Minimum Idea

The Minimum Idea (ミニマムアイデア) is a Japanese strut-folding camera taking 5.5×8cm meishi plates (more precisely 55×82mm). It was made by Rokuoh-sha, manufacturing branch of Konishi (the predecessor of Konica), from about 1911.

Description

The Minimum Idea has a wooden body with an almost rectangular front standard mounted on spring-loaded folding struts inspired from some models of the Folding Pocket Kodak. This front standard contains two brilliant finders, for horizontal and vertical pictures, a simple shutter giving Time and Instant settings, and a simple meniscus lens. The name MINIMUM IDEA CAMERA is inscribed on a small nameplate below the lens.

Commercial life

The Minimum Idea is listed as a new model (最新型) in the December 1911 Konishi catalogue, where it is called the "Idea" Minimum Camera (ミニマム、アイデヤ、カメラ). The exposure format is given in older units as 1 sun 8 bu (一寸八分) width and 2 sun 7 bu (二寸七分) height; this translates as 5.5×8.2cm, commonly rounded as 5.5×8cm, and corresponds to the meishi (名刺) format. The dimensions of the camera are given as 9.7×7.3×2.7cm, and its weight as 225g. The camera was supplied with six single-sided plate holders; set A (A號) included a cloth wallet and cost ¥9.50; set B (B號) included a leather case and cost ¥10.50.

It is said that the Minimum Idea was a sales success, at least in relation to the state of the Japanese market at the time. Specific photographic clubs appeared for the owners of the camera. It was perhaps the first time that such clubs appeared in Japan around a specific camera; this would later become a common practice, notably around the Vest Pocket Kodak and Pearlette. The Minimum Idea was succeeded by the Koroku, and it announced the wide success of the Pearlette.

Variations

Minor variations have been noticed between the surviving examples. In the original drawings known so far, the camera has a small leg retracting on the right side of the front standard, allowing it to stand on a table, and has no leather handle. Some surviving cameras correspond to this description. However one surviving example has no standing leg and has an additional leather handle on the top. This is probably a later evolution of the camera.

Bibliography

• Kikuoka Sei (菊岡清). "Konica history 3. Meiji 41-nen – Taishō 12-nen." (Konica history 3. 明治41年–大正12年. From Meiji year 41 (1908) to Taishō year 12 (1923).) Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.10, September 1987. No ISBN number. Konishiroku kamera no rekishi (小西六カメラの歴史, special issue on Konishiroku). Pp.24–32.
• Konishi Honten. Saishin Shashin Kikai Mokuroku (最新写真器械目録, Latest catalogue of photographic apparatus). Published on December 18, 1911. Recent reprint.
• 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). Pp.20–1 and 26–7.
• 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.543.
• 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 1085.

Links

In Japanese:

• Minimum Idea in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
• Pages of the R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha website:
  • Minimum Idea surviving example
  • Minimum Idea, containing a reproduction of an advertisement and of the rules of the Minimum Shashinkai (ミニマム写真会, Minimum Photo Club).
  • Drawing on the original cardboard box for the Minimum Idea accessories
  • Sample picture
  • Camera list

Date: Kikuoka, p.28 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10, Sugiyama, item 1085, Lewis, p.21.

Time and Instant, meniscus lens: Kikuoka, p.28 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10, Sugiyama, item 1085.

This is given in old units: 3 sun 4 bu length, 2 sun 4 bu width, 9 bu depth, 60 monme weight.

The cloth wallet and leather case are also visible in the advertisement reproduced in this page of the R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha website.

Kikuoka, p.28 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10, Sugiyama, item 1085, Lewis, p.21.

Sugiyama, item 1085, says that various clubs appeared. Lewis, p.26, only speaks of the "Minimum Idea Study Society".

December 1911 catalogue of Konishi Honten, and drawings in this page of the R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha website.

Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 1085, and example pictured in Lewis, pp.20–1, and in this page of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology.

Example pictured in Kikuoka, p.28 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10.