Finally (again) found proof that the Yashica Pentamatic series…

…of cameras were available in the Japanese domestic market. It had been speculated by some (including myself) that the Pentamatic was not available in Japan when it was released into the U.S. markets in the May-June 1960 time period. My reason was solely based on the fact that up until this point no Japanese language sales brochures or advertisements had been discovered during my research. I always found it rather odd to think that Yashica’s first 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera would not be available in Japan. It is generally known that Yashica made the photographic press in the U.S. aware of the new model as early as late March 1960 when the Pentamatic made its appearance at a large photography trade show in St. Louis.

The elusive Pentamatic II in a Japanese sales brochure most likely from late 1960 to very early 1961. The brochure covers the new model II and its accessories over a full 12 pages. The selling price was 37,300 yen for the model II and 34,800 yen for the original model I. It also appears that the “new” lens of choice for this model II would be the f/1.7 5.8cm lens made by Tomioka Optical and displaying the name ‘Auto Yashinon’. I had suspected that the 1.7 lens was dedicated for the model II but had no proof. The model I Pentamatic came with the f/1.8 5.5cm lens which was also made by Tomioka in Tokyo.

Some good prep work continued again today…

Some pieces received their final etching primer coat and others are getting the final or first (finish) coat of primer.

Final coat on base etching primer. Some light sanding and a smooth finish primer coat and then… the first “color” coat of lacquer.

More primer and then more primer. The bare aluminum needed to be painted with a primer coat that etched into the metal. Getting closer!

Back view of the film door. This was the most corroded part of the camera body and took the most time filling the pitted areas.

Final coat of finish primer on this 1955 metal cap.

The back door had suffered severe metal corrosion and needed to have the corroded areas repaired. Some filler putty and some wet sanding and another coat of primer should do it.

Some of the original accessories that were available for the new Pentamatic…

When Yashica’s first single lens reflex (SLR) 35mm camera hit the world markets in the May-June 1960 time period, they were ready with a host of well designed accessories. From simple screw-in filters to extension tubes and the new bayonet mount lenses, Yashica had a nice selection to choose from. Here are just a few examples…

Pentamatic ‘Right Angle Finder’ for low angle and close-up photography. This simple finder mounted securely to the camera’s eyepiece and had adjustments for focus and could be rotated 90 degrees to the left for vertical copy work. The image is reversed so it does require some getting used to. Here it’s mounted to our Pentamatic-S.

A small collection of boxes gives some idea as to the diversity of the early accessories. Note the general theme of the design… each shows off the pentaprism design of the camera. The right angle finder box appears to be from a slightly later design as it has a different look from the other two.

Pentamatic ‘Extension Tubes’ mounted on our Model-S Pentamatic camera body and Auto-Yashinon 5.8 cm (58 mm) f/1.7 standard lens. The lens is super bright and is super heavy! Camera and lens weigh-in at 2 lbs 5 oz (1056 g)!

Image is from what I gather is a visa to visit (or do work) in Brazil. I believe this image is from 1957. Yashica did set up a factory in Brazil and had established an address there.

Mr. Yoshimasa Ushiyama…

Founder and president of Yashima Kogaku Seiki Company, Limited. He and his brother, Mr. Jisaburo Ushiyama started a small manufacturing business in their hometown of Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan in the late 1940s and transitioned to making cameras by 1953. In the 1950s, Yashima grew to one of Japan’s largest camera manufacturers and by the close of the decade of the fifties, they outsold many of today’s best know camera makers. Yashima became Yashica and the rest is history. I believe these images are of Mr. Ushiyama as they were scanned from the original camera instruction booklets from Yashica.

Mr. Yoshimasa Ushiyama and his brother Jisaburo c1959.

Scan of the president and director of Yashica camera… Mr. Yoshimasa Ushiyama c1959.

Mr. Yoshimasa Ushiyama from Yashica camera instruction booklet 1958.

This man appears on the cover…

Of a 1959 dated Yashica instruction booklet for the Yashica A-III twin-lens reflex camera. He also appears in a Yashica sales brochure in German dressed as a cowboy (1950’s style cowboy) with the same pipe and expression. I would love to know this actors name. Any help would be appreciated… greatly!

Yashica’s “Mystery Man”… from the cover of the 1959 Yashica A-III TLR camera instruction booklet.

My ongoing ‘interpretive restoration’ of the Yashima Yashicaflex A-II…

As the title suggests, when restoring a vintage camera there are no unimportant details. Stripping of old paint (in this case baked-on 60-year-old enamel paint) and removing corrosion from small metal parts is tedious and super time-consuming… but absolutely essential. As my ‘interpretive restoration’ progresses into the middle stages I thought I would share some new images.

Important small parts after removing corrosion and a light chemical cleaning. Ready for a coat of etching primer. Clockwise top center… tripod/case retaining screw, left strap holder, right strap holder and accessory (cold) shoe.

After a light (3 coats) of etching primer.

Close-up detail showing the recently painted parts.

Paint removal from the Yashicaflex A-II body. There was plenty of corrosion on the cast aluminum body and the only way to attack it was with a good sanding with 120 grit sandpaper followed by 220 grit. Still some of the original factory enamel paint hangs tough.

In all my years of collecting Yashima / Yashica cameras, brochures and advertisements…

I have yet to find proof that Yashica did or did not release the Pentamatic for the Japanese domestic market. I had always assumed that they did… confident that why wouldn’t they sell their first 35mm single-lens reflex camera at home. But, I didn’t have proof that they did or did not. This image is from a Japanese market sales brochure (found in Yokohama) that looks to be from around early 1961 or so. The Pentamatic II (rare little bird) with a 1.7 lens was available when this brochure was printed. Now to find the original Pentamatic and the S!

Could it be true? The first sighting of the Pentamatic II in a sales brochure for the Japanese home market.