Minolta Six

[farlymac]

I got this a little while back while perusing a new to me antique store.

Introduced in November of 1936, the Minolta Six is a 6x6 format plastic bodied camera with collapsible tubes for mounting the lens/shutter assembly, instead of a bellows.

Minolta Six Front Open by P F McFarland, on Flickr

Minolta Six Side Open by P F McFarland, on Flickr


It has a Coronar Anastigmat Nippon 1:4.5 80mm lens, in a Crown B everset shutter.

Minolta Six Front Closed by P F McFarland, on Flickr


At the time of its introduction, film with 6x6 markings on the backing paper was not available, so you had to use the 6x9 markings. This required the use of three windows to properly advance the film. Later models had a single window in the center, and some cameras were modified at the factory to use up the last of the three window backs.

Minolta Six Back Frame Windows Open by P F McFarland, on Flickr


There is no facility for using 4.5x6 film.

Minolta Six Interior by P F McFarland, on Flickr


The camera shutter is exhibiting weak spring symptoms, as the T setting does not always catch, and the shutter charging lever does not always snap back into position. The lens has some internal haze too, so a good cleaning and adjustment are in order.

PF

 

[hanskerensky]

That's a real nice find you did there Phil !
Japanese cameras of that era are rare.

 

[citizen99]

Interesting find. How do the interlocking tubes work out, at nearly 80 years old ? John.

 

[oftheherd]

Nice find. I have seen a couple of those on ebay over the last 3 or 4 years, and been tempted just because the are different. But I have more 6x6 and 6x9 folders than I can use now. Looking forward to the images it produces.

 

[filmdood]

Outstanding!

 

[farlymac]

I'm always impressed by what cameras show up here in the valley, Hans.

The tubes are nice and tight when extended, John, so I don't think they'll need any adjusting. Haven't checked them for light tightness yet.

I've got the lens/shutter assembly off the body for now, herd, so I can clean the lens and adjust the shutter. It's also missing the pointer on the aperture control, so I need to come up with something (might have to steal the one off my Ikonta which has sadly become a parts donor).

PF

 

[farlymac]

The film advance sequence for the Minolta Six, using the 6x9 markings goes like this:

Put the 1 in the right window, and shoot.
Wind on until the 1 is in the left window, and shoot.
Wind again until the 2 is in the center window, and shoot.

All odd numbers are used twice (in the right then left windows), and the even numbers only once (in the center window). This comes out to twelve 6x6 exposures when you reach number 8.

PF