclon | Gelto | Baby Germa | Gokoku | Hamond | Baby Hawk | Kinka Lucky | Lausar | Light | Baby Light | Molby | Mulber | Olympic | Baby Ōso | Peacock | Picny | Ricohl | Rorox | Shinko Baby | Slick | Baby Sport | Tsubasa Arawashi | Baby Uirus | Zessan
3.5×4 Kenko 35
4×4 Alma Four | Andes Four | Anny 44 | Arsen | Balnet Four | Bonny Four | Freude | Kalimar 44 | Auto Keef | Kraft | Letix | Mykey-4 | Olympic Four | Roico | Royal Senior | Seica | Terra Junior | Vero Four | Welmy 44 | Yashica Future 127
unknown
Baby First | Baby Lyra Flex
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo models ->
Japanese 4×5 and 4×6.5, 4.5×6, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

The Kinsi (キンシ) is a 3×4 strut folding camera, made by Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō (now Ricoh) from 1941 to c.1943.[1] It was produced in Riken's Ōji plant.[2]

See also the Semi Kinsi, a 4.5×6 bakelite camera, variant of the New Olympic II.

Name[]

The name Kinsi (pronounced kinshi) can be written 金鵄, then meaning "golden kite".[3] Sugiyama says that the name comes from the Kinshi kunshō (金鵄勲章) or "Order of the Golden Kite", a Japanese military award.[4] Riken used many such "patriotic" names at the time.[5] In all the advertisements observed, the name is written in katakana: キンシ. On the camera itself, it is written "Kinsi".[6]

Description[]

The Kinsi is a strut folding camera, inspired by the Dolly 3×4 camera made by the German company Certo.[7] The camera has a folding optical finder in the middle of the top plate, and the advance knob is on the left, as seen by the photographer. The front standard is opened by a button on the right of the viewfinder, easily confused for a shutter release. There is a folding leg, allowing the camera to stand vertically on a table. The name Kinsi is embossed in the front leather. The back is hinged to the left and retained by a sliding button on the right. It contains two uncovered red windows to control the film advance.

The shutter is an everset Licht, made by Seikōsha, providing 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds. This variant of the Licht shutter has a thread and needle release device (a crude replacement for a self-timer). The lens is a front-cell focusing Kinsi Anastigmat 5cm f/4.5. It has three elements and was made by Riken.[8] Lens numbers are known with five digits; they are mostly in the 10xxx to 16xxx range, but at least one example perhaps has a number in the 20xxx range.[9]

Advertisements and other documents[]

The Kinsi was announced in advertisements for the Olympic Four dated March and April 1940, together with the Gaica and Roico.[10] In these documents, the camera is only announced for future release (予告); no price is indicated and no picture is provided.

The camera appears in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and in January 1941, under the name "Kinsi I" (¥48).[11] Pictures of the Kinsi are displayed in advertisements dated January and February 1941 for the Riken camera range, with no further detail.[12]

In advertisements dated February and April 1941, the camera is described as Kinsi I (キンシⅠ型), and offered for ¥48 (case ¥5.70 extra).[13] Advertisements dated March, October and November 1942, show the higher price of ¥56.80.[14]

The camera still appears in the April 1943 government inquiry on Japanese camera production, again under the name "Kinsi I".[15] There is no record of a Kinsi II.

Pictures[]

Notes[]

  1. Made by Riken: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), item 165. This page of the Ricoh official website says otherwise, certainly by mistake.
  2. Arimura, p.6 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.14.
  3. This page of the Ricoh official website gives the word 金鴉 (read kin'a), certainly by mistake.
  4. Sugiyama, p.11. For a description of the military award, see this Japanese Wikipedia page and this English Wikipedia page.
  5. See this article of the Ricoh official website.
  6. The camera is called "Baby Kinshi" by mistake in Sugiyama, item 1076 and in McKeown, p.828.
  7. This page of the Ricoh official website says that the Kinsi was a copy of the Zeh Goldi, that is obviously not true, the Goldi being of the folding bed type. Tanaka, p.18 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.14 and this page at Asacame say that it is a copy of the Dolly.
  8. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Jc11.
  9. Examples observed in online auctions, and in the links and printed sources listed below.
  10. Advertisement in Asahi Camera March 1940, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.104, and advertisement in Asahi Camera April 1940, p.A86, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.64.
  11. "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku", type 1, section 4B.
  12. Advertisement in Gakusei no Kagaku January 1941 and advertisement in Gakusei no Kagaku February 1941, reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
  13. Advertisement in Asahi Camera February 1941, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.104; advertisement in Asahi Camera April 1941, p.509; advertisement in Gakusei no Kagaku April 1941, reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
  14. Advertisement in Shashin Bunka March 1942, reproduced in Tanaka, p.10 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.14; advertisement in Shashin Bunka October 1942, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.58; advertisement in Asahi Graph, 18 November 1942, reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
  15. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), item 165.

Bibliography[]

Original documents[]

Recent sources[]

Links[]

In Japanese:


Asahi Bussan and Riken prewar and wartime cameras (edit)
rigid or collapsible
Vest Adler | Gokoku | Semi Kinsi | Letix | Olympic | New Olympic | Regal Olympic | Semi Olympic | Super Olympic | Vest Olympic | Riken No.1 | Ricohl | Roico | Seica | Zessan
folders pseudo TLR TLR
Semi Adler | Adler III | Adler A | Adler B | Adler C | Adler Four | Adler Six | Gaica | Heil | Kinsi Chukon Ref Ricohflex | Ricohflex B