Difference between revisions of "Mascot"

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{{Japanese subminiature}}
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{{Japanese roll film subminiature}}
 
The '''Mascot''' is a Japanese subminiature taking 14×14mm pictures on 17.5mm paper backed rollfilm, made around 1950 by [[Shimura]].
 
The '''Mascot''' is a Japanese subminiature taking 14×14mm pictures on 17.5mm paper backed rollfilm, made around 1950 by [[Shimura]].
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
The Mascot has a vertical shape, somewhat similar to a lighter. There is a tubular finder sunken at the top. The film is advanced by a knob on the photographer's right. The shutter is tripped by a button at the top, on the right of the viewfinder. The lens is a fixed-focus Mascot Anastigmat 25mm f/4.5. The speed is selected by a pivoting index on the front plate, above the lens, with 100, 50, 25, B positions. The aperture is selected by a symmetrical index placed below the lens, with 8 and 4.5 positions.
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The Mascot has a vertical shape, somewhat similar to a lighter. It is said that the overall design was inspired on the [[Coronet Midget]].<REF> The column in {{FAR}} January 1951, p.40. </REF> There is a tubular finder sunken at the top. The film is advanced by a knob on the photographer's right. The shutter is released by a button at the top, on the right of the viewfinder. It cannot be tripped unless the film has been advanced, thus providing double exposure prevention.<REF> The column in {{FAR}} January 1951, p.40, mentions double exposure prevention (二重露出防止) and says that "the shutter is not set unless the film is wound": フィルムを捲かぬとシャッターがセットされない. </REF>
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 +
The lens is a fixed-focus Mascot Anastigmat f/4.5. The focal length is reported as 20mm in various sources, including a press article dated January 1951,<REF> 20mm focal length: column in {{FAR}} January 1951, p.40; {{SUG}}, item 5062; {{Kokusan}}, p.365. </REF> but the markings ''Mascot Anastigmat F:4.5 f=25mm'' can be discerned on the only picture observed so far.<REF> Example pictured in {{SUG}}, item 5062. The same picture appears on pp.365 and 432 of {{Kokusan}}, but the reproduction is less good and the markings are not legible. </REF> The speed is selected by a pivoting index on the front plate, above the lens, with 100, 50, 25, B positions. The aperture is selected by a similar index placed below the lens, with 8 and 4.5 positions.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.365, mentions f/4.5, f/8 and f/11, certainly by mistake. </REF>
  
 
== Commercial life ==
 
== Commercial life ==
The Mascot was announced in Japanese magazines dated January 1950, and was still featured in the January 1951 issue of {{FAR}} on the national camera production.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.365. </REF> The sources disagree on the maker's name, saying either "Shimura Kōgaku", "Shimura Koki" or "Shimura Seiki Co."<REF> "Shimura Kōgaku": {{Kokusan}}, p.365 (surely the most reliable). "Shimura Koki": {{MK}}, p.890. "Shimura Seiki Co.": {{SUG}}, item 5062. </REF> It was certainly not made in large quantities, and the only surviving example known so far, belonging to the Pentax Gallery, is pictured in {{SUG}} and in {{Kokusan}}.<REF> {{SUG}}, item 5062; {{Kokusan}}, pp.365 and 432. </REF>
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The Mascot was announced in Japanese magazines dated January 1950.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.365. </REF> It was still featured in the January 1951 issue of {{FAR}}, in an article on Japanese camera production, whose extract is reproduced below.<REF> Column in {{FAR}} January 1951, p.40. </REF>
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/47927813632/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47927813632_aa28d459d5_d.jpg]
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|-
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|| ''Column in {{FAR}} January 1951. {{public domain Japan new}}''
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|}
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The camera was certainly not made in large quantities, and the only surviving example known so far, belonging to the Pentax Gallery, is pictured in {{SUG}} and in {{Kokusan}}.<REF> Example pictured in {{SUG}}, item 5062; {{Kokusan}}, pp.365 and 432. </REF>
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== Manufacturer ==
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The camera was developed by [[Otagi Michifusa]], designer of the [[Minion]], [[Minion 35]] and [[Primoflex]].<REF> Column in {{FAR}} January 1951, p.40: the Mascot is described as "the most convenient camera made by Otagi Michifusa" (愛宕通英先生作る所の最も使い良いカメラ). </REF> It is said that the camera was produced on behalf of [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]] by Shimura, which was perhaps an offshoot or a subcontractor.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.432: "Tōkyō Kōgaku had it made by the separate company Shimura Kōgaku" (東京光学は志村光学という別会社でやっていた). </REF> The sources disagree on the exact company name, which is either "Shimura Kōgaku", "Shimura Koki" or "Shimura Seiki Co."<REF> "Shimura Kōgaku": {{Kokusan}}, p.365 (surely the most reliable). "Shimura Koki": {{MK}}, p.890. "Shimura Seiki Co.": {{SUG}}, item 5062. </REF>
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
* {{Showa10}} Item 846 (see also the picture on p.432).
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=== Original documents ===
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* {{FAR}} no.20, January 1951. "Kokusan kamera no kentō" (国産カメラの検討, Inquiry on Japanese cameras). Pp.36–40.
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=== Recent sources ===
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* {{Showa10}} Item 846 (see also the picture and discussion on pp.432–3).
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.890.
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.890.
 
* {{Zukan}} Item 5062.
 
