Pentax K from 1958

**Baard-Einar** · 11-13-2010, 03:32 PM

I just recived my Pentax K from 1958. Fun to see this great old camera, but the shutter and sprocet for advancing the film seems stuck.

Does anyone have a repair manual or any tricks on how to fix this?

Capslock118 · 11-13-2010, 09:06 PM

this might help...

Pentax Manuals

séamuis · 11-14-2010, 06:42 AM

I just received my 1957 ‘AP’ so congrats! my advice? Eric Hendrickson.

**Baard-Einar** · 11-14-2010, 11:42 AM

Cool, a "AP"? That would be the first SLR modell from Pentax. How did you obtain that?

**Baard-Einar** · 11-14-2010, 11:43 AM

Originally posted by Capslock118

this might help...

Pentax Manuals

Thank you! I'll look into it and check if some one have a manual for that old camera.

**Baard-Einar** · 11-14-2010, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by séamuis

I just received my 1957 ‘AP’ so congrats! my advice? Eric Hendrickson.

How do I get in contact with Eric?

stevebrot · 11-14-2010, 02:40 PM

Originally posted by Baard-Einar

How do I get in contact with Eric?

Web Site: http://www.pentaxs.com/

Contact information is on the Web site.

Steve

noblepa · 11-14-2010, 07:14 PM

Originally posted by Baard-Einar

Cool, a "AP"? That would be the first SLR modell from Pentax. How did you obtain that?

The 1957 AP was not the first SLR from Asahi. It was the first to bear the name Pentax. At that time, Pentax was a model name, not a brand name. It was so successful that Asahi chose to call all their subsequent cameras "Pentax". I believe that the AP was also the first Asahi camera to use the M42 "universal" screw mount. The AP was the first Asahi camera to have a pentaprism viewfinder, hence the name.

The company name remained Asahi Optical Company until the late nineties, when they finally changed the name to the Pentax Corporation. Now, the Pentax Corporation no longer exists. It is merely a brand name, owned by the Hoya Corporation.

In 1952, Asahi introduced the Asahiflex I, which had a waist-level finder, non-instant return mirror, and used the M39 screw mount. In the years between 1952 and 1957, there were several more iterations, including the Asahiflex II, the IIa. These were also sold by Sears in the US, under the Tower name.

BTW, the story I have heard is that Contax invented the pentaprism viewfinder and came up with two names; Contaflex and Pentax. They chose to use the first name for their own cameras and sold the rights to the name Pentax to Asahi. The rest, as they say, is history.

stevebrot · 11-14-2010, 10:46 PM

Originally posted by noblepa

BTW, the story I have heard is that Contax invented the pentaprism viewfinder

Ummm...that would be VEB Zeiss Ikon (Dresden/Jena). Contax was a model name in the Zeiss Ikon (pre-war), Zeiss Ikon AG (Stuttgart, post-war) and VEB Zeiss Ikon (Dresden/Jena, post-war) lines. The VEB Zeiss Ikon Contax-S was the first pentaprism SLR. Later models were marketed as Pentacon (Pentaprism Contax). They also trademarked the alternative name, Pentax. Asahi acquired the Pentax name from VEB Zeiss Ikon in 1957.

Steve

séamuis · 11-15-2010, 07:38 AM

Originally posted by noblepa

The 1957 AP was not the first SLR from Asahi. It was the first to bear the name Pentax. At that time, Pentax was a model name, not a brand name. It was so successful that Asahi chose to call all their subsequent cameras "Pentax". I believe that the AP was also the first Asahi camera to use the M42 "universal" screw mount. The AP was the first Asahi camera to have a pentaprism viewfinder, hence the name.

The company name remained Asahi Optical Company until the late nineties, when they finally changed the name to the Pentax Corporation. Now, the Pentax Corporation no longer exists. It is merely a brand name, owned by the Hoya Corporation.

