Difference between revisions of "First Center"

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{{Japanese older 6×9}}
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{{Japanese older 6×9
The '''First Center''' (ファーストセンター) is a Japanese 6&times;9cm folding camera, sold by First Camera Works or [[Minagawa|Minagawa Shōten]] from 1936 or 1937 until the war.<REF> The 1936 release date is given by Baird, pp.19 and 94–5, {{Sugiyama}}, item 1047 and {{McKeown}}, p.577. {{Kokusan}}, p.340, lists advertisements and articles dated 1937 only, and says that the camera was featured in the new products column of the January 1937 issue of ''Asahi Camera''. The First Center was still listed in the official price list compiled in October 1940. </REF> It was certainly made by [[Petri|Kuribayashi]].<REF> Baird; {{McKeown}}, p.577. No original document has been found to confirm this. </REF>
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|image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/petri_at_wiki/17362769989/in/pool-1618922@N23/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7785/17362769989_56734f24da.jpg]<br>''From catalog of the First Camera Works. {{public domain Japan old}}''}}
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The '''First Center''' (ファーストセンター) is a Japanese 6×9cm folding camera, sold by First Camera Works or [[Minagawa|Minagawa Shōten]] from 1936 or 1937 to the early 1940s. It was certainly made by [[Petri|Kuribayashi]], as the rest of the First range.<REF> Baird; {{MK}}, p.577. No original document has been found to confirm this. </REF>
  
 
== Description of the body ==
 
== Description of the body ==
The First Center is a vertical folding camera taking both 6&times;9 and 4.5&times;6 exposures. It is self erecting and has folding struts inspired from the [[Balda]] products. It is actually a close copy of the Balda [[Gloria|Gloria, Glorina or Pontina]] 6&times;9 folder. The name ''FIRST-CENTER'' is embossed in the front leather.
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The First Center is a vertical folding camera taking both 6×9 and 4.5×6 exposures. It is self erecting and has folding struts inspired from the [[Balda]] products. It appears to be a close copy of the Balda Gloria, Glorina or [[Pontina]] 6×9 folder. The name ''FIRST-CENTER'' is embossed in the front leather.
  
 
There is a folding optical finder and a [[brilliant finder]] attached to the lens standard. The focal length is always 105mm. The advance knob is at the bottom right, as seen by a photographer holding the camera horizontally. The back is hinged to the left and the back latch is covered by a leather handle. There are two red windows near the top of the back.
 
There is a folding optical finder and a [[brilliant finder]] attached to the lens standard. The focal length is always 105mm. The advance knob is at the bottom right, as seen by a photographer holding the camera horizontally. The back is hinged to the left and the back latch is covered by a leather handle. There are two red windows near the top of the back.
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/petri_at_wiki/16925949824/in/pool-1618922@N23/
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|image= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8709/16925949824_3c43a5fbe2_z.jpg
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|image_align= center
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|image_text= First Center, from catalog of the First Camera Works.
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|image_by= Petri@wiki
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|image_rights= public domain Japan old
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}}
  
 
== Evolution, lens and shutter equipment ==
 
== Evolution, lens and shutter equipment ==
The First Center was advertised in April 1937 with a Toko lens by [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]] and a [[Magna]] shutter by [[Hattori|Seikōsha]] in two versions with f/6.3 and f/4.5 maximal aperture, respectively costing {{yen|38|1937}} and {{yen|45|1937}}.<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Camera Club]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.88. </REF>
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The First Center was first announced in the new products column of the January 1937 issue of {{ACA}}, but some sources say that it was released in 1936.<REF> The 1936 release date is given by Baird, pp.19 and 94–5, {{SUG}}, item 1047 and {{MK}}, p.577. The column in {{ACA}} January 1937 is the earliest document listed in {{Kokusan}}, p.340. </REF>
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The April 1937 advertisement in ''[[Camera Club]]'' offers the camera with a Toko lens by [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]] and a [[Magna]] shutter by [[Hattori|Seikōsha]], in two versions with f/6.3 and f/4.5 maximal aperture respectively costing {{yen|38|1937}} and {{yen|45|1937}}.<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.88. </REF>
  
In August 1937, the range was as follows:<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.87. The [[Rulex]] shutter name is not explicitly mentioned but it appears in the advertising pictures. </REF>
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The August 1937 advertisement in {{ACA}} shows the following range:<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.87. The [[Rulex]] shutter name is not explicitly mentioned but it appears in the pictures. </REF>
 
* State f/4.5 lens by [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]], [[Magna]] shutter ({{yen|45|1937}});
 
* State f/4.5 lens by [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]], [[Magna]] shutter ({{yen|45|1937}});
 
* First f/4.5 lens, [[Rulex|Rulex B]] shutter ({{yen|55|1937}});
 
* First f/4.5 lens, [[Rulex|Rulex B]] shutter ({{yen|55|1937}});
 
* First f/4.5 lens, [[Rulex|Rulex A]] shutter ({{yen|62|1937}}).
 
* First f/4.5 lens, [[Rulex|Rulex A]] shutter ({{yen|62|1937}}).
  
