Please clarify hood types..

[harry01562]

I'm illustrating 2 of the early rectangular style hoods, mentioned in a previous thread. The one on the left is larger and wider than the later one on the right. It also has "Japan" inscribed on the opposite side to the lettering, the bottom side, as you look at the hood mounted on a camera.
As also mentioned, this early hood is much wider. The second illo shows the second hood inside the first. This vividly illustrates the difference in size.
The rare hood seems to be the one that is lettered as on the right, but with the addition of "Japan" as on the left.... is that correct?
Are these the 3 varieties that exist of that style hood? Interesting to see a census among members, as to who owns what. We are a large enough group to possibly discern scarcity ratios, if we pooled our knowledge (?). Anyone who would rather not post publicly is invited to PM me on this subject.

Harry

 

[VictorM.]

The wider hood, on the left, is quite rare. It supposedly works on the Canon 35/1.8 without vignetting.

 

[John Shriver]

I have a later version of the one on the left, marked for f:1.8 50mm, f:3.2 35mm, and f:2.8 35mm. It works just fine on my 35/1.8.

My hood's dimensions: 50mm high, 65mm wide, 25mm deep.

 

[CanonRFinder]

Hi Harry, That 35mm f/3.2 hood had me scrambling to check mine and it turns out that your example is a true "Transition" hood as I have called them. The reason for the 'Transition" tag, is that from the outset of 1952 Canon had placed the country of origin "Japan" onto all there items. This can be found on the front ID rings of lenses, top of camera bodies and on there accessories. When Canon made this decision it must have been before 1952. To include items that were in already completed and in there inventory, they sent various items back to the engraver to have the name "Japan" placed somewhere on those items. This is why one comes across items such as lenses where there is a "Japan" mark on the outside front filter rim. Also one comes across model III, IV, IVF and maybe others cameras that were on sale during that period, which have "Made in Japan" engraved on the baseplate. Any item that has "Japan" in an odd spot is usually a "Transition" item and could only have been done during Nov-Dec 1951, which makes these items unusual and at times rare..............There that has let the cat out of the bag.

Back to the 35mm hood. My example DOES NOT have "Japan" on the back and belongs to the era when the 35mm f/3.2 lens was introduced in July 1951. These hoods are not common but the lens sold well for the six months it was on sale during 1951, in fact 2216 units were sold. Another reason why these hoods are (dare I say it) rare, is that why would someone buy a rectangular hood when there was a nice chrome hood that would take up less room in a camera bag, besides chrome was big in the 50's. Another thing is that the engraving on the accessories matches that which is on the lens, hence they belong together and are of the same era. Funny I just bought a similar hood on eBay for a "song" as the guy didn't describe it well..............NOW I hope it is one with "Japan" on the back, as I don't have one. Peter K.

 

[harry01562]

Thanks, Pete

Thanks, Pete

As always, thanks Pete for the clear and cogent answer on the dating of the hoods. Second guessing decisions made a half century ago is a fascinating game, isn't it?

I've just been picking up stray hoods whenever I get a chance, without obtaining duplicates of what I think I own. They aren't all that plentiful, beyond the 2-3 that seem to be everywhere.

Still waiting for the books.....

Harry