Auto Press Minolta

This is a work in progress.

The Auto Press Minolta (オートプレスミノルタ) is a strut-folding camera with a coupled rangefinder, taking 6.5×9cm plates or film sheets, made from 1937 by Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō (predecessor of Minolta). It is an upgraded successor of the Auto Minolta.

Description

The Auto Press Minolta was much inspired by the Plaubel Makina IIS but has a reversed configuration, with the viewfinder on the photographer's left, and has a number of other differences, including some features which were absent on the contemporary Makina.

The main body is the same as on the Auto Minolta, but reversed. The rectangular front plate is chrome-finished. It is mounted on scissor struts offset to the left, attached to a spring-loaded shaft. There are smaller struts on the right. The camera is opened by a small button placed on the right-hand side of the body, under the leather strap embossed AUTO PRESS. There is a single tripod thread at the bottom.

There is a chrome-finished top housing covering the whole length of the body. It contains the viewfinder eyepiece at the left end, providing automatic parallax correction. The viewfinder's main glass element is hinged to the front plate and has a crosshair; the hinge is spring-loaded and the element is maintained in retracted position by a small pin. The automatic parallax correction feature was very novel at the time, and the Auto Press Minolta was perhaps the first Japanese camera to incorporate it. It might have been the main reason to reverse the Auto Minolta's body, to have the scissor struts' main axis just below the viewfinder for easier coupling of the parallax correction device to the focusing mechanism.

The coupled rangefinder is contained in the right side of the top housing. It has two windows at the front and an eyepiece offset to the left, not far from the viewfinder eyepiece.

The camera also has a wireframe finder hinged to the top corners of the front part, used in conjunction with a bead hinged at the rear of the top housing.

The camera is focused by turning a small knob controlling the angle of the main struts, placed at the left end of the front plate (this layout is symmetrical to that of the Auto Minolta). The distance is indicated by a circular scale rotating around a fixed arrow index. The scale is graduated from ∞ down to 1m, and the central index has depth-of-field indications; the whole device is placed at the bottom left of the lens, as seen from the front. There is a button placed between the lens and the focusing wheel, unlocking the scissor struts to close the camera.

The lens is a four-element Promar Anastigmat Nippon 105mm f/3.5, made by Asahi Kōgaku (predecessor of Pentax). This lens was similar to the Promar Anastigmat Nippon 75mm f/3.5 lens mounted at the same time on the Auto Semi Minolta. The same company Asahi Kōgaku was already supplying the Coronar Anastigmat Nippon and Actiplan Anastigmat Nippon lenses of other Minolta cameras.

The shutter is a rim-set Crown-Rapid (T, B, 1–400) made by the Chiyoda company itself. Two levers protrude at the top of the shutter casing: the larger winding lever has a black dot and runs in a slit of the front plate, whereas the self-timer lever is smaller and has a red dot. The shutter plate is silver and has the words Patents–Nippon engraved at the top, and an aperture scale from 3.5 to 25 screwed at the bottom. The long aperture lever is shaped as a scythe and runs in an indent of the front plate, under the shutter casing. The shutter name CROWN–RAPID is inscribed at the bottom of the speed setting rim.

The main release protrudes at the top right corner of the front standard (as seen by the photographer), and contains a thread for a cable release. There is an indent in the main body, to accommodate the release button when the camera is folded.

The camera has two attachments for a flashgun on the left-hand side of the main body. Flash synchronization is actuated by the movement of the shutter's winding lever, and is effective at 1/50 speed. There is a selector on the front plate, near the main release, with ON and OFF indications, perhaps used to engage or shut the synch connection. The synch contact is transmitted by the auxiliary struts to the bottom flashgun attachment, allowing cordless operation. The Auto Press Minolta was the first Japanese camera synchronized for flash, and was maybe the first camera in the world to have a hot shoe.

The model name Auto Press is engraved in a stylized form above the top housing, and the brand name Minolta is at the front, between the two rangefinder windows, in a similar stylized form, the same as on the contemporaneous Auto Semi Minolta. The body serial number is engraved on the viewfinder's front element support, with an Nr. prefix.

The dimensions of the camera are 140×118×133mm, and the weight is 1,300g.

Commercial life

Auto Press Minolta in the October 1941 catalogue by Asanuma Shōkai. (Image rights)

The Auto Press Minolta was announced in late 1937, and was featured in the December 1937 issue of Asahi Camera. The earliest reported advertisement is in the January 1938 issue of the same magazine. It shows no picture of the Auto Press Minolta, which is listed at ¥265. This price is very expensive, but is thirty yen less than the Auto Minolta with Tessar and Compur.