The First Center was still listed in the official price list compiled in October 1940, in two versions called "First Center I" (¥56) and "First Center II" (¥103) with no further detail.<REF> {{Kakaku0141_short}}, type 6, sections 2 and 4. </REF>
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The First Center still appears in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, in two versions called "First Center I" (¥56) and "First Center II" (¥103) with no further detail.<REF> {{Kakaku0141_short}}, type 6, sections 2 and 4. </REF>
  
Three surviving examples of the First Center have been observed so far. Two have the State f/4.5 and [[Magna]] combination.<REF> Example pictured in Tanaka, p.76 of {{KKS}} no.8 (with an accessory shoe, probably not original), and example observed in an online auction. </REF> The lens has the Tōkyō Kōgaku logo and is engraved ''State 1:4,5 f=10,5cm Tokyo Kogaku Nr.xxxxx.'' The other is pictured in {{Sugiyama}}, Baird and {{McKeown}} and has the State f/4.5 lens in a [[Seikosha (shutter)|Seikosha]] shutter giving T, B, 1–250 speeds.<REF> Example pictured in {{Sugiyama}}, item 1047, Baird, p.94, {{McKeown}}, p.577. </REF>
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Few surviving examples of the First Center are found today. The following combinations have been observed so far:
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* State f/4.5 lens, [[Seikosha (shutter)|Seikosha]] shutter (T, B, 1–250);<REF> Example pictured in {{SUG}}, item 1047, Baird, p.94, {{MK}}, p.577. </REF>
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* State f/4.5 lens, [[Magna]] shutter (25–100, B, T);<REF> Example pictured in Tanaka, p.76 of {{KKS}} no.8 (with an accessory shoe, probably not original), and example observed in an online auction. </REF>
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* f/4.5 lens by [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]] (certainly a State), [[Rulex|Rulex A]] shutter (1–200, B, T).<REF> Example observed in an online auction. </REF>
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The State lens is engraved ''State 1:4,5 f=10,5cm Tokyo Kogaku Nr.xxxxx'' and has the [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]] logo.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==

Latest revision as of 07:45, 12 May 2015

Japanese older 6×9 (edit)
folding First Center | First Roll | Kinka Roll | Lyra (6×9) | Pearl No.3 | Pearl No.2 | Year-Eight Pearl | Reex | Royal Junior
box Dox | Sakura (box)
3×4 and 4×4, 4×5 and 4×6.5, 4.5×6, 6×6 and plate ->
Modern 6×9 RF and SLR ->

The First Center (ファーストセンター) is a Japanese 6×9cm folding camera, sold by First Camera Works or Minagawa Shōten from 1936 or 1937 to the early 1940s. It was certainly made by Kuribayashi, as the rest of the First range.[1]

Description of the body

The First Center is a vertical folding camera taking both 6×9 and 4.5×6 exposures. It is self erecting and has folding struts inspired from the Balda products. It appears to be a close copy of the Balda Gloria, Glorina or Pontina 6×9 folder. The name FIRST-CENTER is embossed in the front leather.

There is a folding optical finder and a brilliant finder attached to the lens standard. The focal length is always 105mm. The advance knob is at the bottom right, as seen by a photographer holding the camera horizontally. The back is hinged to the left and the back latch is covered by a leather handle. There are two red windows near the top of the back.

Evolution, lens and shutter equipment

The First Center was first announced in the new products column of the January 1937 issue of Asahi Camera, but some sources say that it was released in 1936.[2]

The April 1937 advertisement in Camera Club offers the camera with a Toko lens by Tōkyō Kōgaku and a Magna shutter by Seikōsha, in two versions with f/6.3 and f/4.5 maximal aperture respectively costing ¥38 and ¥45.[3]

The August 1937 advertisement in Asahi Camera shows the following range:[4]

The First Center still appears in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, in two versions called "First Center I" (¥56) and "First Center II" (¥103) with no further detail.[5]

Few surviving examples of the First Center are found today. The following combinations have been observed so far:

The State lens is engraved State 1:4,5 f=10,5cm Tokyo Kogaku Nr.xxxxx and has the Tōkyō Kōgaku logo.

Notes

  1. Baird; McKeown, p.577. No original document has been found to confirm this.
  2. The 1936 release date is given by Baird, pp.19 and 94–5, Sugiyama, item 1047 and McKeown, p.577. The column in Asahi Camera January 1937 is the earliest document listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.340.
  3. Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.88.
  4. Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.87. The Rulex shutter name is not explicitly mentioned but it appears in the pictures.
  5. "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku", type 6, sections 2 and 4.
  6. Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 1047, Baird, p.94, McKeown, p.577.
  7. Example pictured in Tanaka, p.76 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.8 (with an accessory shoe, probably not original), and example observed in an online auction.
  8. Example observed in an online auction.

Bibliography


Kuribayashi prewar and wartime cameras (edit)
rollfilm folders
Eagle | Speed Pocket | First Roll | First Center | Semi First | First Six | Baby Semi First | Semi Rotte | Hokoku | Mizuho
plate folders rigid SLR TLR unknown
Mikuni | First | First Etui | Kokka | Romax | Tokiwa Molby Speed Reflex First Reflex Baby First