Were the Konica I Type Ab and As limited to just 4000 units?

[gopalravishankarnair@gmai]

Konica I Type (As) with serial no. 6280 and serial no. 6403 with a silver face with lettering picked out in black. I belive as explained below these are among the second (As) type limited to 3000 units manufactured of which a handful survive.
A brief historical background on the Konica I or Standard as it is called what i have managed to understand.
Konishiroku released their "Konica I" type camera in August 1947. There were small variations noticed and their classification are as under;
The Konica I Type Ab was Introduced in August 1947, having a black face plate (lens) with silver lettering. On the back door shows the name ‘Konishiroku’ embossed into the leatherette on the back, large and shaped in an arch. As per a post from 2017 (コニカ Ⅰ型(6656) 　Made in Occupied Japan)

A book by Shigeki Miyazaki Published in 2003, the book ‘50 Years of Konica Camera - From Konica Type 1 to Hexer RF (Classic Camera Selection)’ states that the Model 1 or Konica Standard series starts with the serial number 4001, having a black face plate (lens) with silver lettering. The lens has a 26mm outer diameter. It also mention that this particular type were limited to just 500 units. This could be the reson most example images on the web are serial numbered between 4000 to 4500. Most examples that i have viewed on the web are in the 4XXX series. I have yet to come across an example with a higher serial number. Here is any example of a Konica I As type with a serial no 5930
(カメラã®å…«ç™¾å¯Œï½œKONICA â… ã€ãƒˆãƒƒãƒ—ã‚«ãƒãƒ¼ã«ï¼ï¼©ï¼¯ï¼ªåž‹ã€‘ コニカ â… - ä¸å¤ã‚«ãƒ¡ãƒ©ã”一行様（by八百富写真機店）)
giving an indication that the As type were introduced with serial no starting 5xxx. As per my research and expert collectors opinion in the various forums the serial numbers of this model are believed to be pretty sequential and to give a fairly accurate count. Sometime In late 1947 the Konica I Type (As) was introduced. The camera is identical in appearance to the Type Ab, with a Hexar f3.5 lens set in a Konirapid shutter BUT with a silver face with lettering picked out in black (as are all subsequent models). The lens has a 32mm outer diameter. Experts comment only 10,000 units of the Konica I Ab and As were produced between August 1947 until March 1948. If we were to consider what has been mentioned in Mr. Shigeki Miyazaki book referenced above the sr. no. started at 4xxx the number would be 6000 units.
In March 1948 Konica I Type B was introduced, this time around the engraved 'Made in Occupied Japan' on the top plate was omitted and just engraved with the brand "Konica". Here is a sale (A Konica I Rangefinder Camera, serial no 8993, made in occupied Japan, 1948-1950, shutter working, rangefinder working, body G-VG, Konishiroku embossed to back, with 50mm f/3.5 Hexar lens, serial no 12715, elements G, some haze, with Konica lens cap, in maker's case) wherein the camera has a 4 digit serial number 8993 of this type. This would indicate the Konica I Type B would have serial numbers starting with 8XXX
This would further bring down the number of units with the top plate marked M.I.O.J to not over 4000 units of Konica I Ab and As type manufactured until March 1948 as then the
Here is another expample of of the engraved top plate ‘Made in Occupied Japan’ have been put up for sale. The earliest being 23 Mar 2004 a Konica I similar to mine early type but with a latter serial no. 7303. It was on the Christies LIVE AUCTION 5507.(https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4241801)
Another example of the early type Konica I Ab type sold on ebay on 4th July 2015 with a serial no. 4089 and a black faceplate lens that had a 26mm outer diameter (1947 Konica I Type Ab Konishiroku f3.5 Hexar Lens Konirapid Occupied Japan | #1758259843 )

I would appreciate if collectors and experts could check and validate if my openion on this subject matter is valid.

 

[bruiser52]

Hi, only just bought bought this one last night so it hasn't arrived yet. Quite nice condition and complete with a <CPO> mark on the rewind knob. The Central Purchasing Office stamp means it was purchased on a US military base in Japan. This was later replaced with more usual <E.P> mark. Anyway I thought you might like to see it.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Welcome to the forum, you know how to make an entrance!

Look forward to the camera arriving, and some more pictures of it and with it.

 

[bruiser52]

Thank you...and me too

 

[gopalravishankarnair@gmai]

Hi, only just bought bought this one last night so it hasn't arrived yet. Quite nice condition and complete with a <CPO> mark on the rewind knob. The Central Purchasing Office stamp means it was purchased on a US military base in Japan. This was later replaced with more usual <E.P> mark. Anyway I thought you might like to see it.

Thanks for the share i am still researching. Have a little bit more i have gathered shall post soon. I managed another unit.

 

[bruiser52]

Very nice!