First plate folders

This is a work in progress.

The First or First Camera (ファーストカメラ) are Japanese 6.5×9cm plate folders, distributed by Minagawa in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and ostensibly made by "First Camera Works", another name for Kuribayashi.

Wooden models

The early First cameras have a wooden main body. The split folding struts are the same as on the Mikuni; they were perhaps copied on Contessa-Nettel designs, such as the Adoro. The First has single extension bellows, a focusing wheel on the photographer's right, a distance scale and a brilliant finder on the left. The attachments for the top handle are clover-shaped and are fixed by three rivets each.

The advertisements in Asahi Camera May, July, August and September 1929 were ostensibly placed by "First Camera Works". All four show the same illustration; the pictured camera has w Vario shutter, no wireframe finder, and the name FIRST is visible inside the folding bed, between the focusing rails.

Advertisements by "First Camera Works" in Asahi Camera May and September 1929. (Image rights)

The May and September advertisements are almost identical. They mention Trimer Anastigmat lenses, in f/3.5, f/4.5, f/6.3 and f/6.8 aperture, and Vario, Ibsor and Compur shutters. The camera was supplied with three plate holders and one film pack holder; the exact lens and shutter combinations and prices are not given.

Advertisements by "First Camera Works" in Asahi Camera July and August 1929. (Image rights)

The advertisements in Asahi Camera July and August 1929, again placed by "First Camera Works", show the same illustration. Two versions are listed in July:

• Trimer f/6.3 lens, Vario shutter, ¥34;
• same lens, Compur shutter, ¥48.

A third combination was added in August, consisting of a Trimer f/4.5 lens and a Vario, for ¥42.

Advertisement by Minagawa in Asahi Camera February 1930. (Image rights)

Bibliography

• Asahi Camera. Advertisement by "First Camera Works" in May 1929 (p.A29), July 1929 (p.A27), August 1929 (p.A30), September 1929 (p.A26), and by Minagawa Kamera-ten in February 1930 (p.A36).
• 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. Items 193–4.
• Baird, John R. Collectors guide to Kuribayashi-Petri Cameras. Grantsburg, WI (USA): Centennial Photo Service, 1991. ISBN 0-931838-16-9. Pp.15–9 and 48–53.
• 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). Pp.44 and 46.
• 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.575.
• 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 1041–3.

Links

In Japanese:

• First at Asacame