Is your early/late Super-Takumar wrongly assembled?
Relax,….. it’s history.
Asahi Optical Co. Pty Ltd. made Takumars using the method now known as "just-in-time" from early 1960’s. Spotmatic cameras and Super-Takumar production were export-focused and expanded rapidly into the 1970’s.
There is evidence here that first production copies of some Takumars (e.g. 37902) were given an early nameplate, one belonging to the previous version of the lens. The cause of this is the late arrival of parts from suppliers, and needing to meet production orders for shipping to overseas markets (even some test or presentation copies). Non-standard nameplates have been noted, also. Assembly lines were constantly juggling available parts to meet high standards of Takumar functionality, and markets.
People who own anomalous copies may feel they are somehow short-changed. On the contrary, these are important evidence of manufacturing history.
A few final copies of the first Super-Takumar 1:1.4/50mm, (yes, the famous 8 element lens), are known for an aperture ring intended for the next version because the originals were no longer made.
Expectations of a collector today do not always match the reality of manufacturing faced by AOCo. So treasure your historical lenses. The glass works perfectly.
Droo
PS. And let me know if you have one. Please? Anomalous copies out-number post-production mosaics or chimeras created since.
Relax,….. it’s history.
Asahi Optical Co. Pty Ltd. made Takumars using the method now known as "just-in-time" from early 1960’s. Spotmatic cameras and Super-Takumar production were export-focused and expanded rapidly into the 1970’s.
There is evidence here that first production copies of some Takumars (e.g. 37902) were given an early nameplate, one belonging to the previous version of the lens. The cause of this is the late arrival of parts from suppliers, and needing to meet production orders for shipping to overseas markets (even some test or presentation copies). Non-standard nameplates have been noted, also. Assembly lines were constantly juggling available parts to meet high standards of Takumar functionality, and markets.
People who own anomalous copies may feel they are somehow short-changed. On the contrary, these are important evidence of manufacturing history.
A few final copies of the first Super-Takumar 1:1.4/50mm, (yes, the famous 8 element lens), are known for an aperture ring intended for the next version because the originals were no longer made.
Expectations of a collector today do not always match the reality of manufacturing faced by AOCo. So treasure your historical lenses. The glass works perfectly.
Droo
PS. And let me know if you have one. Please? Anomalous copies out-number post-production mosaics or chimeras created since.
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