View source for GSK-99

The Type 99 Ultra Small [[Japanese aerial cameras|Aerial Camera]] (GSK-99)  entered service with the Imperial Japanese Army in 1940. It is the smallest of the aerial cameras produced. Unlike the standard Navy Type 99 and Army Type 100 models, the GSK-99 had interchangeable roll holder backs for 120 film that could  be pre-loaded for ease of handling during flight.  The camera has a wind up mechanism that triggered both film advance and cocked the shutter, allowing for rapid shooting of up to six images.  In total, ten 6×6 images can be fit on a 120 roll of film.  The GSK-99 film advance does not compensate for picture spacing. The first two frames may overlap if the film is not loaded correctly, and the spacing between the images will in-crease progressively.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The protective camera case allowed for the camera and two pre-loaded roll holders, as well as filters and spare rolls of film. The roll holders had a white Bakelite plate affixed to the back that allowed the photographer to add notes (in pencil) to the images taken on the roll. The camera could be operated hand-held or, with the removal of the wooden handles, could be fit-ted to the aircraft frame and then operated with a remote release, thus generating overlapping frames suitable for 3D interpretation.<ref>Spencer, F (1946) Japanese Aircraft Cameras. Report FA278/3. Technical Note PH.381. Farnborough, Hants, UK: Royal Aircraft Establishment</ref>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The camera had been designed and was mainly produced by [[Konica|Konishiroku]] with a small run of the unit built by [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]]. The [[Konica|Konishiroku]]-built GSK-99 was fitted with a fixed focus [[Konica|Rokuoh-sha]] [[Hexar lenses|Hexar]] Ser. II 75mm f/3.5  lens,  set in a Compur-type [[Seikosha]] shutter, while the [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]]-built GSK-99 was equipped with a fixed focus [[Simlar]] 75mm f/3.5 lens, 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In total, about 2,500 to 3,000 units may have been built by [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]]  and [[Konica|Konishiroku]]. Total annual production figures are unclear. While a report from the U.S. Naval Technical Mission to Japan, written in December 1945, gives detailed production figures for the Konishiroku built GSK-99  in the 1941–1945 period (Table 1),<REF name="JNP"><i>Japanese Naval Photography</i>. Compiled by Lt W.D.Hedden, USNR, with LtCdr G.Z.Dimitroff USNR and Lt(jg) W.A. Seymour, USNR. Intelligence Targets Japan (DNI) of 4 September 1945. Facicle A-1, Target A-39. U.S. Naval Technical Mission to Japan. December 1945. pp.8-9</ref> figures for  [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]] are sketchy. It seems that the latter company produced as few as 187 units in 1941, compared to 900 units supplied by Konishiroku.<ref name="WETWING"> [http://www.wetwing.com/aerialcamera/99camera/99camera.html 陸軍 99式極小航空写真機 (Army 99 type minimum aeronautical camera)] at Wetwing. </ref> Based on the observed serial numbers we can assume that at least 600 GSK-99 units were supplied by Tōkyō Kogaku.<ref> Serial number info courtesy Prof. D Spennemann (Australia)</ref>

<b>Table 1 Production volume of GSK-99 for the period 1941-1945</b><REF name="JNP" /><ref name="WETWING" />

{| border="1" cellpadding="4" style="margin: 0.5em 2em; text-align: center; border-collapse: collapse;"
|| &nbsp; ||  &nbsp; || &nbsp; || &nbsp; || Years|| &nbsp; || &nbsp; || &nbsp; 
|-
|| &nbsp; ||  &nbsp; || 1941 || 1942 || 1943 || 1944 || 1945 || Total
|-
|| || Ordered || 900 || 500 || 500 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
|| <b>Konishiroku</b> || <b>Delivered</b> || <b>900</b> || <b>477</b> || <b>0</b> || <b>361</b> || <b>144</b> || <b>1882</b>
|-
|| || Ordered || ?||  ? ||  ? ||  ? || ?  ||
|-
|| <b>Tōkyō Kogaku</b> || <b>Delivered</b> || <b>187</b> || ?||  ? ||  ? ||  ? || <b>~600 </b>
|-
|| || || || || || || TOTAL|| ~2500 (?)
|}


&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The two models are readily distinguishable by the nature and placement of the labels and the paint finish. From the limited number of cameras seen, it would appear that the [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]] model has a grey to brown crinkle paint finish with metal tags, while the [[Konica|Konishiroku]] model has a smooth paint finish (grey or dark green) with [[bakelite]] tags.

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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4648910067/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4648910067_daa3735590_m.jpg][http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4648912081/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3399/4648912081_48576873b5_m.jpg]  [http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4648910545/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4648910545_6f4a338824_m.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4649531250/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4007/4649531250_d0f4b5b4ba_m.jpg] 
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|| ''[[Konishiroku]]-built  Army Type 99 Ultra Small Aerial Camera (GSK-99).''<br>''Pictures by Dirk HR Spennemann. {{With permission}}''
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4798207133/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4798207133_a9be2ef605_m.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4798214751/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4798214751_5194c6d302_m.jpg]  [http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4798845562/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4798845562_b60306c09a_m.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4798212553/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4798212553_4b0bdebb44_m.jpg]
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|| ''[[Tōkyō Kōgaku]] -built  Army Type 99 Ultra Small Aerial Camera (GSK-99).''<br>''Pictures by Dirk HR Spennemann. {{With permission}}''
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
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||[http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4751394435/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4751394435_61c88eac61_m.jpg]<br/>[[Konica|Rokuoh-sha]] [[Hexar lenses|Hexar]] Ser. II 75mm f=3.5  lens
||[http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/4798838542/in/pool-camerawiki http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4798838542_e21e909670_m.jpg]<br/>[[Tōkyō Kōgaku]] [[Simlar]] 75mm f/3.5 lens
|-
|}

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== Notes ==
<references />

[[Category: Japanese cameras]]
[[Category: Aerial cameras]]
[[Category: Military cameras]]
[[Category:G]]