Difference between revisions of "Baby Chrome"

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{{127 Japan}}
 
{{127 Japan}}
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The '''Baby Chrome''' (ベビー・クローム) was a 3×4 camera made by the Japanese company [[Kigawa|Optochrom]]. It is often called '''Tsubasa Baby Chrome''', but a 1938 ad (appeared in September 1938 issue of ''Asahi Camera,'' visible [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki.htm at this page]) called it "Baby Chrome" in short. It was offered in two variations:
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The '''Baby Chrome'''<REF> {{McKeown}} calls it "Tsubasa Baby Chrome", surely by mistake. </REF> (ベビー・クローム) is a 3&times;4 camera made from 1936<REF> The earliest advertisement mentioned by {{Kokusan}} is dated October 1936. </REF> by the Japanese company [[Kigawa|Optochrom]].
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* with a New Gold f/6.3 lens (&yen;18)
 
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* with a New Gold f/4.5 lens (&yen;33.50)
 
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The case was sold &yen;4.50.
 
  
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The Baby Chrome had a black [[bakelite]] body and a tubular optical finder. There was a big helical ring, with the serial number engraved at the bottom. It was probably used for focusing. On the right of the viewfinder there was something that looks like a body release, but is probably not. The back had only one red window at the bottom right.
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It has a black [[bakelite]] body, embossed ''BABY CHROME'' on the front, and a big helical ring, probably used for focusing, with the serial number engraved at the bottom. There is a tubular optical finder, centered on the top. On the right of the viewfinder there is something that looks like a body release, but is probably some sort of accessory shoe, while the advance knob is at the left end of the top plate. The back is detachable together with the top plate. It has only one red window, uncovered, at the bottom right. The shutter is surely everset, with only one lever acting as a release. The aperture is set at the bottom of the shutter plate.
  
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In the version advertised, the shutter was a Tsubasa with B-25-50-100 speeds, marked ''TSUBASA'' at the top and ''NEW GOLD'' at the bottom, with a ''NE'' logo on the right. This version has been observed at an eBay auction and at a Yahoo Japan auction.
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The Baby Chrome is advertised in 1937<REF> {{Showa10ad|Baby Chrome and Baby Oso|34 and item 91|February 1937|Camera Art}} </REF> in two variants:
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* Optochrom B, 25, 50, 100 shutter and New Gold f:6.3 lens (&yen;15);
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* Optochrom T, B, 25, 50, 100 shutter and New Gold f:4.5 lens (&yen;28) &mdash; case &yen;3.50 extra.
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The shutter plate is marked ''OPTOCHROM SHUTTER'' at the top with a logo between both words, and ''NEW GOLD'' at the bottom. It is the version pictured in [http://asacame.xdap.jp/hspbestaz/besto.htm this page at Asacame].
  
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The Baby Chrome is also pictured [http://asacame.xdap.jp/hspbestaz/besto.htm here at Asacame], with B-25-50-150 shutter speeds and a different the shutter plate, marked ''OPTOCHROM SHUTTER'' at the top with a logo between both words, and ''NEW GOLD'' at the bottom.
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In 1938<REF> {{Gochamaze|Tsubasa Super Semi, Tsubasa Chrome New, Tsubasa Spring Camera and Baby Chrome|44|Sep 1938|Asahi Camera}} </REF> and 1939<REF> {{Showa10ad|Tsubasa Super Semi, Tsubasa Chrome New, Tsubasa Spring Camera and Baby Chrome|144|February 1939|Asahi Camera}} This advertisement is looking the same as the one dated September 1938 cited above, but there are some detail differences. &mdash; {{Showa10ad|Tsubasa Super Semi, Tsubasa A Chrome and Tsubasa Chrome|147|April 1939|Asahi Camera}} </REF>, the shutter is now called Tsubasa, always with B, 25, 50, 100 speeds, and the shutter plate is marked ''TSUBASA'' at the top and ''NEW GOLD'' at the bottom, with a ''NE'' logo on the right<REF> These markings have also been observed in eBay and Yahoo Japan auctions. </REF>. The two lens variants are the same, respectively at &yen;18 and &yen;33.50 &mdash; case &yen;4.50 extra.
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== Notes ==
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<references />
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== Printed bibliography ==
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* {{Showa10}} Item 91.
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
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* [http://asacame.xdap.jp/hspbestaz/besto.htm A page at Asacame], with a Baby Chrome, mistaken for an [[Olympic]]
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* [http://asacame.fc2web.com/hspbest/riken.htm Ricoh 127 cameras] and [http://asacame.fc2web.com/htmds/dbnbestaz.htm A-Z 127 film cameras] at [http://asacame.fc2web.com/ Asacame], with the Baby Chrome [http://asacame.fc2web.com/hspbestaz/besto.htm on this page], mistakenly presented as an [[Olympic]]. The 1/150 top shutter speed is very likely a mistake too.
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* [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki.htm Old Japanese ads, including the Tsubasa range]
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* {{Gochamaze|Baby Chrome and the Tsubasa range|44|Sep 1938|Asahi Camera}}
  
 
[[Category: 3x4 viewfinder]]
 
[[Category: 3x4 viewfinder]]

Revision as of 19:23, 8 July 2006

Template:127 Japan The Baby Chrome[1] (ベビー・クローム) is a 3×4 camera made from 1936[2] by the Japanese company Optochrom.

It has a black bakelite body, embossed BABY CHROME on the front, and a big helical ring, probably used for focusing, with the serial number engraved at the bottom. There is a tubular optical finder, centered on the top. On the right of the viewfinder there is something that looks like a body release, but is probably some sort of accessory shoe, while the advance knob is at the left end of the top plate. The back is detachable together with the top plate. It has only one red window, uncovered, at the bottom right. The shutter is surely everset, with only one lever acting as a release. The aperture is set at the bottom of the shutter plate.

The Baby Chrome is advertised in 1937[3] in two variants:

  • Optochrom B, 25, 50, 100 shutter and New Gold f:6.3 lens (¥15);
  • Optochrom T, B, 25, 50, 100 shutter and New Gold f:4.5 lens (¥28) — case ¥3.50 extra.

The shutter plate is marked OPTOCHROM SHUTTER at the top with a logo between both words, and NEW GOLD at the bottom. It is the version pictured in this page at Asacame.

In 1938[4] and 1939[5], the shutter is now called Tsubasa, always with B, 25, 50, 100 speeds, and the shutter plate is marked TSUBASA at the top and NEW GOLD at the bottom, with a NE logo on the right[6]. The two lens variants are the same, respectively at ¥18 and ¥33.50 — case ¥4.50 extra.

Notes

  1. ↑ McKeown calls it "Tsubasa Baby Chrome", surely by mistake.
  2. ↑ The earliest advertisement mentioned by Kokusan kamera no rekishi is dated October 1936.
  3. ↑ Advertisement for the Baby Chrome and Baby Oso, published in the February 1937 issue of Camera Art, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 34 and item 91.
  4. ↑ Template:Gochamaze
  5. ↑ Advertisement for the Tsubasa Super Semi, Tsubasa Chrome New, Tsubasa Spring Camera and Baby Chrome, published in the February 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 144. This advertisement is looking the same as the one dated September 1938 cited above, but there are some detail differences. — Advertisement for the Tsubasa Super Semi, Tsubasa A Chrome and Tsubasa Chrome, published in the April 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 147.
  6. ↑ These markings have also been observed in eBay and Yahoo Japan auctions.

Printed bibliography

Links

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