Difference between revisions of "Bell 14"
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| − | {{Japanese roll film subminiature}} | + | {{Japanese roll film subminiature |
| + | |image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricksoloway/3217947586/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3217947586_a95875a424_m_d.jpg]<br/><small>image by {{image author|Rick Soloway}}</small> {{with permission}} | ||
| + | }} | ||
The '''Bell 14''' is a Japanese subminiature taking 14×14mm pictures on 17.5mm paper backed rollfilm, made around 1960 by an unknown company. | The '''Bell 14''' is a Japanese subminiature taking 14×14mm pictures on 17.5mm paper backed rollfilm, made around 1960 by an unknown company. | ||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
| − | The Bell 14 is a cheap camera revisiting the [[Hit]] concept with a new design. The viewfinder is integrated in the top housing, which is much sleeker than on the traditional [[Hit]]. The front window is elongated, imitating the rangefinder cameras of the 1960s. The film is advanced by a wheel at the rear, moved by the photographer's left thumb. The back is hinged to the right, is locked by a sliding bar on the left, and has an uncovered red window in the middle. The film spool must be placed in a small insert before loading it into the inside chamber.<REF> See the [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/manuals/bell14.htm user manual] reproduced at Submin.com. </REF> The lens has a fixed focus and aperture, and has no marking. The | + | The Bell 14 is a cheap camera revisiting the [[Hit]] concept with a new design. The viewfinder is integrated in the top housing, which is much sleeker than on the traditional [[Hit]]. The front window is elongated, imitating the rangefinder cameras of the 1960s. The film is advanced by a wheel at the rear, moved by the photographer's left thumb. The back is hinged to the right, is locked by a sliding bar on the left, and has an uncovered red window in the middle. The film spool must be placed in a small insert before loading it into the inside chamber.<REF> See the [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/manuals/bell14.htm user manual] reproduced at Submin.com. </REF> The lens has a fixed focus and aperture, and has no marking. The [[everset]] shutter gives instant exposures only. |
== Variations == | == Variations == | ||
| − | The '''Bell 14''' is identified by the name ''BELL'' next to the viewfinder window. Most examples have a blue area on the other side of the window, with the number ''14'', but some have an unmarked honeycomb pattern instead, faking a selenium meter.<REF> Honeycomb pattern: examples pictured in {{MK}}, p.122, | + | The '''Bell 14''' is identified by the name ''BELL'' next to the viewfinder window. Most examples have a blue area on the other side of the window, with the number ''14'', but some have an unmarked honeycomb pattern instead, faking a selenium meter.<REF> Honeycomb pattern: examples pictured in {{MK}}, p.122, in {{SUG}}, item 5017, and in [http://archive.fo/15t67 this page] at [http://archive.fo/RZmxD Shōwa no shōnen bōken nikki] (archived). </REF> The shutter plate is inscribed ''Bell'' at the top and ''MADE IN JAPAN'' at the bottom, with three stars on each side of the lens. The name ''BELL–14'' is sometimes repeated on the camera's top, but not always.<REF> See the examples pictured in [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/bell14/engraved.htm this page] and [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/bell14/bell-14.htm this page] at Submin.com. </REF> Some examples have a lizard covering instead of black leatherette;<REF> Lizard covering: examples pictured in {{MK}}, p.122, and in {{SUG}}, item 5017. </REF> at least one is known with a fancy black and cream imitation-caning pattern.<REF>An example is shown at the Japanese site [http://archive.fo/15t67 this page at ''Shōwa no shōnen bōken nikki''] (archived).</REF> |
| − | The '''Sing 88''' is similar to the Bell 14, with the name ''SING–88'' engraved at the top, and ''SING 88'' inscribed around the viewfinder window. The shutter plate is inscribed ''MINI CAMERA'' at the top and ''MADE IN HONG KONG'' at the bottom. This might indicate that the production of these cameras was transferred to Hong Kong at some time | + | The Bell 14 sometimes appears with a larger recessed lens barrel and a black lens bezel, with no inscriptions on the front plate. It is unclear if these examples correspond to another variant of the camera, or to regular Bell 14 equipped with a removable lens hood.<REF> Examples pictured in [https://web.archive.org/web/20051028013915/http://home.tiscali.nl/benbojo/bell_14%20NO%20NAME.htm this page], formerly at Benbojo's Classic Cameras (archived copy at the [https://archive.org/index.php Internet Archive]), in [http://junkcamera.blog9.fc2.com/blog-entry-613.html this page at the Junk Binbō blog], in [http://archive.fo/15t67 this page at Shōwa no shōnen bōken nikki] (archived), and observed in an online auction. </REF> |
