Difference between revisions of "Mansfield Skylark"

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The '''Mansfield Skylark''' is an automatic-exposure, [[point-and-shoot]], [[fixed-focus]], 35mm recreational camera from the early 1960s. It takes 35mm film.
 
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The camera was distributed by Mansfield Holiday,<ref>Sources say they only made two cameras, Skylark & Skylark V, but this is unverified.</ref> perhaps a division of [[Argus]]. It was manufactured in Japan by [[Yamato|Yamato Camera Industry]], whose logo appears on base of camera. It is very similar to Yamato Palmat camera of 1960.<ref>[http://www.collection-appareils.fr/yamato/html/yamato_palmat.php Palmat].</ref>
 
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The camera's fixed, 40mm lens is either a Mantar (with a serial number) or a Luminor. One source says that it has a [[rangefinder (device)|rangefinder]], but this perhaps only applies to the Skylark V. Its shutter is automatic except for flash.
 
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The camera was introduced in 1962, and is called the Skylark or Skylark V. The user can select the [[film speed]] in either [[ASA]] or DIN.<ref>ASA: 10, 25/32, 40/50, 80/100, 160/200; DIN: 11, 15/16, 17/18, 20/21, 23/24.</ref> It does not take a battery.
 
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The camera has masculine styling. It is easy-to-use, quick film loading, no focusing or other settings, and is well made.
 
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== User notes ==
 
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The best little camera that no one's heard of! It is pretty easy to use, but I haven't been able to develop a complete roll yet as the winding mechanism tends to tear the film! ''(writes Camerapedia editor [[User:Dhoulihan|Dhoulihan]])''
 
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== Pictures ==
 
 
{{Flickr image
 
{{Flickr image
 
| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/dg_houlihan/2199596391/
 
| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/dg_houlihan/2199596391/
 
| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2199596391_13bb578105.jpg
 
| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2199596391_13bb578105.jpg
 
| image_align=
 
| image_align=
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| image_text=Mansfield Skylark 35mm in leather case
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| image_text=Mansfield Skylark in leather case
 
}}  
 
}}  
 
Photo credit: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/dg_houlihan/ : Diana Houlihan], Some Rights Reserved [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/]
 
Photo credit: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/dg_houlihan/ : Diana Houlihan], Some Rights Reserved [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/]
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'''Skylark''' was the name for no less than four rebadged cameras distributed by Mansfield Industries of Chicago, Illinois:
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*the 1957 '''Skylark''', rebadged from the '''Argon'''<ref>Sugiyama/Naoi “Collector’s Guide to Japanese Cameras” code #3099, p.140.</ref> rangefinder camera which was the export version of the Windsor 35 by Toko Photographic Works. This rangefinder camera featured a 45mm / f1.9 lens, shutter speeds B, 1s to 1/500s.
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*the 1957 '''Skylark E''' is a '''Royal 35-M''' by Royal Camera Company, rebadged for Mansfield. Like the 35-M, this rangefinder camera had a Tominar 45mm / f1.9-f16 lens, shutter speeds B, 1s to 1/500s with an uncoupled selenium meter,
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*the 1957 '''Skylark V''', from the '''Royal 35P''', was a meterless rangefinder camera with a Cimenar 45mm / f1.9-f16 lens, shutter speeds B, 1s to 1/300s.
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*the 1961 '''Mansfield Skylark''' was a slightly modified '''Palmat Automatic''' by Yamato Optical Company. This last Skylark was an fixed-focus automatic-exposure viewfinder camera with coupled selenium meter, Mantar or Luminor 40mm / f4 lens, shutter speeds B, 1/10s to 1/200s. It does not take a battery, its selenium meter was driven by light alone. Exposure compensation was set by a lever on the numbered scale on the lens, based on an ASA/DIN film guide inset on the camera’s lift-off back. This was the only Skylark that was actually engraved with “Mansfield” as well as the “MI” crest logo seen on the earlier versions.
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{{Flickr image
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| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/valdormar/4685000518/in/set-72157624257206758/
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| image=http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4685000518_cb1368b72c.jpg
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| image_align=
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| image_text=Mansfield Skylark V
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}}   
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<br>
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<br>
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== User notes ==
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The best little camera that no one's heard of! It is pretty easy to use, but I haven't been able to develop a complete roll yet as the winding mechanism tends to tear the film! ''(writes Camerapedia editor Dhoulihan)''
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<br>
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<br>
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A great 100% manual rangefinder. This Skylark V was in very unusable condition when it came my way. Now a very nice & worthwhile addition. Nice photographs come from this camera. ''(writes Camerapedia editor Valdormar)''
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<br>
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== Mansfield Industries ==
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This may be the place to describe Mansfield Industries<ref>The company name was not Mansfield Holiday, as mistakenly notated in McKeown‘s.</ref>. It was a Chicago-based company that distributed movie cameras, projectors, accessories and imported cameras which were rebadged with its logo or name from the late 1950’s into the mid-1960’s. Its various product lines had names like ‘Fairfield’, ‘Holiday’, ’Skylark’, ’Starlite’ and ‘Ultra’.
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In 1962 Mansfield Industries bought [[Argus]] from General Telephone and Electronics (which had acquired Sylvania, with its 1957 Argus holdings, in 1961). Mansfield appropriated the better-known Argus name and named itself as a division of Argus. It moved the Argus/Mansfield headquarters to Chicago, Illinois, although some manufacturing facilities stayed in Ann Arbor, Michigan<ref>Which still exist and house the Argus Camera Museum, George and Gene O’Neal founders, through C3 Partners William Martin and Joe O’Neal. 535 W. Williams St, Ann Arbor, MI 48103</ref>. In 1965 Sylvania reacquired Argus. Without its main product base, Mansfield Industries disappeared from the market<ref>Henry J Gambino, PhD, “The Argus Museum—Ann Arbor’s Hidden Treasure”</ref>.
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Side note: a later 35mm rangefinder camera distributed by Mansfield was the 1962 Eye-Tronic, rebadged from the Mamiya EE Super Merit<ref>Sugiyama/Naoi “Collectors Guide to Japanese Cameras“ code #3393 p181.</ref>, with Mantinar 40mm / f2.8-f16, shutter speeds 1/30s to 1/250s.
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== Additional Pictures ==
  
