View source for Mikuni

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The '''Mikuni''' or '''Mikuni Camera''' (ミクニカメラ) is a Japanese 6.5×9cm plate folder, distributed by [[Saneidō]] and [[Minagawa]] in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and probably made by [[Petri|Kuribayashi]].<REF> Made by Kuribayashi: Baird, pp.14–6 and 46–7, Lewis, p.44, {{McKeown}}, p.575. </REF>

== Description ==
The Mikuni has double extension bellows driven by a focusing wheel on the photographer's right. The split folding struts were perhaps copied on [[Contessa-Nettel]] designs, such as the Adoro. There is a distance scale on the left, a swiveling [[brilliant finder]] and a wireframe finder. The front standard allows vertical movements controlled by a wheel on the right, and perhaps horizontal movements as well. Some advertisements say that the camera has an all-metal body but the illustrations seem to show a wooden body instead.<REF> All-metal body: advertisements in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' May 1929, p.A30, and July 1929, p.A28. Baird, p.46, says that the camera is made of wood. </REF>

== Commercial life ==
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|| ''Advertisement by [[Saneidō]] in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' March 1928. {{public domain Japan old}}''
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The advertisement by [[Saneidō|Saneidō Honten]] in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' March 1928 presents the Mikuni as the "latest model" (最新型).<REF> Advertisement in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' March 1928, p.A20. </REF> It shows a drawing of the Mikuni with a dial-set [[Compur]] shutter. The [[Speed Reflex]], also made by [[Petri|Kuribayashi]], is presented on the next page.<REF> Advertisement in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' March 1928, p.A21. </REF> The Mikuni was supplied with three plate holders and one film pack holder. Two versions were available, both having a Wekar lens by [[Kenngott]]:
* Wekar f/6.3 lens, [[Ibsor]] shutter, {{yen|55|1928}};
* Wekar f/4.5 lens, [[Compur]] shutter, {{yen|75|1928}}.
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|| ''Advertisements by [[Minagawa]] in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' May and July 1929. {{public domain Japan old}}''
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The advertisements by [[Minagawa|Minagawa Kamera-ten]] in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' May and July 1929 say that the Mikuni received the first prize for "excellent Japanese products" at the Tokyo Fair.<REF> Advertisements in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' May 1929, p.A30, and July 1929, p.A28: 東京博覧会ニ於テ最高賞優良国産賞受賞シ日本カメラ界ノ面目ヲ施セリ. </REF> The same prize was mentioned for the [[Speed Reflex]] in an advertisement by [[Saneidō]] in May 1929.<REF> Advertisement in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' May 1929, p.A31: 於御大礼記念東京博覧会第一位優良国産賞受領. </REF> It was probably granted to the [[Petri|Kuribayashi]] company as a whole. The following options were available in May:
* Wekar f/6.3, [[Vario]], {{yen|39.50|1929}};
* Wekar f/4.5, [[Ibsor]], {{yen|60|1929}};
* [[Meyer]] Trioplan f/6.3, [[Ibsor]], {{yen|50|1929}};
* [[Meyer]] Trioplan f/4.5, [[Compur]], {{yen|70|1929}}.
In July, the Wekar f/4.5 and Ibsor option was no longer offered and the price of the Meyer f/6.3 and Ibsor option was lowered to {{yen|48|1929}}. In the most expensive option, the Trioplan f/4.5 lens could be replaced by a [[Trimar]] f/4.5 lens. The picture is the same in the two advertisements; it curiously shows the words ''Contessa-Nettel'' on the speed setting wheel of the [[Compur]] shutter, probably because the drawer copied a picture of a [[Contessa-Nettel]] camera to draw the shutter.
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|| ''Advertisement by [[Minagawa]] in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' February 1930. {{public domain Japan old}}''
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The advertisement by [[Minagawa|Minagawa Kamera-ten]] in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' February 1930 presents the Mikuni along with the [[First plate folders|First]]. The same illustration is provided, again reading ''Contessa-Nettel'' on the speed setting wheel. The following versions are listed:
* [[Trimar]] f/6.3, unknown shutter, {{yen|40|1930}};
* [[Trimar]] f/4.5, unknown shutter, {{yen|48|1930}};
* [[Trimar]] f/4.5, [[Compur]] shutter, {{yen|65|1930}}.
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== Surviving examples and other sources ==
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|colspan=3 align=center |Mikuni by Kuribayashi<br/><small>images by {{image author|Petri@wiki}}</small> {{with permission}}
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At the time Baird wrote his book on [[Petri|Kuribayashi]] cameras, no Mikuni camera was known to exist.<REF> Baird, p.47. </REF> The drawing of the Mikuni in Baird and {{McKeown}} strongly differs from those found in the original advertisements reproduced above, and its aspect is closer to the [[Kokka]] cameras.<REF> Baird, p.46; {{McKeown}}, p.575. </REF> It is not known if this drawing was found in some other original document and shows a different version of the Mikuni, or if it was a modern reconstitution of the supposed aspect of the camera.

In addition to the lens and shutter combinations cited above, Lewis and Baird mention the Tessar f/4.5 and the Welka f/4.5 (however Welka might be a typo for Wekar); Lewis also adds the [[Amigo Werk |Amigo]] f/4.5.<REF> Baird, p.46, Lewis, p.44. </REF>

One 6.5×9cm plate folder is presented as a Mikuni in [http://mutohide.net/reconst/amigo-1.htm this page at Handmade and Classic Camera]. It has an [[Amigo Werk |Amigo]]-Anastigmat 10.5cm f/4.5 and a rim-set [[Compur]] shutter. It is not known if the identification as a Mikuni is confirmed by a marking on the camera itself or if this is a mere guess. The body significantly differs from the illustrations in the original advertisements reproduced above. It is very similar to the [[Romax plate folder]] attributed to [[Petri|Kuribayashi]] in Baird and {{McKeown}}: it has the same folding struts and focusing rails, and the front standard has strong similarities.<REF> Romax pictured in Baird, p.59, and in {{McKeown}}, p.576. </REF>

== Notes ==
<references />

== Bibliography ==
* ''[[Asahi Camera]]''. Advertisements by [[Saneidō|Saneidō Honten]] in March 1928 (p.A20), and by [[Minagawa|Minagawa Kamera-ten]] in May 1929 (p.A30), July 1929 (p.A28), February 1930 (p.A36).
* {{Baird Petri}} Pp.14–6 and 46–7.
* {{Lewis}} P.44.
* {{McKeown12}} P.575.
The Mikuni is not listed in {{Sugiyama}}.

== Links ==
In Japanese:
* [http://mutohide.net/reconst/amigo-1.htm Mikuni or Romax camera with Amigo lens and Compur shutter], at [http://mutohide.net/ Handmade and Classic Camera]
* [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/2013_6_ken/13-05_08_mikuni_kobayasi_a.jpg A picture of Mikuni Camera], shown in [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/sub1.97.html All Japan Classic Camera Club Meetings May, 2013]

{{Kuribayashi prewar}}

[[Category: Japanese 6.5x9 folding]]
[[Category: Kuribayashi]]
[[Category: M]]