| + | |||
| + | The original box for the Bell 14 is known in various colours (green, grey or blue).<REF> Boxes pictured in [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/bell14/index.htm this page at Submin.com] and in [http://members.tripod.com/Nigel_Richards/Submin/bell14.htm this page in Nigel Richards' website], and observed in an online auction. </REF> It shows a picture of the camera, together with the words ''Bell 14'' and ''BELL–14 CAMERA''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The '''Sing 88''' is similar to the Bell 14, with the name ''SING–88'' engraved at the top, and ''SING 88'' inscribed around the viewfinder window. The shutter plate is inscribed ''MINI CAMERA'' at the top and ''MADE IN HONG KONG'' at the bottom. This might indicate that the production of these cameras was transferred to Hong Kong at some time. | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
| Line 22: | Line 28: | ||
In English: | In English: | ||
* [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/bell14/index.htm Bell 14], [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/sing_88/index.htm Sing 88] and [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/manuals/bell14.htm user manual of the Bell 14] at [http://www.submin.com/ Submin.com] | * [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/bell14/index.htm Bell 14], [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/sing_88/index.htm Sing 88] and [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/manuals/bell14.htm user manual of the Bell 14] at [http://www.submin.com/ Submin.com] | ||
| − | |||
* Bell 14 and Sing 88 among [http://www.subclub.org/shop/175mm.htm 17.5mm film cameras] at [http://www.subclub.org/ Subclub.org] | * Bell 14 and Sing 88 among [http://www.subclub.org/shop/175mm.htm 17.5mm film cameras] at [http://www.subclub.org/ Subclub.org] | ||
| − | * Bell 14 among [http://www. | + | * Bell 14 among [http://www.lchr.org/a/12/9k/subminiatures/other.html other subminiature cameras] at [http://www.lchr.org/a/12/9k/subminiatures/index.html the Subminiature site of Gary Sivertsen] |
* [http://members.tripod.com/Nigel_Richards/Submin/bell14.htm Bell 14] in [http://members.tripod.com/Nigel_Richards/ Nigel Richards' website] | * [http://members.tripod.com/Nigel_Richards/Submin/bell14.htm Bell 14] in [http://members.tripod.com/Nigel_Richards/ Nigel Richards' website] | ||
| + | *[http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22900/lot/734/ Bell 14 outfit] including the camera, case, film and developing chemicals, offered for sale at the auction [http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22900/ Important and Rare Cameras] by Bonhams, Hong Kong, on 3 December 2015. | ||
In Swedish: | In Swedish: | ||
| − | * Bell 14 among [http://www.fotomuseetiosby.nu/hit.html Hit-type cameras] at [http://www.fotomuseetiosby.nu/ Fotomuseet i Osby] | + | * Bell 14 among [https://web.archive.org/web/20170319222221/http://www.fotomuseetiosby.nu/hit.html Hit-type cameras] (archived) at [http://www.fotomuseetiosby.nu/ Fotomuseet i Osby] |
In Japanese: | In Japanese: | ||
| − | * [ | + | * [https://web.archive.org/web/20181107063058/http://www.geocities.jp/wwsada/camera/2/2-bell-01L Bell 14] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20181106091410/http://www.geocities.jp/wwsada/sonota.html Itō Sadanobu's camera collection] (archived) |
| − | + | * Bell 14 in [http://junkcamera.blog9.fc2.com/blog-entry-613.html this post] of the [http://junkcamera.blog9.fc2.com/ Junk Binbō blog] | |
| + | * [http://archive.is/homepage2.nifty.com/zenmaitarow/sab23.htm#toycamera-5 Bell 14] at [http://archive.is/homepage2.nifty.com/zenmaitarow/ Shōwa no shōnen bōken nikki] (archived) | ||
[[Category: Japanese 17.5mm film]] | [[Category: Japanese 17.5mm film]] | ||
[[Category: Hong Kong]] | [[Category: Hong Kong]] | ||
[[Category: B]] | [[Category: B]] | ||
Latest revision as of 04:44, 24 June 2023
The Bell 14 is a Japanese subminiature taking 14×14mm pictures on 17.5mm paper backed rollfilm, made around 1960 by an unknown company.
