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A Sterling Silver Super D
Back in the 1960s, when neckties were a normal accessory for male dress, tie tacks were popular. Companies gave tie tacks to commemorate employment anniversaries and manufactures gave them away to advertise their products (this was the era before T-shirts with gaudy product logos). About this time Beseler, the US importer of Topcon camera equipment, came out with a tie tack depicting their Super D. I suppose Beseler gave them away to salesmen in camera stores, but they also offered these little pieces of male jewelry for sale to the public at large. In their 1969 price list this item is listed for $4.95.
This Super D tie tack is well made and is marked 'sterling' on the rear. The camera is quite detailed, if you look closely you can make out the Beseler name on the viewfinder. It measures 16 mm by 20 mm. The images below show a close-up of the little camera and also the entire assembly, complete with the chain and bar.
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Variations of the Cap for the Film Advance Lever
Another bit of trivia that may have some relevance with regards to camera body identification. The Film Advance Lever is held in place by means of a threaded cap. There are three variations I have identified and the differences between the three can probably be correlated with serial number and date of production. The cap is somewhat useful in classification since this is probably less likely to have been interchanged than other body parts.
All three caps are made from brass--for chrome finished bodies, this cap is chrome plated; for black bodies it is painted black with the same finish as the body. The three types (excluding finish) I have identified will be referred to as Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3. The attributes of all three are listed below:
Type 1 16 mm diameter with two small holes spaced 8 mm apart. Except for the holes the top is smooth.
Type 2 16 mm diameter without holes. The top is smooth.
Type 3 17 mm diameter with six concentric rings.
I am guessing that Topcon decided the holes of the Type 1 were superfluous--probably because a clamp wrench worked as well as a pin-wrench and the extra effort to drill the holes was not necessary. The flat surface of the cap was prone to scratches and that is probably the reason the Type 3 added the machined concentric rings.
The Type 1 cap is always associated with the first generation body (maximum ASA of 800; insulated hot shoe), but some of this generation have the Type 2. I have one chrome body with a serial number of 4608XXX with a Type 2 cap, but also a black body with a serial number of 4612XXX with a cap of Type 1.
The Model 71 (late model Super D) body along with the Super Dm always use a Type 3. (Black or chrome for the Model 71, always black on the Dm.).
Shown below are images of the three cap types; both with chrome and black finishes. Underneath is a diagram showing measurements.
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American Importer List Prices
(1966--1979)
Beginning in 1966, the American photography magazine Modern Photography began listing all major brands of cameras as a yearly summary in their December issue. I have taken data from these pages with regards to the Topcon RE Super/Super D and compiled them in the table below. The prices are for the camera with the fast F/1.4 lens.
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