[rollei_list] Re: Rolleiflex 2.8GX Japan Edition
- From: Thor Legvold <tlegvold@xxxxxxx>
- To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2012 22:30:50 +0100
I really, really, really hate to pick nits (really!), but it's "Ur*U*shi
lacquer, not Ur*I*shi.
"Urishi" is an Armenian given (i.e. first) name, "Urushi" is lacquer extracted
from the Urushi tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum, formerly Rhus vernicifera),
and found in Japan, Korea and China. It's been used for at least 6000 years in
Japan for everything from a glue to a very high quality (also high gloss, and
very durable) finish.
While I agree that the Urushi coatings as marketed by Rollei appear tacky and
gaudy, Urushi is actually a pretty good candidate as an extremely durable
coating. It protects against mold, mildew and moisture (i.e. waterproof) and is
acid and alkaline resistant (from photographers hands, f.x.). It also provides
a very hard coating. About the only thing that wears it out/breaks it down is
UV radiation. I.e. sunlight. So maybe not so great on a camera after all...
As an interesting aside, fresh Urushi sap is toxic, and contains the same
irritant that is found in poison ivy, posion oak and poison sumac.
Cheers,
Thor
On 10. mars 2012, at 12.39, John Wild wrote:
> Thank you all for your help with information on this "Japan" special
> edition.
>
> Carlos, I think that it was the "Royal Urishi" that they intended to build
> 200 a year fort five years. The serial numbers on those seem to have the
> year number preceding the production number...
>
> 10XXX first year
> 20XXX second year etc
>
> Possibly the Japan was so popular that Rollei decided produce more of the
> same but, in doing so, would have to change the camera name.
>
> They also produced the Royal and the Royal Star which had gold flecks in the
> finish which is not mentioned in Prochnow, so whether the numbers were
> within the Royal batch numbers or not I have no idea. I saw the Classic and
> 2.8GX Royal Stars at Focus on Imaging show a number of years ago; they were
> impressive finishes and certainly not for using.
>
> Here is the 35 Classic version of the finish...
>
> http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Rollei/Rollei-35-Classic-Royal-'Star'.html
>
> The limited editions did have a market all the time that the market was not
> swamped. As Marc says, some people must have every variant but there are not
> so many of those who have the funds to buy every Leica or Rolleiflex Limited
> edition variant.
>
> Now DHW are producing bespoke Rolleiflexes and Rollei 35's at about £10k and
> £5k respectively; you name the finish and you can have it. Their market is
> the Far East. The number of variant with user specified serial numbers in
> almost infinite.
>
> John
>
>
> On 09/03/2012 19:25, "CarlosMFreaza" <cmfreaza@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> El día 9 de marzo de 2012 12:57, John Wild
>> <JWild@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> escribió:
>>
>>> ...The 2.8GX Royal and Royal Star/Gold are Urishi but there is a lot more on
>>> the internet about these of which it was intended to produce 10000 at 200
>>> per year...
>>
>> John:
>> They were intended to produce 1,000 at 200 per year from
>> 1996 to 2000.-
>>
>> Carlos
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