Mikuni
The Mikuni or Mikuni Camera (ミクニカメラ) is a Japanese 6.5×9cm plate folder, distributed by Saneidō and Minagawa in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and probably made by Kuribayashi.[1]
Description
The Mikuni has an all-metal body, split folding struts and double extension bellows driven by a focusing wheel on the photographer's right. There is a distance scale on the left, a swiveling brilliant finder and a wireframe finder. The front standard allows vertical movements controlled by a wheel on the right, and perhaps horizontal movements as well.
Commercial life
Advertisement by Saneidō in Asahi Camera March 1928. (Image rights) |
The advertisement by Saneidō Honten in Asahi Camera March 1928 presents the Mikuni as the "latest model" (最新型).[2] It shows a drawing of the Mikuni with a dial-set Compur shutter. The Speed Reflex, also made by Kuribayashi, is presented on the next page.[3] The Mikuni was supplied with three plate holders and one film pack holder. Two versions were available, both having a Wekar lens by Kenngott:
Advertisements by Minagawa in Asahi Camera May and July 1929. (Image rights) |
The advertisements by Minagawa Kamera-ten in Asahi Camera May and July 1929 say that the Mikuni received the first prize for "excellent Japanese products" at the Tokyo Fair.[4] The same prize was mentioned for the Speed Reflex in an advertisement by Saneidō in May 1929.[5] It was probably granted to the Kuribayashi company as a whole. The following options were available in May:
- Wekar f/6.3, Vario, ¥39.50;
- Wekar f/4.5, Ibsor, ¥60;
- Meyer Trioplan f/6.3, Ibsor, ¥50;
- Meyer Trioplan f/4.5, Compur, ¥70.
In July, the Wekar f/4.5 and Ibsor option was no longer offered and the price of the Meyer f/6.3 and Ibsor option was lowered to ¥48. In the most expensive option, the Trioplan f/4.5 lens could be replaced by a Trimer f/4.5 lens, made by an unknown company.[6] The picture is the same in the two advertisements; it curiously shows the words Contessa-Nettel on the speed setting wheel of the Compur shutter, probably because the drawer copied a picture of a Contessa-Nettel camera to draw the shutter.
Advertisement by Minagawa in Asahi Camera February 1930. (Image rights) |
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera. Advertisement by Saneidō Honten in March 1928 (p.A20), and by Minagawa Kamera-ten in May 1929 (p.A30), July 1929 (p.A28), February 1930 (p.A36).
- Baird, John R. Collectors guide to Kuribayashi-Petri Cameras. Grantsburg, WI (USA): Centennial Photo Service, 1991. ISBN 0-931838-16-9. Pp.14–6 and 46–7.
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P.44.
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.575.
The Mikuni is not listed in Sugiyama.
Links
In Japanese:
Kuribayashi prewar and wartime cameras ( ) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
rollfilm folders | ||||
Eagle | Speed Pocket | First Roll | First Center | Semi First | First Six | Baby Semi First | Semi Rotte | Hokoku | Mizuho | ||||
plate folders | rigid | SLR | TLR | unknown |
Mikuni | First | First Etui | Kokka | Romax | Tokiwa | Molby | Speed Reflex | First Reflex | Baby First |
- ↑ Made by Kuribayashi: Baird, pp.14–6 and 46–7, Lewis, p.44, McKeown, p.575.
- ↑ Advertisement in Asahi Camera March 1928, p.A20.
- ↑ Advertisement in Asahi Camera March 1928, p.A21.
- ↑ Advertisements in Asahi Camera May 1929, p.A30, and July 1929, p.A28: 東京博覧会ニ於テ最高賞優良国産賞受賞シ日本カメラ界ノ面目ヲ施セリ.
- ↑ Advertisement in Asahi Camera May 1929, p.A31: 於御大礼記念東京博覧会第一位優良国産賞受領.
- ↑ Trimer spelling: advertisement for the First plate folders in Asahi Camera May 1929, p.A29.