Minagawa
Minagawa Shōten (皆川商店) was a Japanese distributor based in Tokyo.[1] It marketed the First Hand plate folder from 1929 and subsequently distributed most cameras from First Camera Works, alias Kuribayashi. It has been suggested that First Camera Works was a joint venture of Minagawa and Kuribayashi, but it can as well be a mere name used for advertising.[2]
After the war, Minagawa again distributed cameras called "First": the Firstflex 6×6 TLR and First Six 6×6 folder (at least the First Six was made by Tokiwa Seiki). It is very probable that the company was the owner of the brand name. Minagawa went bankrupt in 1955.[3]
Distributed cameras
- First Hand (6.5×9cm plate folder)
- First Etui (6.5×9cm plate folder)
- First Roll (6×9cm folder)
- First Center (6×9cm folder)
- Semi First (4.5×6cm folder)
- First Six (6×6cm folder)
- BB Semi First (4.5×6cm folder)
- Baby Semi First (4.5×6cm folder)
- Molby (3×4cm rangefinder)
- Firstflex (6×6 TLR)
- First Six (6×6 folder)
- Pentaflex (35mm SLR)
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.
- Baird, John R. Collectors guide to Kuribayashi-Petri Cameras. Grantsburg, WI (USA): Centennial Photo Service, 1991. ISBN 0-931838-16-9.
- 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).