 
{{Flickr image
 
{{Flickr image
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| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2257/2200392278_96fab3e164.jpg
 
| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2257/2200392278_96fab3e164.jpg
 
| image_align=
 
| image_align=
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| image_text=Mansfield Skylark 35mm, showing film guide and internal workings
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| image_text=Mansfield Skylark, showing film guide and internal workings
 
}}
 
}}
 
Photo credit: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/dg_houlihan/ : Diana Houlihan], Some Rights Reserved [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/]
 
Photo credit: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/dg_houlihan/ : Diana Houlihan], Some Rights Reserved [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/]
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| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/2199595849_116592f5ac.jpg
 
| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/2199595849_116592f5ac.jpg
 
| image_align=
 
| image_align=
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| image_text=Mansfield Skylark 35mm, fixed lens; film guide determines lens setting
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| image_text=Mansfield Skylark, film guide determines lens setting
 
}}
 
}}
 
Photo credit: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/dg_houlihan/ : Diana Houlihan], Some Rights Reserved [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/]
 
Photo credit: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/dg_houlihan/ : Diana Houlihan], Some Rights Reserved [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/]
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| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2317/2200389856_d52cf6fa3a.jpg
 
| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2317/2200389856_d52cf6fa3a.jpg
 
| image_align=
 
| image_align=
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| image_text=Mansfield Skylark 35mm, flash settings guide
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| image_text=Mansfield Skylark, flash settings guide
 
}}
 
}}
 
Photo credit: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/dg_houlihan/ : Diana Houlihan], Some Rights Reserved [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/]
 
Photo credit: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/dg_houlihan/ : Diana Houlihan], Some Rights Reserved [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/]
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| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2074/2200701528_117e8d0d2b.jpg
 
| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2074/2200701528_117e8d0d2b.jpg
 
| image_align=
 
| image_align=
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| image_text=Mansfield Skylark 35mm, underside of camera showing Yamato logo
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| image_text=Mansfield Skylark, underside of camera showing Yamato logo
 
}}
 
}}
 
Photo credit: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/dg_houlihan/ : Diana Houlihan], Some Rights Reserved [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/]
 
Photo credit: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/dg_houlihan/ : Diana Houlihan], Some Rights Reserved [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/]
 
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==Notes and References==
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<references/>
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== Links ==
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<br>
 
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<b>Mansfield Skylark V</b>
 
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{{Flickr image
 
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| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/valdormar/4685000518/in/set-72157624257206758/
 
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| image=http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4685000518_cb1368b72c.jpg
 
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| image_align=
 
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| image_text=Mansfield Skylark 35mm, underside of camera showing Yamato logo
 
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}}
 
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<i>Mansfield Skylark V - f1.9 - 45mm
 
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A great 100% manual rangefinder. This skylark v was in very unusable condition when it came my way. Now a very nice & worthwhile addition. Nice photographs come from this camera.</i>
 
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==Notes==
 
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<references />
 
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== Sources ==
 
 
*[http://www.collection-appareils.fr/yamato/html/Mansfield_skylark.php La collection d'appareils photo anciens]
 
*[http://www.collection-appareils.fr/yamato/html/Mansfield_skylark.php La collection d'appareils photo anciens]
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*[http://www.tanyaclark.com/MansfieldSkylark.htm Tanya Clark Photography]
 
 
*[Views of the camera and sample shots http://westfordcomp.com/classics/mansfieldskylark/index.htm] at Westfordcom.com
 
*[Views of the camera and sample shots http://westfordcomp.com/classics/mansfieldskylark/index.htm] at Westfordcom.com
 
*[http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=009wTm Greenspun.com thread]
 
