Baby Minolta

The Baby Minolta (ベビー・ミノルタ) is a Japanese camera taking 4×6.5cm pictures on 127 film, made by Molta then Chiyoda (later Minolta) between 1936 and 1940.

Description

Bakelite tube collapsed and extended.
(Image rights)

The Baby Minolta is a simpler camera than the Minolta Vest released earlier. It has a bakelite body covered with leather or leatherette and a bakelite telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly. There is a folding frame finder in the middle of the top plate, indicating the field of view for both 4×6.5 and 3×4 formats. The advance knob is at the left end of the top plate and film advance is controlled via two uncovered red windows in the back.

Bottom lock with MTS logo
and camera in the open position.
(Image rights)

The film plane is curved to compensate some of the lens aberrations. To load the film, the top plate is removed together with the spool holders and exposure chamber. It is locked into place by a lever placed at the bottom. The bakelite is recessed around this lever and the words OPEN and CLOSE are moulded, together with the MTS logo, TRADE MARK and MADE IN JAPAN.

The lens is fixed focus and has a single group (it is probably a cemented doublet). It wears no marking and its focal length is unknown, but probably 75 or 80mm. It has no aperture setting and its maximal aperture is not mentioned in the advertisements. Some sources say that it is a Coronar 80/8 but the use of the Coronar name (used for a triplet design) is very unlikely.

The shutter gives 25, 50, 100, B speeds set on a dial at the top. It is everset and the release lever is attached to the shutter plate.

Evolution

Baby Minolta, first variant. Extract from a leaflet dated about 1936.
Scan courtesy of Andrea Apra. (Image rights)

First variant

Baby Minolta, first variant. Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)

The first variant has small indexes in the finder to indicate the field of view for 3×4cm exposures. There is a metal advance knob with a low profile and either a flat top or concentric rings. The shutter plate is marked PATENTS PENDING at the top and BABY MINOLTA at the bottom. It has the MTS logo of the Molta company on the right and a chain of small circles drawing a decorative pattern on the contour.

The camera was first featured in the new products column of the April 1936 issue of Asahi Camera. The first variant appears in advertisements dated April, May and August 1937 and January 1938. The price was ¥9.50 in 1937 (case ¥2 extra) and ¥11 in 1938.

Second variant

Baby Minolta, second variant. Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)

Shutter plate. (Image rights)

The second variant has two bars in the finder for 3×4 format. The metal advance knob has a higher profile and a recessed centre and the shutter plate is marked PATENTS NIPPON instead of PATENTS PENDING.

Third variant

Baby Minolta, third variant.
Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)

The third variant has a new shutter plate design with three stripes on each side. It is marked PATENTS NIPPON at the top and BABY MINOLTA at the bottom, and it does not have the MTS logo.

Fourth variant

Baby Minolta, fourth variant.
Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)

The fourth variant has a black bakelite advance knob instead of the metal knob. It appears in an advertisement dated December 1939, where it was offered for ¥12. An advertisement in English language depicting the third or fourth variant is reproduced in Francesch. This perhaps indicates that the company tried to export the camera.

Case

Early and late Baby Minolta case.
Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights)

Two types of cases are known. One has the MTS logo and probably corresponds to the first and second variants. The other is embossed Baby Minolta and probably corresponds to the third and fourth variants.

Bibliography

• 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 277. (See also the advertisements for item 272.)
• 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. P. 252.
• 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. 52–3 (brief mention only).
• 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.
• 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. 20–1.
• Tanimura, Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minolta I-gata to II-gata (sono 2)." (セミミノルタⅠ型とⅡ型(その2)) Camera Collectors News, n°118 (April 1987). P. 15: advertisement for the Minolta range, published in the January 1938 issue of Asahi Camera.
• 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. Item 4056.

Links

In English:

• Minolta cameras using 127 film in the Manual Minolta website

In Japanese:

• Baby Minolta in the Kitamura camera site
• Advertisements reproduced in the small format camera page and the camera company page of the Gochamaze website:
  • Advertisement for the Baby Minolta, published in the 9 May 1937 issue of Sunday Mainichi
  • Advertisement for the Baby Minolta and Minolta Vest, published in the December 1939 issue of Shōgakusei no Kagaku

In Chinese:

• Baby Minolta in a Chinese blog