First Center
The First Center (ファーストセンター) is a Japanese 6×9cm folding camera, made by First Camera Works from 1936 or 1937.[1] It was the successor of the First Roll.
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.
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.
The name FIRST-CENTER is embossed in the front leather.
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.[2]
In August 1937, the range was as follows:[3]
- State f/4.5 lens by Tōkyō Kōgaku, Magna shutter (¥45);
- First f/4.5 lens, Rulex B shutter (¥55);
- First f/4.5 lens, Rulex A shutter (¥62).[4]
Only one surviving example of the First Center has been observed so far, pictured in Sugiyama, Baird and McKeown.[5]
Notes
- ↑ The 1936 release date is given by Baird, pp. 19 and 94–5, Sugiyama, items 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.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Camera Club, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 88.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Camera Club, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 88.
- ↑ The Rulex shutter name is not explicitly mentioned but it appears in the advertising pictures.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 1047, Baird, p. 94, McKeown, p. 577.
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 208. (See also the advertisements for items 211.)
- Baird, John R. Collectors guide to Kuribayashi-Petri Cameras. Grantsburg, WI (USA): Centennial Photo Service, 1991. ISBN 0-931838-16-9. Pp. 19 and 94–5.
- 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). P. 50 (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. 577.
- 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. Items 1047.
