Monarch (Sone)

The Monarch (モナーク) is a Japanese 4.5×6cm plate folder, distributed by Sone Shunsuidō in the late 1920s.

The only picture of the Monarch observed so far is a small illustration taken from an advertisement or catalogue. The camera is a copy of the Duchessa (bed-type) or Sonnet 4.5×6cm models by Contessa-Nettel. It has a vertical shape, with scissor struts and a folding bed.

The advertisement or catalogue entry says that the camera has an all metal body covered with grained morocco leather, and also mentions lever focusing, certainly the same as on the Duchessa. A focusing lever is indeed faintly visible inside the folding bed.

There is a brilliant finder at the top of the front standard, on the photographer's left, and a wireframe finder with a simple eyepiece retracting in the rear body. The top of the front standard is reinforced by some sort of bridge, also serving as a nameplate, apparently inscribed Monarch.

The camera has a Modelar Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, and was supplied with six single-sided plate holders and one film pack holder, at the price of ¥78.

Bibliography

• 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.
• Morishita Hajime (森下肇). "Atomu-han kamera no subete" (アトム判カメラのすべて, All of Atom-size cameras). 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.22, September 1992. No ISBN number. Airesu no subete (アイレスのすべて, special issue on Aires). Pp.55–70.

The Monarch is not listed in Sugiyama.