In 1952, Asahi introduced the Asahiflex I, which had a waist-level finder, non-instant return mirror, and used the M39 screw mount. In the years between 1952 and 1957, there were several more iterations, including the Asahiflex II, the IIa. These were also sold by Sears in the US, under the Tower name.

BTW, the story I have heard is that Contax invented the pentaprism viewfinder and came up with two names; Contaflex and Pentax. They chose to use the first name for their own cameras and sold the rights to the name Pentax to Asahi. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Asahiflex used Asahi Optical’s own m37 screwmount not the Leica M39. not sure why everyone gets that wrong. an interesting note about the asahiflex and the first series of m42 cameras (that being the ‘AP’ the ’S’ and the ‘K’) is that the body was nearly identical to the Asahiflex and it is documented that the front plate (that holds the mount) is actually interchangeable between the two camera body types. (same register distance, same size and same placement of screws) so you could with a flathead screwdriver, have an asahiflex with an m42 mount or an ‘AP’ with m37.

**Canada_Rockies** · 11-16-2010, 10:10 PM

Originally posted by séamuis

The Asahiflex used Asahi Optical’s own m37 screwmount not the Leica M39. not sure why everyone gets that wrong. an interesting note about the asahiflex and the first series of m42 cameras (that being the ‘AP’ the ’S’ and the ‘K’) is that the body was nearly identical to the Asahiflex and it is documented that the front plate (that holds the mount) is actually interchangeable between the two camera body types. (same register distance, same size and same placement of screws) so you could with a flathead screwdriver, have an asahiflex with an m42 mount or an ‘AP’ with m37.

True enough, but why replace the mount when there exists (rare, but can be found) in typical Asahi fashion, a 37 > 42 adapter so you could use your Asahiflex lenses on your new Asahi Pentax, which was my first Pentax camera, bought from a pawn shop in 1961. It lasted me through the middle 1970's. They don't make them like that anymore.

séamuis · 11-16-2010, 11:32 PM

Originally posted by Canada_Rockies

True enough, but why replace the mount when there exists (rare, but can be found) in typical Asahi fashion, a 37 > 42 adapter so you could use your Asahiflex lenses on your new Asahi Pentax, which was my first Pentax camera, bought from a pawn shop in 1961. It lasted me through the middle 1970's. They don't make them like that anymore.

because it would be easier to do a switch job than it would be to find one of these adapters. I actually have one myself, and they are indeed very rare. I would say the original ‘Asahi mount adapter’ is among the most rare asahi opt. accessories. seeing as how its a completely non-destructive swap and easily reversible, you might have a better chance of finding an AP, S or K and an asahiflex to do the job than it would be to find an original adapter. =/ all in all I just thought it was an interesting bit of info, as I wasn’t aware the first m42’s were that closely based on the Asahflex.

**Canada_Rockies** · 11-16-2010, 11:57 PM

Originally posted by séamuis

because it would be easier to do a switch job than it would be to find one of these adapters. I actually have one myself, and they are indeed very rare. I would say the original ‘Asahi mount adapter’ is among the most rare asahi opt. accessories. seeing as how its a completely non-destructive swap and easily reversible, you might have a better chance of finding an AP, S or K and an asahiflex to do the job than it would be to find an original adapter. =/ all in all I just thought it was an interesting bit of info, as I wasn’t aware the first m42’s were that closely based on the Asahflex.

The AP put a Pentaprism on top, and enlarged the mount from 37 to 42 mm, but kept the same registration distance. That was great news for those who owned an Asahiflex, and great news for us, because we still have that same registration distance which allows us to use ancient lenses on cutting edge cameras such as the K-5. I have an ancient book in my library somewhere that insists that the name Pentax was from Pentaprism + Asahiflex. It would have been logical, but it is certainly not the true case. Maybe Asahi thought the name up that way, then had to buy the name. I'm afraid that the only adapter I have only allows me to go back to 1957. What a catastrophe.

