Difference between revisions of "Baby Pilot"
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{{Japanese Baby and Four}} | {{Japanese Baby and Four}} | ||
| − | The '''Baby Pilot''' (ベビーパイロット) is a Japanese 3×4 folder, made by [[Tachibana|Tachibana Shōkai]]<REF> | + | The '''Baby Pilot''' (ベビーパイロット) is a Japanese 3×4 folder, made by [[Tachibana|Tachibana Shōkai]].<REF> Advertisements explicitly say that Tachibana was the maker of the Pilot cameras: "パイロツト写真用品'''製造'''発売元". This is found in advertisements published in the January and September 1941 issues of ''Asahi Camera'' and reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 83. </REF> It was announced in 1941 and made in 1942 and 1943; after the war, it was advertised again in 1948.<REF> Dates: {{Kokusan}}, pp. 339 and 358. </REF> |
| − | The | + | == Description == |
| + | The Baby Pilot is a vertical folding camera, with a folding optical finder and incurved struts copied from the [[Baby Pearl]] by [[Konica|Konishiroku]]. There is no body release and the advance knob is on the bottom side of the body (opposite the viewfinder). The back is hinged to the left and film advance is by red windows. | ||
| − | The camera is | + | The camera is said to have a [[bakelite]] body, but this perhaps only applies to the postwar models.<REF> McKeown, p. 910. {{Kokusan}} says this only for the postwar models, p. 358. </REF> |
| + | |||
| + | == Prewar and wartime Baby Pilot == | ||
| + | The camera was announced in 1941 as soon to be available.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p. 339. </REF> An advertisement dated September 1941<REF> Published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 83. </REF> lists two lens options (f/4.5 and f/3.5, both called Pilot Anastigmat) and three shutter options (T, B, 25–150; T, B, 5–200 and T, B, 1–300, all three called Pilot). {{Kokusan}} says that a f/6.3 lens option was also offered and that the camera was only available from the following year.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p. 339. </REF> | ||
| + | |||
| + | An advertisement dated February 1942<REF> {{Showa10ad|Baby Pilot, [[Pilot Six]] and [[Japanese 3×4 and 4×4 pseudo TLR cameras|Pilot Ref]]|176|February 1942|Asahi Camera}} </REF> lists two variants only: | ||
* Pilot Anastigmat f:4.5 lens ({{yen|41|1942}}); | * Pilot Anastigmat f:4.5 lens ({{yen|41|1942}}); | ||
* Pilot Anastigmat f:3.5 lens ({{yen|52|1942}}). | * Pilot Anastigmat f:3.5 lens ({{yen|52|1942}}). | ||
| − | The only shutter available is an everset Pilot with | + | The only shutter available is an everset Pilot with T, B, 25, 50, 100, 150 speeds. The aperture scale is at the bottom of the shutter plate and the ''PILOT'' name is at the top. The lens is certainly front-cell focusing. |
| + | |||
| + | The advertisements from this period do not mention bakelite and the pictures seem to show a metal body, but they were perhaps retouched. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Postwar Baby Pilot II and V == | ||
| + | According to {{Kokusan}}, the Baby Pilot was advertised again in 1948 by [[Tachibana|Tachibana Shōkai]]. Two versions were available: the '''Baby Pilot II''' with a Pilot 50/4.5 lens and the '''Baby Pilot V''' with a Pilot 50/3.5, both having a bakelite body a Pilot shutter giving B, 25–150 speeds.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p. 358. </REF> | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{McKeown}} shows a picture of a Baby Pilot with what looks like a bakelite body, a metal folding bed and a bakelite advance knob.<REF> McKeown, p. 910. </REF> It is supposed that this example is postwar but this is not certain. The front of the body is marked ''Baby Pilot''. The shutter speeds are marked 150, 100, 50, 25, B, T in that order in the shutter rim. The shutter plate is marked ''PILOT.O'' and the lens marking is ''Pirot Anastigmat'', with a typo caused by the fact that Japanese phonology does not distinguish between the "l" and "r" letters. The lens has a low three-digit serial number. | ||
| − | + | No other picture of a surviving example has been observed so far. | |
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
| Line 15: | Line 28: | ||
== Bibliography == | == Bibliography == | ||
| − | * {{Showa10}} | + | * {{Showa10}} Items 176–7 and 683. |
* {{McKeown12}} P. 910. | * {{McKeown12}} P. 910. | ||
[[Category: Japanese 3x4 viewfinder folding]] | [[Category: Japanese 3x4 viewfinder folding]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Bakelite]] | ||
[[Category: B]] | [[Category: B]] | ||
[[Category: P|Pilot, Baby]] | [[Category: P|Pilot, Baby]] | ||
Revision as of 12:44, 10 December 2006
The Baby Pilot (ベビーパイロット) is a Japanese 3×4 folder, made by Tachibana Shōkai.[1] It was announced in 1941 and made in 1942 and 1943; after the war, it was advertised again in 1948.[2]
Contents
Description
The Baby Pilot is a vertical folding camera, with a folding optical finder and incurved struts copied from the Baby Pearl by Konishiroku. There is no body release and the advance knob is on the bottom side of the body (opposite the viewfinder). The back is hinged to the left and film advance is by red windows.
The camera is said to have a bakelite body, but this perhaps only applies to the postwar models.[3]
Prewar and wartime Baby Pilot
The camera was announced in 1941 as soon to be available.[4] An advertisement dated September 1941[5] lists two lens options (f/4.5 and f/3.5, both called Pilot Anastigmat) and three shutter options (T, B, 25–150; T, B, 5–200 and T, B, 1–300, all three called Pilot). Kokusan kamera no rekishi says that a f/6.3 lens option was also offered and that the camera was only available from the following year.[6]
An advertisement dated February 1942[7] lists two variants only:
The only shutter available is an everset Pilot with T, B, 25, 50, 100, 150 speeds. The aperture scale is at the bottom of the shutter plate and the PILOT name is at the top. The lens is certainly front-cell focusing.
The advertisements from this period do not mention bakelite and the pictures seem to show a metal body, but they were perhaps retouched.
Postwar Baby Pilot II and V
According to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, the Baby Pilot was advertised again in 1948 by Tachibana Shōkai. Two versions were available: the Baby Pilot II with a Pilot 50/4.5 lens and the Baby Pilot V with a Pilot 50/3.5, both having a bakelite body a Pilot shutter giving B, 25–150 speeds.[8]
McKeown shows a picture of a Baby Pilot with what looks like a bakelite body, a metal folding bed and a bakelite advance knob.[9] It is supposed that this example is postwar but this is not certain. The front of the body is marked Baby Pilot. The shutter speeds are marked 150, 100, 50, 25, B, T in that order in the shutter rim. The shutter plate is marked PILOT.O and the lens marking is Pirot Anastigmat, with a typo caused by the fact that Japanese phonology does not distinguish between the "l" and "r" letters. The lens has a low three-digit serial number.
No other picture of a surviving example has been observed so far.
Notes
- ↑ Advertisements explicitly say that Tachibana was the maker of the Pilot cameras: "パイロツト写真用品製造発売元". This is found in advertisements published in the January and September 1941 issues of Asahi Camera and reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 83.
- ↑ Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 339 and 358.
- ↑ McKeown, p. 910. Kokusan kamera no rekishi says this only for the postwar models, p. 358.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 339.
- ↑ Published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 83.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 339.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Baby Pilot, Pilot Six and Pilot Ref, published in the February 1942 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 176.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 358.
- ↑ McKeown, p. 910.
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. Items 176–7 and 683.
- 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. 910.