Description
The Bell 14 is a cheap camera revisiting the Hit concept with a new design. The viewfinder is integrated in the top housing, which is much sleeker than on the traditional Hit. The front window is elongated, imitating the rangefinder cameras of the 1960s. The film is advanced by a wheel at the rear, moved by the photographer's left thumb. The back is hinged to the right, is locked by a sliding bar on the left, and has an uncovered red window in the middle. The film spool must be placed in a small insert before loading it into the inside chamber.[1] The lens has a fixed focus and aperture, and has no marking. The everset shutter gives instant exposures only.
Variations
The Bell 14 is identified by the name BELL next to the viewfinder window. Most examples have a blue area on the other side of the window, with the number 14, but some have an unmarked honeycomb pattern instead, faking a selenium meter.[2] The shutter plate is inscribed Bell at the top and MADE IN JAPAN at the bottom, with three stars on each side of the lens. The name BELL–14 is sometimes repeated on the camera's top, but not always.[3] Some examples have a lizard covering instead of black leatherette;[4] at least one is known with a fancy black and cream imitation-caning pattern.[5]
The Bell 14 sometimes appears with a larger recessed lens barrel and a black lens bezel, with no inscriptions on the front plate. It is unclear if these examples correspond to another variant of the camera, or to regular Bell 14 equipped with a removable lens hood.[6]
The original box for the Bell 14 is known in various colours (green, grey or blue).[7] It shows a picture of the camera, together with the words Bell 14 and BELL–14 CAMERA.
The Sing 88 is similar to the Bell 14, with the name SING–88 engraved at the top, and SING 88 inscribed around the viewfinder window. The shutter plate is inscribed MINI CAMERA at the top and MADE IN HONG KONG at the bottom. This might indicate that the production of these cameras was transferred to Hong Kong at some time.
Notes
- ↑ See the user manual reproduced at Submin.com.
- ↑ Honeycomb pattern: examples pictured in McKeown, p.122, in Sugiyama, item 5017, and in this page at Shōwa no shōnen bōken nikki (archived).
- ↑ See the examples pictured in this page and this page at Submin.com.
- ↑ Lizard covering: examples pictured in McKeown, p.122, and in Sugiyama, item 5017.
- ↑ An example is shown at the Japanese site this page at Shōwa no shōnen bōken nikki (archived).
- ↑ Examples pictured in this page, formerly at Benbojo's Classic Cameras (archived copy at the Internet Archive), in this page at the Junk Binbō blog, in this page at Shōwa no shōnen bōken nikki (archived), and observed in an online auction.
- ↑ Boxes pictured in this page at Submin.com and in this page in Nigel Richards' website, and observed in an online auction.
Bibliography
- 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.122.
- Pritchard, Michael and St. Denny, Douglas. Spy Cameras — A century of detective and subminiature cameras. London: Classic Collection Publications, 1993. ISBN 1-874485-00-3. P.74.
- 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 5017.
The Bell 14 is not listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi.
Links
In English:
- Bell 14, Sing 88 and user manual of the Bell 14 at Submin.com
- Bell 14 and Sing 88 among 17.5mm film cameras at Subclub.org
- Bell 14 among other subminiature cameras at the Subminiature site of Gary Sivertsen
- Bell 14 in Nigel Richards' website
- Bell 14 outfit including the camera, case, film and developing chemicals, offered for sale at the auction Important and Rare Cameras by Bonhams, Hong Kong, on 3 December 2015.
In Swedish:
- Bell 14 among Hit-type cameras (archived) at Fotomuseet i Osby
In Japanese:
- Bell 14 at Itō Sadanobu's camera collection (archived)
- Bell 14 in this post of the Junk Binbō blog
- Bell 14 at Shōwa no shōnen bōken nikki (archived)
