Mikuni
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 Kuribayashi.[1]
Description
The Mikuni has an all-metal body, split folding struts and double extension bellows driven by a focusing wheel on the photographer's right. 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.
Commercial life
Advertisement by Saneidō in Asahi Camera March 1928. (Image rights) |
The advertisement by Saneidō Honten in Asahi Camera March 1928 presents the Mikuni as the "latest model" (最新型). It shows a drawing of the Mikuni with a dial-set Compur shutter. The camera was supplied with three plate holders and one film pack holder. Two versions are listed, both having a Wekar lens by Kenngott:
Advertisement by Minagawa in Asahi Camera February 1930. (Image rights) |
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera. Advertisement by Saneidō Honten in March 1928 (p.A20), and by Minagawa Kamera-ten in May 1929 (p.A30), July 1929 (p.A28), February 1930 (p.A36).
- Baird, John R. Collectors guide to Kuribayashi-Petri Cameras. Grantsburg, WI (USA): Centennial Photo Service, 1991. ISBN 0-931838-16-9. Pp.14–6 and 46–7.
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P.44.
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.575.
The Mikuni is not listed in Sugiyama.
Links
In Japanese:
Kuribayashi prewar and wartime cameras ( ) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
rollfilm folders | ||||
Eagle | Speed Pocket | First Roll | First Center | Semi First | First Six | Baby Semi First | Semi Rotte | Hokoku | Mizuho | ||||
plate folders | rigid | SLR | TLR | unknown |
Mikuni | First | First Etui | Kokka | Romax | Tokiwa | Molby | Speed Reflex | First Reflex | Baby First |