11-13-2010, 03:32 PM	#1
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964	Pentax K from 1958 I just recived my Pentax K from 1958. Fun to see this great old camera, but the shutter and sprocet for advancing the film seems stuck. Does anyone have a repair manual or any tricks on how to fix this?

11-14-2010, 07:14 PM	#8
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	AP was not the first SLR from Asahi Originally posted by Baard-Einar Cool, a "AP"? That would be the first SLR modell from Pentax. How did you obtain that? The 1957 AP was not the first SLR from Asahi. It was the first to bear the name Pentax. At that time, Pentax was a model name, not a brand name. It was so successful that Asahi chose to call all their subsequent cameras "Pentax". I believe that the AP was also the first Asahi camera to use the M42 "universal" screw mount. The AP was the first Asahi camera to have a pentaprism viewfinder, hence the name. The company name remained Asahi Optical Company until the late nineties, when they finally changed the name to the Pentax Corporation. Now, the Pentax Corporation no longer exists. It is merely a brand name, owned by the Hoya Corporation. In 1952, Asahi introduced the Asahiflex I, which had a waist-level finder, non-instant return mirror, and used the M39 screw mount. In the years between 1952 and 1957, there were several more iterations, including the Asahiflex II, the IIa. These were also sold by Sears in the US, under the Tower name. BTW, the story I have heard is that Contax invented the pentaprism viewfinder and came up with two names; Contaflex and Pentax. They chose to use the first name for their own cameras and sold the rights to the name Pentax to Asahi. The rest, as they say, is history.

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11-13-2010, 09:06 PM	#2
Capslock118 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Haven, CT Photos: Gallery Posts: 173	this might help... Pentax Manuals

11-14-2010, 06:42 AM	#3
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	I just received my 1957 ‘AP’ so congrats! my advice? Eric Hendrickson.

11-14-2010, 11:42 AM	#4
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964 Original Poster	Cool, a "AP"? That would be the first SLR modell from Pentax. How did you obtain that?

11-14-2010, 11:43 AM	#5
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964 Original Poster	Originally posted by Capslock118 this might help... Pentax Manuals Thank you! I'll look into it and check if some one have a manual for that old camera.

11-14-2010, 11:44 AM	#6
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964 Original Poster	Originally posted by séamuis I just received my 1957 ‘AP’ so congrats! my advice? Eric Hendrickson. How do I get in contact with Eric?

11-14-2010, 02:40 PM	#7
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Baard-Einar How do I get in contact with Eric? Web Site: http://www.pentaxs.com/ Contact information is on the Web site. Steve

11-14-2010, 10:46 PM	#9
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by noblepa BTW, the story I have heard is that Contax invented the pentaprism viewfinder Ummm...that would be VEB Zeiss Ikon (Dresden/Jena). Contax was a model name in the Zeiss Ikon (pre-war), Zeiss Ikon AG (Stuttgart, post-war) and VEB Zeiss Ikon (Dresden/Jena, post-war) lines. The VEB Zeiss Ikon Contax-S was the first pentaprism SLR. Later models were marketed as Pentacon (Pentaprism Contax). They also trademarked the alternative name, Pentax. Asahi acquired the Pentax name from VEB Zeiss Ikon in 1957. Steve

