Wester. Auto West.
If anyone knows ANYTHING about this camera, please leave a comment.
This is a rarity, unless anyone knows any different.
It's sold as a 'Wester - Auto West' The manufacturer is NISHIDA OPTICAL CO. The initials NKK (for Nishida Kōgaku Kōgyō) are on the lens. The company went bust in 1958.
And that's all I can find out about this nicely made rangefinder, if anyone knows any more please let me know.
I have owned this camera for nearly ten years and done many searches on the internet, asked for information on many forums, and shown the camera to dealers and collectors. Nobody has ever seen one before, not even a picture. It's as though this is the only one in existence, but the serial number of 31144 might suggest otherwise.
It's a well made camera, the construction is better than many of the cameras of this era which have poorly pressed, thin steel, top plates, This is a heavy and strong camera.
The shutter is smooth and quiet, with speeds from B, 1 to 500 sec. Apertures on the 45mm Wescon lens go from f16 to f2.8. The closest focus on the ( very stiff ) control is 2 feet. There's an ISO dial from 800 to 10, this is just a reminder dial, there's no light meter or battery.
Under the ISO dial is the film wind on lever, and this is a joy. I have never felt such a smooth mechanism on any camera. There's a tiny but clear frame counter on the back of the top plate.
The viewfinder is excellent, very clear with a good yellow patch, out of the few rangefinders I have this is by far the best.
Other than that it's as you would expect from a camera of this period, tripod mount, strap lugs, cold shoe and one nice touch, a shutter lock with a nice knurled twist button on the front.
Wester. Auto West.
If anyone knows ANYTHING about this camera, please leave a comment.
This is a rarity, unless anyone knows any different.
It's sold as a 'Wester - Auto West' The manufacturer is NISHIDA OPTICAL CO. The initials NKK (for Nishida Kōgaku Kōgyō) are on the lens. The company went bust in 1958.
And that's all I can find out about this nicely made rangefinder, if anyone knows any more please let me know.
I have owned this camera for nearly ten years and done many searches on the internet, asked for information on many forums, and shown the camera to dealers and collectors. Nobody has ever seen one before, not even a picture. It's as though this is the only one in existence, but the serial number of 31144 might suggest otherwise.
It's a well made camera, the construction is better than many of the cameras of this era which have poorly pressed, thin steel, top plates, This is a heavy and strong camera.
The shutter is smooth and quiet, with speeds from B, 1 to 500 sec. Apertures on the 45mm Wescon lens go from f16 to f2.8. The closest focus on the ( very stiff ) control is 2 feet. There's an ISO dial from 800 to 10, this is just a reminder dial, there's no light meter or battery.
Under the ISO dial is the film wind on lever, and this is a joy. I have never felt such a smooth mechanism on any camera. There's a tiny but clear frame counter on the back of the top plate.
The viewfinder is excellent, very clear with a good yellow patch, out of the few rangefinders I have this is by far the best.
Other than that it's as you would expect from a camera of this period, tripod mount, strap lugs, cold shoe and one nice touch, a shutter lock with a nice knurled twist button on the front.