Idea A

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The Pocket Idea A1, Idea A1 and Idea A are Japanese plate folders made by Rokuoh-sha, the manufacturing branch of Konishi or Konishiroku (predecessors of Konica). They exist in tefuda (8×10.5cm) and daimeishi (6.5×9cm) size. They replaced the Sakura Pocket Prano in 1909, and were replaced in 1923 by the Idea No.1. The cheaper Idea B and Idea Snap, with single extension bellows, were offered simultaneously.

See also the other Idea models.

Common features

All the models have an all-wooden vertically folding body. The bellows have double extension and are driven by a knob on the photographer's right, with a distance scale on the left. The front standard has a U-shaped main part and horn-shaped handles to pull it forward. It allows vertical and horizontal movements. There is a handle above the main body, and a brilliant finder atop the front standard, to the photographer's left.

The tefuda models

Description

The Pocket Idea A1 and later Idea A tefuda models have a front standard allowing vertical and horizontal movements, and whose main parts are two masts supporting the lensboard. The brilliant finder has a retracting hood and a bubble level attached to the side.

Pocket Idea A1

The Pocket Idea A1 was reportedly introduced in August 1909.[1] It is said that the lens and shutter combinations available at the time were as follows:[2]

The camera appears in a 1909 catalogue by Ueda Shashinki-ten, where it is called "Idea No.1".[3] It was priced at ¥25 with a Bausch & Lomb RR lens and a Gem shutter.

In the December 1911 catalogue by Konishi Honten, the camera is called "Idea Pocket Hand Camera" in English and "Pocket Idea A1 Hand Camera" (ポケット、アイデヤA壹號手提暗箱) in Japanese script.[4] The following lens and shutter combinations are listed:

The camera was supplied with three double-sided plate holders. In the illustration, the camera has a pointed lensboard, and the locking screw of the rise movement is to the photographer's left.

Another catalogue extract lists the following versions at an unknown date:[6]

At least one document shows the model names Pocket Idea A1, A2 and A3, but nothing else is known about the latter two.[7]

An advertisement dated 1914 in Shashin Geppō presents the Idea Camera A1 (アイデアカメラA一號), along with the nimaigake and kabine-size No.2 and No.4 (二號 and 四号).[8] The A1 is listed with a Rapid Aplanat lens and a Single shutter, for ¥26, and with an Extra Rapid Aplanat lens and a Pronto shutter, for ¥36. The illustration is the same as in the December 1911 catalogue.

At least one example of the camera is known with the pointed lensboard and the locking screw to the left.[9] (The two cameras identified as "Pocket Idea A-1" in Sugiyama are actually Pocket Idea B.)[10]

One illustration from an original document shows a square lensboard and the locking screw to the right.[11] This seems to suggest that the Pocket Idea A1 was modified at some time, before the introduction of the Idea A. At least one camera is known with this type of lensboard, pictured in Sugiyama.[12] It has a round The Idea nameplate on the right of the body, and reportedly has a Bausch & Lomb RR f/8 lens and an unmarked shutter with T, B, I settings.

Idea A

It is said that the Pocket Idea A1 became the Idea A (アイデアA号) in July 1920.[13] It was reportedly available in 1920 with an RR or Voltas lens and a Victo shutter.[14] The new model has yet another lens standard, with a slightly rounded shape, and has the locking screw on the right. Most examples have the round nameplate on the body's left-hand side. Surviving examples are known with the following lens and shutter combinations:

  • RR 13.5cm f/8 lens, Ultro shutter (T, B, I);[15]
  • unknown lens, Ultex shutter (T, B, 100, 50, 25);[16]
  • RR f/8 lens, Deltax shutter (T, B, 100, 50, 25);[17]
  • RR 13.5cm f/8 lens, Victo shutter (T, B, 100–10);[18]
  • Voltas 13.5cm f/8 lens, Gammax shutter (T, B, 100–10);[19]
  • Idea Anastigmat 13.5cm f/7.5 lens, Gammax No.1 shutter (T, B, 100–10);[20]
  • unknown lens, Betax No.1 shutter (T, B, 100–2).[21]

Notes

  1. Chronology of the official company history Shashin to tomo ni hyaku-nen, reproduced in Tanaka, p.94 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10, and Kikuoka, p.27 of the same magazine.
  2. Kikuoka, p.30 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10, after the official company history Shashin to tomo ni hyaku-nen.
  3. Catalogue extract reproduced in this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha.
  4. December 1911 catalogue of Konishi Honten, p.9. A similar document is reproduced in this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha, towards the bottom.
  5. Lens details: p.40 of the same December 1911 catalogue by Konishi Honten.
  6. Catalogue extract reproduced in this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha.
  7. Catalogue extract reproduced in this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha, with a black background.
  8. Advertisement reproduced in this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha, near the bottom.
  9. Example pictured in Kikuoka, p.28 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10.
  10. Sugiyama, items 1083–4.
  11. Illustration reproduced in this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha, where the camera is identified as a Pocket Idea A1.
  12. Sugiyama, item 1086.
  13. Kikuoka, pp.27 and 31 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10.
  14. Kikuoka, p.31 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10.
  15. Sugiyama, item 1087.
  16. Example pictured in this page of Neco's camera collection.
  17. Sugiyama, item 1089. The example pictured in this page of Neco's camera collection also has a Deltax shutter.
  18. Sugiyama, item 1088.
  19. Sugiyama, item 1090.
  20. Sugiyama, item 1091.
  21. Example pictured in this page at Asacame.

Bibliography

Links

In Japanese:


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