The advertisement in Shashin Shinpō January 1940 shows the camera with the flash gun attached on the side. The pictured example already has the later type of wireframe with stepped sides (see below). The price is ¥310, making it the most expensive Japanese camera with the exception of the few Leica copies. The same price of ¥310 is given in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941.

The October 1941 catalogue by Asanuma Shōkai has a page about the Auto Press Minolta, priced at ¥363. The April 1943 government inquiry on Japanese camera production still lists the Auto Press Minolta; this is the last known mention of the camera.

Accessories

The camera was supplied as a set with six plate holders, a film pack holder and a lens cap. The following accessories were offered:

• lens hood, holding 40mm diameter filters, ¥1.90 in 1941;
• flashgun, ¥13 in 1940 and 1941;
• ever-ready case (速写ケース), ¥8 in 1940, ¥11.65 in 1941;
• rigid "portable case" (携帯ケース), ¥10 in 1940, ¥11.85 in 1941.

Bibliography

Original documents

• Asanuma Shōkai. Shashinki to zairyō (写真機と材料, Cameras and supplies). Catalogue dated October 1941. P.12. Document partly reproduced in this Flickr album by Rebollo_fr.
• "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced in Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp.180–7. Item 184.
• "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku" (国産写真機の公定価格, Set prices of the Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of October 25, 1940 and setting the retail prices from December 10, 1940. Published in Asahi Camera January 1941 and reproduced in Shōwa 10—40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10〜40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935—1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Pp.108—9. Type 5, section 9.

Older historical accounts

• Minolta Camera. Minolta 50-nen no ayumi (Minolta・50年のあゆみ, Minolta 50-year history). November 1978. Pp.6 and 65.
• Shashin Kōgyō no.77 (September 1958). "Hensen kamera ichiran-pyō" (変遷カメラ一らん表, Table of camera evolution.) P.295. (This is a chronology of Minolta cameras from the Nifcarette onwards. This document is also reproduced in Tanimura, p.7 of Camera Collectors' News no.116.)

Collectors' sources

• Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Item 271.
• Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Minoruta ryakushi" (ミノルタ略史, "Minolta short history"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.6–8.
• Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Senzen no Minoruta kamera" (戦前のミノルタカメラ, "Prewar Minolta cameras"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.13–7.
• Baird, John R. The Japanese Camera. Yakima, WA: Historical Camera Publications, 1990. ISBN 1-879561-02-6. P.42 (picture only).
• Eimukku 735, Manyuaru Kamera Shirīzu 15 (エイムック735・マニュアルカメラシリーズ15). Minolta: Minoruta kamera no subete (Minolta:ミノルタカメラのすべて, Minolta: all of Minolta cameras). Tokyo: Ei Shuppansha, 2003. ISBN 4-87099-923-4. "Jabara-shiki kamera no kiseki" (蛇腹式カメラの軌跡", Evolution of folding cameras). Pp.131 and 133. Shows very small pictures and brief captions.
• Francesch, Dominique and Jean-Paul. Histoire de l'appareil photographique Minolta de 1929 à 1985. Paris: Dessain et Tolra, 1985. ISBN 2-249-27685-4. Pp.23–4 and 79.
• 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). Pp.54 and 182.
• 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.673.
• Saeki Kakugorō (佐伯恪五郎). "Tashima Gizō-shi ni kiku" (田嶋義三氏に聞く, "Asking Tashima Gizō"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.76–9.
• Scheibel, Anni Rita and Joseph. 70 Jahre Minolta Kameratechnik — Von der Nifcalette bis zur Dynax 9. Stuttgart: Lindemanns Verlag, 3rd edition, 1999. ISBN 3-89506-191-3. Pp.24–5.
• Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Items 1198.
• Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minoruta I-gata to II-gata." (セミミノルタⅠ型とⅡ型, "Semi Minolta I and II") In Camera Collectors' News no.116 (February 1987). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. (Contains a reproduction of the chronology in Shashin Kōgyō no.77 and no other information on the Auto Press Minolta.)
• Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Supuringu kamera <Semi Minoruta>" (スプリングカメラ<セミミノルタ>, "'Semi Minolta' self-erecting camera"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.19–24. (Contains a reproduction of an advertisement showing the Auto Press Minolta, and no other information on the camera.)

Links

In English:

• Auto Press Minolta in the 70th anniversary Minolta poster, reproduced at Photoclub Alpha
• Auto Press Minolta among Minolta folding cameras in the Manual Minolta website
• Auto Press Minolta, lot no.650 of Westlicht Photographica auction no.10

In Japanese:

• Auto Press Minolta in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
• Auto Press Minolta in a page of wanted cameras at je2luz
• Auto Press Minolta in the Map Camera Museum
• Auto Press Minolta in the Kitamura Camera Museum