Maruso Refe

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4.5×6 Binox | Maruso Refe
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Japanese true TLR ->
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The Maruso Refe is a Japanese 4.5×6 box camera, made around 1950 and attributed to Marusō Kōgaku.

History and documents

The camera was featured in the new products column of the October 1950 issue of Asahi Camera.[1] In this document, the camera is reportedly called "Semi Ref" (セミーレフ) and attributed to Marusō Kōgaku. It is said that the camera was made available in the inns retained by the Japan Travel Bureau, where it was rented to the clients for ¥200 a day.[2]

Description

The Maruso Refe is a box shaped camera, and can be described as a box or a pseudo TLR. The body is made of tin.[3] The advance knob is on the photographer's right hand. The release lever is to the right of the lens and there is a B and I (Bulb and Instant) selector on the left. There is a large brilliant finder at the top, and strap attachments on both sides of the body.

The lens is a fixed-focus meniscus. A close-up attachment exists, said to allow pictures down to 60cm.[4] The lens plate is written Maruso Refe at the top and MADE IN JAPAN at the bottom.

Usage

Notes

  1. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.354.
  2. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.354; Sugiyama, item 4155.
  3. Sugiyama, item 4155.
  4. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.354, after the column in Asahi Camera October 1950.

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. Item 578. (Unlike most other cameras covered in this book, no advertisement is reproduced.)
  • 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. Item 4155.