*[http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=009wTm Greenspun.com thread]
 
*[http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Dm5t Photo.net thread]
 
*[http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Dm5t Photo.net thread]
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== External Links ==
 
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=== General links ===
 
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Craig Camera (manuals and other literature)[http://www.craigcamera.com/ib_m.htm]
 
  
 
=== Sample Image Galleries ===
 
=== Sample Image Galleries ===

Revision as of 15:11, 4 December 2010

2199596391_13bb578105.jpg
Mansfield Skylark in leather case

Photo credit: : Diana Houlihan, Some Rights Reserved [1]

Skylark was the name for no less than four rebadged cameras distributed by Mansfield Industries of Chicago, Illinois:

  • the 1957 Skylark, rebadged from the Argon[1] rangefinder camera which was the export version of the Windsor 35 by Toko Photographic Works. This rangefinder camera featured a 45mm / f1.9 lens, shutter speeds B, 1s to 1/500s.
  • the 1957 Skylark E is a Royal 35-M by Royal Camera Company, rebadged for Mansfield. Like the 35-M, this rangefinder camera had a Tominar 45mm / f1.9-f16 lens, shutter speeds B, 1s to 1/500s with an uncoupled selenium meter,
  • the 1957 Skylark V, from the Royal 35P, was a meterless rangefinder camera with a Cimenar 45mm / f1.9-f16 lens, shutter speeds B, 1s to 1/300s.
  • the 1961 Mansfield Skylark was a slightly modified Palmat Automatic by Yamato Optical Company. This last Skylark was an fixed-focus automatic-exposure viewfinder camera with coupled selenium meter, Mantar or Luminor 40mm / f4 lens, shutter speeds B, 1/10s to 1/200s. It does not take a battery, its selenium meter was driven by light alone. Exposure compensation was set by a lever on the numbered scale on the lens, based on an ASA/DIN film guide inset on the camera’s lift-off back. This was the only Skylark that was actually engraved with “Mansfield” as well as the “MI” crest logo seen on the earlier versions.
4685000518_cb1368b72c.jpg
Mansfield Skylark V



User notes

The best little camera that no one's heard of! It is pretty easy to use, but I haven't been able to develop a complete roll yet as the winding mechanism tends to tear the film! (writes Camerapedia editor Dhoulihan)

A great 100% manual rangefinder. This Skylark V was in very unusable condition when it came my way. Now a very nice & worthwhile addition. Nice photographs come from this camera. (writes Camerapedia editor Valdormar)

Mansfield Industries

This may be the place to describe Mansfield Industries[2]. It was a Chicago-based company that distributed movie cameras, projectors, accessories and imported cameras which were rebadged with its logo or name from the late 1950’s into the mid-1960’s. Its various product lines had names like ‘Fairfield’, ‘Holiday’, ’Skylark’, ’Starlite’ and ‘Ultra’.

In 1962 Mansfield Industries bought Argus from General Telephone and Electronics (which had acquired Sylvania, with its 1957 Argus holdings, in 1961). Mansfield appropriated the better-known Argus name and named itself as a division of Argus. It moved the Argus/Mansfield headquarters to Chicago, Illinois, although some manufacturing facilities stayed in Ann Arbor, Michigan[3]. In 1965 Sylvania reacquired Argus. Without its main product base, Mansfield Industries disappeared from the market[4].

Side note: a later 35mm rangefinder camera distributed by Mansfield was the 1962 Eye-Tronic, rebadged from the Mamiya EE Super Merit[5], with Mantinar 40mm / f2.8-f16, shutter speeds 1/30s to 1/250s.

Additional Pictures

2200392278_96fab3e164.jpg
Mansfield Skylark, showing film guide and internal workings

Photo credit: : Diana Houlihan, Some Rights Reserved [2]

2199595849_116592f5ac.jpg
Mansfield Skylark, film guide determines lens setting

Photo credit: : Diana Houlihan, Some Rights Reserved [3]

2200389856_d52cf6fa3a.jpg
Mansfield Skylark, flash settings guide

Photo credit: : Diana Houlihan, Some Rights Reserved [4]

2200701528_117e8d0d2b.jpg
Mansfield Skylark, underside of camera showing Yamato logo

Photo credit: : Diana Houlihan, Some Rights Reserved [5]

Notes and References

  1. ↑ Sugiyama/Naoi “Collector’s Guide to Japanese Cameras” code #3099, p.140.
  2. ↑ The company name was not Mansfield Holiday, as mistakenly notated in McKeown‘s.
  3. ↑ Which still exist and house the Argus Camera Museum, George and Gene O’Neal founders, through C3 Partners William Martin and Joe O’Neal. 535 W. Williams St, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
  4. ↑ Henry J Gambino, PhD, “The Argus Museum—Ann Arbor’s Hidden Treasure”
  5. ↑ Sugiyama/Naoi “Collectors Guide to Japanese Cameras“ code #3393 p181.

Links

Sample Image Galleries

PBase sample photos[6]

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