Difference between revisions of "First Center"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
m (Bibliography: cat)
m (template fix)
Line 15: Line 15:
 
* First f/4.5 lens, [[Rulex|Rulex A]] shutter ({{yen|62|1937}}).<REF> The Rulex shutter name is not explicitly mentioned but it appears in the advertising pictures. </REF>
 
* First f/4.5 lens, [[Rulex|Rulex A]] shutter ({{yen|62|1937}}).<REF> The Rulex shutter name is not explicitly mentioned but it appears in the advertising pictures. </REF>
  
The First Center was still listed in the official price list compiled in October 1940, in two versions called "First Center I" (&yen;56) and "First Center II" (&yen;103) with no further detail.<REF> {{Kakaku1940_short}}, type 6, sections 2 and 4. </REF>
+
The First Center was still listed in the official price list compiled in October 1940, in two versions called "First Center I" (&yen;56) and "First Center II" (&yen;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.&nbsp;76 of {{KKS}} no.&nbsp;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&ndash;250 speeds.<REF> Example pictured in {{Sugiyama}}, item 1047, Baird, p.&nbsp;94, {{McKeown}}, p.&nbsp;577. </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.&nbsp;76 of {{KKS}} no.&nbsp;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&ndash;250 speeds.<REF> Example pictured in {{Sugiyama}}, item 1047, Baird, p.&nbsp;94, {{McKeown}}, p.&nbsp;577. </REF>
Line 25: Line 25:
 
* {{Showa10}} Item 208. (See also the advertisements for items 211.)
 
* {{Showa10}} Item 208. (See also the advertisements for items 211.)
 
* {{Baird Petri}} Pp.&nbsp;19 and 94&ndash;5.
 
* {{Baird Petri}} Pp.&nbsp;19 and 94&ndash;5.
* {{Kakaku1940}} Type 6, sections 2 and 4.
+
* {{Kakaku0141}} Type 6, sections 2 and 4.
 
* {{Lewis}} P.&nbsp;50 (brief mention only).
 
* {{Lewis}} P.&nbsp;50 (brief mention only).
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;577.
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;577.

Revision as of 00:42, 16 March 2008

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 until the war.[1] It was certainly made by Kuribayashi.[2]

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 is actually 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 advertised in April 1937 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]

In August 1937, the range was as follows:[4]

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.[6]

Three surviving examples of the First Center have been observed so far. Two have the State f/4.5 and Magna combination.[7] 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 giving T, B, 1–250 speeds.[8]

Notes

  1. The 1936 release date is given by Baird, pp. 19 and 94–5, Sugiyama, item 1047 and McKeown, p. 577. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, 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.
  2. Baird; McKeown, p. 577. No original document has been found to confirm this.
  3. Advertisement published in Camera Club, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 88.
  4. Advertisement published in Camera Club, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 88.
  5. The Rulex shutter name is not explicitly mentioned but it appears in the advertising pictures.
  6. "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku", type 6, sections 2 and 4.
  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 pictured in Sugiyama, item 1047, Baird, p. 94, McKeown, p. 577.

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