Gold plate folders
The Gold plate folders are Japanese folding cameras taking 6.5×9cm pictures. They were distributed from 1935 to 1937 by Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten,[1] it is not known if they are related to the company Gold Camera Kōgyōsho. At least three models were sold, quite different one from the other.
The B Gold
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| Extract of a Gold leaflet: B Gold model. (Image rights) |
The B Gold (B型ゴールド) has single extension bellows and no movement ability. The focusing goes down to 1'5" (1尺5寸), it is not known if it is driven by a focusing lever or if the front standard is simply pulled forward by hand. The lens is an f/6.8 Rapid or Rapid Rectilinear (R.R.) and the shutter has B, 25, 50 settings. The shutter plate is inscribed Gold at the top. The B Gold was sold for ¥15 with three plate holders, a film-pack adapter and a soft release. It appeared for the same price in advertisements by Yamashita dated July 1935 and March 1936, with no mention of the model name.[2]
The A Gold
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| Extract of a Gold leaflet: A Gold model. (Image rights) |
The A Gold (A型ゴールド) has rack-and-pinion focusing controlled by a small wheel on the photographer's left. There is no movement ability.
Gold Camera logo. (Image rights)
The f/6.3 model has "one-and-a-half" extension bellows (一段半伸). The lens is a Torionar f/6.3 and the shutter is an Elka C giving T, B, 10–150 speeds. The shutter plate is inscribed ELKA–C at the bottom and Patent~Pending at the top, with a logo on the right. This model cost ¥30 with three plate holders, a film-pack adapter and a soft release.
The f/4.5 model has double extension bellows. The lens is a Lucomar f/4.5 and the shutter is a Rulex D giving T, B, 25–150 speeds and made by Neumann & Heilemann. The choice of a shutter having lesser features is unexplained. The price was ¥38 with the same accessories as cited above.
In an advertisement by Yamashita dated March 1936,[3] the price of the Lucomar f/4.5 model rose to ¥45, and an intermediate model appeared with a Torionar f/4.5 lens and an Elka shutter giving T, B, 25–100 speeds, for ¥38. A version is also reported with a Torionar f/4.5 lens and an Elka B shutter (T, B, 5–200).[4]
One surviving example of the A Gold has been observed. The name GOLD is embossed in the leather of the folding bed and of the ground glass hood. There is a round metal plate riveted to the right hand side, certainly showing the GOLD CAMERA logo.
The Special Gold
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| Extract of a Gold leaflet: Special Gold model. (Image rights) |
The Special Gold (スペシャルゴールド) has double extension bellows and vertical movement ability. The focusing is by rack-and-pinion driven by a wheel on the right. There is a round plate on the left hand side with a Gold marking. Three versions were offered:
- Lucomar f/4.5 lens, Rulex B shutter, T, B, 5–150 speeds (¥50);
- Corygon f/4.5 lens, Compur shutter, T, B, 1–250 speeds, self-timer (¥85);
- Corygon f/4.5 lens, Compur-Rapid shutter, T, B, 1–400 speeds, self-timer (¥85).
In the March 1936 advertisement cited above,[5] the Lucomar f/4.5 model disappeared and the other prices were unchanged. Versions with a Lucomar f/6.3 or f/4.5 lens and a Rulex D shutter are reported.[6]
Notes
- ↑ Dates: advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.
- ↑ Advertisements published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 71.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 71.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 71.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 336.
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. Items 102–3.
These cameras are not listed in Sugiyama.