11-15-2010, 07:38 AM	#10
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by noblepa The 1957 AP was not the first SLR from Asahi. It was the first to bear the name Pentax. At that time, Pentax was a model name, not a brand name. It was so successful that Asahi chose to call all their subsequent cameras "Pentax". I believe that the AP was also the first Asahi camera to use the M42 "universal" screw mount. The AP was the first Asahi camera to have a pentaprism viewfinder, hence the name. The company name remained Asahi Optical Company until the late nineties, when they finally changed the name to the Pentax Corporation. Now, the Pentax Corporation no longer exists. It is merely a brand name, owned by the Hoya Corporation. In 1952, Asahi introduced the Asahiflex I, which had a waist-level finder, non-instant return mirror, and used the M39 screw mount. In the years between 1952 and 1957, there were several more iterations, including the Asahiflex II, the IIa. These were also sold by Sears in the US, under the Tower name. BTW, the story I have heard is that Contax invented the pentaprism viewfinder and came up with two names; Contaflex and Pentax. They chose to use the first name for their own cameras and sold the rights to the name Pentax to Asahi. The rest, as they say, is history. The Asahiflex used Asahi Optical’s own m37 screwmount not the Leica M39. not sure why everyone gets that wrong. an interesting note about the asahiflex and the first series of m42 cameras (that being the ‘AP’ the ’S’ and the ‘K’) is that the body was nearly identical to the Asahiflex and it is documented that the front plate (that holds the mount) is actually interchangeable between the two camera body types. (same register distance, same size and same placement of screws) so you could with a flathead screwdriver, have an asahiflex with an m42 mount or an ‘AP’ with m37.

11-16-2010, 10:10 PM	#11
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by séamuis The Asahiflex used Asahi Optical’s own m37 screwmount not the Leica M39. not sure why everyone gets that wrong. an interesting note about the asahiflex and the first series of m42 cameras (that being the ‘AP’ the ’S’ and the ‘K’) is that the body was nearly identical to the Asahiflex and it is documented that the front plate (that holds the mount) is actually interchangeable between the two camera body types. (same register distance, same size and same placement of screws) so you could with a flathead screwdriver, have an asahiflex with an m42 mount or an ‘AP’ with m37. True enough, but why replace the mount when there exists (rare, but can be found) in typical Asahi fashion, a 37 > 42 adapter so you could use your Asahiflex lenses on your new Asahi Pentax, which was my first Pentax camera, bought from a pawn shop in 1961. It lasted me through the middle 1970's. They don't make them like that anymore.

11-16-2010, 11:32 PM	#12
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by Canada_Rockies True enough, but why replace the mount when there exists (rare, but can be found) in typical Asahi fashion, a 37 > 42 adapter so you could use your Asahiflex lenses on your new Asahi Pentax, which was my first Pentax camera, bought from a pawn shop in 1961. It lasted me through the middle 1970's. They don't make them like that anymore. because it would be easier to do a switch job than it would be to find one of these adapters. I actually have one myself, and they are indeed very rare. I would say the original ‘Asahi mount adapter’ is among the most rare asahi opt. accessories. seeing as how its a completely non-destructive swap and easily reversible, you might have a better chance of finding an AP, S or K and an asahiflex to do the job than it would be to find an original adapter. =/ all in all I just thought it was an interesting bit of info, as I wasn’t aware the first m42’s were that closely based on the Asahflex.

11-16-2010, 11:57 PM	#13
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by séamuis because it would be easier to do a switch job than it would be to find one of these adapters. I actually have one myself, and they are indeed very rare. I would say the original ‘Asahi mount adapter’ is among the most rare asahi opt. accessories. seeing as how its a completely non-destructive swap and easily reversible, you might have a better chance of finding an AP, S or K and an asahiflex to do the job than it would be to find an original adapter. =/ all in all I just thought it was an interesting bit of info, as I wasn’t aware the first m42’s were that closely based on the Asahflex. The AP put a Pentaprism on top, and enlarged the mount from 37 to 42 mm, but kept the same registration distance. That was great news for those who owned an Asahiflex, and great news for us, because we still have that same registration distance which allows us to use ancient lenses on cutting edge cameras such as the K-5. I have an ancient book in my library somewhere that insists that the name Pentax was from Pentaprism + Asahiflex. It would have been logical, but it is certainly not the true case. Maybe Asahi thought the name up that way, then had to buy the name. I'm afraid that the only adapter I have only allows me to go back to 1957. What a catastrophe.