* {{Zukan}} Item 5062.
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== Links ==
 
== Links ==
 
In English:
 
In English:
* [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/mascot/index.htm Mascot] (text only) at [http://www.submin.com/ Submin.com]
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* [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/mascot/index.htm Mascot] (text only) at [http://www.submin.com/ Submin.com] (the mention of a [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/shimura/index.htm Shimura] certainly corresponds to the Mascot too)
* Brief mention of the Jenic among [http://www.subclub.org/shop/175mm.htm 17.5mm film cameras] at [http://www.subclub.org/ Subclub.org]
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* Brief mention of the Mascot among [http://www.subclub.org/shop/175mm.htm 17.5mm film cameras] at [http://www.subclub.org/ Subclub.org]
  
 
[[Category: Japanese 17.5mm film]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 17.5mm film]]
 
[[Category: M]]
 
[[Category: M]]

Latest revision as of 06:40, 25 May 2019

Japanese subminiature
on paper-backed roll film and round film (edit)
17.5mm film Arrow | Baby Flex | Baby-Max | Barlux | Beauty 14 | Bell 14 | Blondy | Baby Colon | Comex | Corona | Croma Color 16 | Epochs | Fuji Kozet | Gamma | Gem 16 | Gemflex | Glico Lighter | Halmat | Hit | Hit-II | Hit-type | Hobby 16 | Homer No.1 | Homer 16 | Honey | Hope | Jenic | Kiku 16 | Kent | Kolt | Kute | Lovely | Mascot | Meteor | Micky | Midget | Mighty | Mini | Moment | Mycro | Myracle | Nikkobaby | Peace | Peace Baby Flex | Peace Small Lef | Pet | Petit | Petty | Prince 16-A | Prince Ruby | Robin | New Rocket | Rubina | Rubix | Saga 16 | Saica | Septon Pen | Sholy-Flex | Snappy | Spy-14 | Sun | Sun B | Sun 16 | Sweet 16 | Tacker | Takka | Tone | Top Camera | Toyoca 16 | Toyoca Ace | Tsubame | Vesta | Vista | Vestkam
20mm film Guzzi | Mycroflex | Top
round film Evarax | Petal | Sakura Petal | Star
unknown Hallow | Lyravit | Tsubasa
cine film see Japanese cine film subminiature
110 film see Japanese 110 film

The Mascot is a Japanese subminiature taking 14×14mm pictures on 17.5mm paper backed rollfilm, made around 1950 by Shimura.

Description

The Mascot has a vertical shape, somewhat similar to a lighter. It is said that the overall design was inspired on the Coronet Midget.[1] There is a tubular finder sunken at the top. The film is advanced by a knob on the photographer's right. The shutter is released by a button at the top, on the right of the viewfinder. It cannot be tripped unless the film has been advanced, thus providing double exposure prevention.[2]

The lens is a fixed-focus Mascot Anastigmat f/4.5. The focal length is reported as 20mm in various sources, including a press article dated January 1951,[3] but the markings Mascot Anastigmat F:4.5 f=25mm can be discerned on the only picture observed so far.[4] The speed is selected by a pivoting index on the front plate, above the lens, with 100, 50, 25, B positions. The aperture is selected by a similar index placed below the lens, with 8 and 4.5 positions.[5]

Commercial life

The Mascot was announced in Japanese magazines dated January 1950.[6] It was still featured in the January 1951 issue of Photo Art, in an article on Japanese camera production, whose extract is reproduced below.[7]

The camera was certainly not made in large quantities, and the only surviving example known so far, belonging to the Pentax Gallery, is pictured in Sugiyama and in Kokusan kamera no rekishi.[8]

Manufacturer

The camera was developed by Otagi Michifusa, designer of the Minion, Minion 35 and Primoflex.[9] It is said that the camera was produced on behalf of Tōkyō Kōgaku by Shimura, which was perhaps an offshoot or a subcontractor.[10] The sources disagree on the exact company name, which is either "Shimura Kōgaku", "Shimura Koki" or "Shimura Seiki Co."[11]

Notes

  1. The column in Photo Art January 1951, p.40.
  2. The column in Photo Art January 1951, p.40, mentions double exposure prevention (二重露出防止) and says that "the shutter is not set unless the film is wound": フィルムを捲かぬとシャッターがセットされない.
  3. 20mm focal length: column in Photo Art January 1951, p.40; Sugiyama, item 5062; Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.365.
  4. Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 5062. The same picture appears on pp.365 and 432 of Kokusan kamera no rekishi, but the reproduction is less good and the markings are not legible.
  5. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.365, mentions f/4.5, f/8 and f/11, certainly by mistake.
  6. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.365.
  7. Column in Photo Art January 1951, p.40.
  8. Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 5062; Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.365 and 432.
  9. Column in Photo Art January 1951, p.40: the Mascot is described as "the most convenient camera made by Otagi Michifusa" (愛宕通英先生作る所の最も使い良いカメラ).
  10. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.432: "Tōkyō Kōgaku had it made by the separate company Shimura Kōgaku" (東京光学は志村光学という別会社でやっていた).
  11. "Shimura Kōgaku": Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.365 (surely the most reliable). "Shimura Koki": McKeown, p.890. "Shimura Seiki Co.": Sugiyama, item 5062.

Bibliography

Original documents

  • Photo Art no.20, January 1951. "Kokusan kamera no kentō" (国産カメラの検討, Inquiry on Japanese cameras). Pp.36–40.

Recent sources

Links

In English: