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Scott
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 08:02 am: | 
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This is not a question. I'm just curious, and would be interested to know more about a type of camera I have, which seems to be fairly unusual. Let me know if you know something.
It's a Ward 35, apparently from the mid 1950s, and made in Japan. What seems odd is that the manual says that's got a 4 element lens. It's focused by turning the front lens element. AFAIK, the only similar lens I have is on my Vito II (Skopar). How common were 4 element, front element-focusing lenses in consumer-grade Japanese cameras in the 1950s?
I admit to having quite a few of the cheaper Japanese cameras from the early-to-mid 1950s with 3-element lenses (before the better lenses became common in the cameras made by Walz, Taron, Graflex, Aires, Konica, etc. in the late 1950s), and I use them regularly. But this one seems to be considerably more solid and well-built than any of the others. It's got lever wind, a extra-large viewfinder, no RF, speeds to 300, "F.C. Ward 1:2.8 f=45mm" lens, and no other markings or names that would identify the manufacturer. Google search yields no clues. Feels like a great camera, so why so uncommon? |
Curt Saxton
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 08:15 pm: |
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Hi Scott,
Just did a fast search for Wards 35 camera and from both your description and the results I found, I'm guessing (especially since I have one in my hand) that your Wards 35 is probably a re-badged Franka Super-Frankarette. Mine has an ISCO-GOTTINGEN 45mm f2.8, no RF, speeds to 1/300, and front element focus. Also extra large, uncoupled finder and lever wind. Hope this helps.
Curt in Canada |
Scott
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 11:16 pm: |
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Well, I'm supposing that the Wards 35 was made to compete with the better amateur-class German cameras of the time (as opposed to the cheaper-class of German cameras made by Balda, Agfa, Iloca, and Kodak, etc, with 3-element lenses). Judging from the features, including the 4 element lens, it looks like the Ward was probably made to compete with the Vito series with Skopar lenses. I think Ward, like Sears, also sold German cameras, but this one I have is definitely Japanese. I think the Franka cameras were German, weren't they? |
JIM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 06:44 pm: |
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Scott-
A tour through McKeown's guide 2005-06 yields the following info. Wards 35 c.1956 similar to Taiyo-do Beauty 35I c.1956. From 1958 on the name was changed to Beauty Camera Co.
JIM |
Scott
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 07:57 am: |
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That makes sense. So Montgomery Ward was selling cameras made by Taiyo-do. I have a Wardflex TLR that looks identical to pictures of a Beautyflex.
BTW, the Wardflex is the first TLR I've used, and I've gotten some really nice, sharp, and contrasty prints using it. |
JIM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 07:59 pm: |
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Scott-
Wards was selling some cameras made by Taiyo-do
and a number made by other mfg. If your twin lens is metal it's Taiyo-do. If it's plastic it's an Argoflex E. What Wards sold at various times is harder to ID than what Sears sold. If it works well who cares. Part of the fun of the old stuff.
JIM |
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