First Etui
The First Etui (ファーストエツイ) is a Japanese 6.5×9cm folding plate camera, advertised by First Camera Works or Minagawa Shōten from 1934 to 1936 and probably sold until the war.[1] It was certainly made by Kuribayashi.[2]
Contents
Description of the body
The Prince Peerless is a copy of the Patent Etui, a German camera made by KW. The metal body is very thin when folded, with a bulging folding bed. The name First Etui is inscribed on a nameplate riveted inside the body.
There is a swivelling brilliant finder attached to the front standard. There is also a folding frame finder made of two parts: a wireframe attached to the lens standard and a simple pin articulated to the body. There is a handle on top of the body and a folding bed release at the top right (as seen by a photographer holding the camera vertically).
Focusing is done by a small wheel on the right of the folding bed, with a focusing scale on the left. It seems that some limited vertical movement is available, and a spirit level is attached to the right of the brilliant finder.
Evolution in the advertisements
The First Center was advertised in April 1935 by Hattori Tokei-ten and First Camera Works in a number of versions:[3]
- Tessar f/4.5 lens, S Compur shutter (¥165);
- Trinar f/4.5 lens, S Compur shutter (¥115);
- Xenar f/4.5 lens, Rulex A shutter (¥95);
- Radionar f/4.5 lens, Rulex A shutter (¥80);
- Radionar f/4.5 lens, Rulex B shutter (¥72);
- State f/4.5 lens, Magna shutter (¥60);
- Toko f/6.3 lens, Magna shutter (¥54).
In an advertisement dated May 1935, the Tessar and Xenar versions were not listed and the Trinar version cost ¥118.[4] One advertisement dated July 1935 showed the exact same range and another one only mentioned the cheapest Toko and Magna version and the most expensive Tessar and Compur version.[5]
In December 1935, the range was as follows:
- Trinar f/4.5 lens, S Compur shutter (¥118);
- Simlar f/4.5[6] lens, Seikosha shutter (¥105);
- Radionar f/4.5 lens, Rulex A shutter (¥80);
- Radionar f/4.5 lens, Rulex B shutter (¥72);
- State f/4.5 lens, Magna shutter (¥60);
- Toko f/6.3 lens, Magna (¥54).
Actual examples
One example is pictured in Sugiyama with the Toko f/6.3 and Magna combination.[7] The Magna shutter gives 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds selected by a small wheel at the top. It also has a simple thread-and-pin self-timer device. The shutter plate is marked MAGNA in the speed dial, SEIKOSHA at the bottom and has the SKS logo at the top right. The Toko f/6.3 lens has the Tōkyō Kōgaku logo and is certainly engraved Toko–Anastigmat 1:6.3 F=10.5cm Nr.xxxx.
One example is pictured in Baird and in McKeown with the State f/4.5 and Magna combination.[8] The lens has the Tōkyō Kōgaku logo and is engraved State–Anastigmat 1:4.5 F=10.5cm Nr.xxxxx.
Notes
- ↑ The 1934 release date is given by Baird, pp. 16 and 60, Sugiyama, item 1046 and McKeown, p. 576. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 339, lists advertisements and articles dated 1935 and 1936. The First Etui was still listed in the Template:Kakaku1940 short compiled on October 25, 1940.
- ↑ Baird; McKeown, p. 576. No original document has been found to confirm this.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Baird, p. 61.
- ↑ May 1935 advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Baird, p. 17.
- ↑ July 1935 advertisements published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 72 and 85.
- ↑ The aperture is not mentioned but it is probably f/4.5.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 1046.
- ↑ Baird, pp. 60 and 62, and McKeown, p. 576, with lens n° 13446.
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 195. (See also the advertisement for items 106–7.)
- Baird, John R. Collectors guide to Kuribayashi-Petri Cameras. Grantsburg, WI (USA): Centennial Photo Service, 1991. ISBN 0-931838-16-9. Pp. 16–7 and 60–2.
- 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. 48.
- 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. 576.
- 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 1046.
