This is my Model IIC (Ser. No. 58603) which is essentially a Model III without the top 1/1000th shutter speed. The 50mm f1.9 Serenar was the usual lens sold with this camera.
Canon Model IIC
When Canon brought the very successful Model IIB to market in April of 1949 they were already well along in planning changes to the basic design of their cameras to that point. Their sales up to then had been largely through US Army PX stores but their eyes were on the large markets in the west where the real money lay. And to break into that market they knew that they would be up against users who were familiar with the finest of German camera technology. It was
important that their products had the features and the quality build and reliable performance to meet these expectations.
Flash synchronization was something that Canon felt American users preferred and so that was included in the list of improvements to come. The second thing was an upgrade of the shutter design. Up to the Model IIB they had been content to use the shutter from the Model S which by this time was getting a little dated. Several design changes were made to make the camera more robust and allowed the top speed to be pushed to 1/1000th of a second. There were other internal changes to the film transport to make it more durable.
The IIC from the front looks exactly like the IIB or even the S-II except the ferrule around the shutter button is enlarged and the highest slow speed is 1/25th of a second.
From the back the larger ferrule is obvious. The screw on the rangefinder housing is centered under the accessory shoe and not offset as on the IIB.
The IIC is marked with the new company name, “Canon Camera Company Inc.” which was standard from the Model 1950 onwards.
The viewfinder, however, was to remain largely unchanged. It retained the “F”, 1x and 1.5x magnification settings and the image through the eyepiece looked exactly like the IIB.
All of these changes culminated in the Model of 1950 which, although short lived, gave rise to three cameras that were based directly on it, the Model IIC, Model III and Model IV. Of these cameras the Model IIC was intended to be the economy model. Unfortunately for the IIC, the IIB was selling successfully and it
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was kept in production until well into 1952 effectively filling the role intended for the IIC. As a result the IIC was in production for only about five months and in that time about 800 were produced with serial numbers between 50200 and 57850. These cameras are scarce now and in good condition command a premium price on the collector market.
“Fine Foreign Cameras”
This early Balfour, Guthrie ad has wording that identifies it as one of the first to be used in the American market. The reference to “foreign cameras” is an obvious clue. But look at the wording: “Over 50,000 G.I.’s, while serving in the Pacific, discovered and bought these superb cameras. …… Now for the first time this finest of cameras is available in your own community …..”. Although the ad is for a later camera than the IIC it is evidence of Canon’s intention to break into the American market which the IIC had not done to that point. It was out of production by the time this ad appeared.
The new ferrule
around the shutter button was to be Canon’s
standard for the rest of the Barnack type cameras. The A-R
lever can be seen on a raised little platform unlike the Model IIB. This too was to remain standard until the Model VT ended the bottom loading style.
Removing the bottom of the IIC reveals the film take-up spool on the left and the film cassette compartment on the right. Between them is the new cover over the bottom of the shutter assembly intended to protect it from dust and dirt.
The IIC had a dual axis cloth focal plane shutter. A “T” setting was on the slow speed dial and “B” setting on the high speed dial. The two dials split at 1/25th unlike the IIB which split at 1/20th. The top speed was restricted to 1/500th and there was no provision for flash synchronization as a cost saving measures. The IIC is almost identical to the Model III except for the lower top shutter speed.
One must be careful with the name IIC. When Canon first brought out the Model 1950 they called it the Model IIC. So did Skinner in San Franciso who received the bulk of the 50 or so cameras produced. The name never appeared on a camera but it may be found in catalogues or articles of the time. One must be careful to be clear about which camera is being described.
The IIC externally looked very like the IIB. On closer examination one notices that the A-R Switch is placed on a small platform which is true of all subsequent Canon Barnack style models.
If one removes the baseplate you will discover it is interchangeable with the IIB and other bottom loading cameras. However, the IIC has a cover plate added to the bottom of the shutter crate to better protect the camera from dust and dirt.
The camera was adapted to fit the Rapid Winder baseplate. This modification appeared on the Model 1950 and any camera with a Serial Number over 50,000 will accept this accessory.
Many IIC’s were supplied with 3/8th inch tripod attach points in anticipation of being sold in Europe. All of the cameras were released with the Semi Universal Thread mount. At about Serial Number 50200 the company name on the top deck was changed from “Canon Camera Company Ltd.To “Canon Camera Company Inc.” so this name appears on all of the Model IIC’s.
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