Difference between revisions of "Mulber (3×4)"
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (biblio items) |
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (added many more documents, removed speculation on the front marking) |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
|image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2165019419/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2165019419_3bf3f48f53_m_d.jpg]<br>''Extract of a Mulber leaflet. {{public domain Japan old}}'' | |image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2165019419/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2165019419_3bf3f48f53_m_d.jpg]<br>''Extract of a Mulber leaflet. {{public domain Japan old}}'' | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | The '''Mulber''' (マルバカメラ) is a 3×4 Japanese camera, distributed by [[Kuwata|Kuwata Shōkai]] from 1936 to 1939.<REF> Dates: {{Kokusan}}, p.341. </REF> Some advertisements also mention "Mulber Camera Works", but | + | The '''Mulber''' (マルバカメラ) is a 3×4 Japanese camera, distributed by [[Kuwata|Kuwata Shōkai]] from 1936 to 1939.<REF> Dates: {{Kokusan}}, p.341. </REF> (Some advertisements also mention "Mulber Camera Works", but this was certainly a dummy name, as other names ending in [[Camera Works]].) |
== Description == | == Description == | ||
| − | The Mulber has a [[bakelite]] body and a telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly.<REF> Bakelite body: leaflet reproduced in this page. </REF> The name | + | The Mulber has a [[bakelite]] body and a telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly.<REF> Bakelite body: leaflet for the Mulber camera by "Mulber Camera Works", c.1936, reproduced in this page, and column in {{ACA}} April 1936, p.671. </REF> The name is molded in the bakelite at the front of the body, as ''Mulber'' or ''MULBER''. There is a tubular optical finder in the middle of the top plate, and the advance knob is at the left end, as seen by the photographer. There is a button or knob to the right of the viewfinder, perhaps used to close the camera body after film loading. The telescopic tube is pulled out after a slight rotation to the left;<REF> Column in {{ACA}} April 1936, p.671. </REF> this arrangement was protected by a patent.<REF> Patent filed for the telescopic tube: leaflet for the Mulber camera by "Mulber Camera Works", c.1936, reproduced in this page, and column in {{ACA}} April 1936, p.671. </REF> |
| − | The lens is a fixed-focus Mulber 50mm f/6.3, specially designed for the camera.<REF> Specially designed: leaflet reproduced in this page. </REF> The shutter is everset and gives B, 25, 50 speeds. The [[shutter release|release lever]] is directly attached to the shutter casing, and there is a thread on the side for a cable release. The shutter plate has the name ''MULBER'' in fancy letters at the top, ''MULBER CAMERA WORKS'' | + | The lens is a fixed-focus Mulber 50mm f/6.3, specially designed for the camera.<REF> Specially designed: leaflet for the Mulber camera by "Mulber Camera Works", c.1936, reproduced in this page. </REF> The shutter is everset and gives B, 25, 50 speeds. The [[shutter release|release lever]] is directly attached to the shutter casing, and there is a thread on the side for a cable release. The shutter plate has the name ''MULBER'' in fancy letters at the top, ''MULBER CAMERA WORKS'' under the lens, and a hexagonal ''KKS'' logo on the right. (These "KKS" initials are found on various other products sold by [[Kuwata]].) |
== Commercial life == | == Commercial life == | ||
| − | + | {| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;" | |
| + | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/5030299319/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5030299319_0279e8e353_m.jpg] | ||
| + | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/5030298785/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5030298785_156b26c1fa_m.jpg] | ||
| + | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/5030914204/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5030914204_fd6c5fbff0_m.jpg] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | || ''March 1936'' | ||
| + | || ''April 1936'' | ||
| + | || ''July to September 1936'' | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | colspan=3 | ''Advertisements for the Mulber in {{ACA}}. {{public domain Japan old}}'' | ||
| + | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Mulber was first advertised in {{ACA}} from March to September 1936.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.341. </REF> These advertisements list the camera at {{yen|15|1936}} (case ¥3.50 extra).<REF> Advertisements in {{ACA}} March 1936, p.A27, April 1936, p.A26, July 1936, p.A44, August 1936, p.A48, and September 1936, p.A56. That dated March is reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.95. </REF> The March advertisement has no company name in Japanese characters, only "Murber Camera Works", obviously a typo for "Mulber Camera Works".<REF> There are other typos in the lens name, spelled アルバ in March and コルバ in April instead of マルバ. </REF> This is probably a dummy name (see [[Camera Works]]), and no address is provided. The documents dated April and July to September mention the distributor [[Kuwata|Kuwata Shōkai]] instead. | ||
| + | |||
| + | All the advertisements discussed above display a ''Mulber'' logo, and give the name of the camera as "Mulber Camera" (マルバカメラ). They all show the same picture of an early camera with lens no.1021.<REF> Advertisements in {{ACA}} March 1936, p.A27, April 1936, p.A26, July 1936, p.A44, August 1936, p.A48, and September 1936, p.A56. </REF> It seems that the picture was heavily retouched. It curiously shows no f/6.3 setting on the aperture scale, only 8, 10, 12, 15 — perhaps because it was erased by mistake. The name at the front of the camera appears as ''MULBER'' in capital letters. | ||
{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;" | {| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;" | ||
| − | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2146288671/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2224/ | + | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2146288671/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2224/2146288671_c5ac5b6850.jpg] |
| + | |- | ||
| + | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2146288677/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2159/2146288677_3de3a87142.jpg] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|| ''Leaflet for the Mulber, c.1936. {{public domain Japan old}}'' | || ''Leaflet for the Mulber, c.1936. {{public domain Japan old}}'' | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | |||
| − | No surviving example of the Mulber seems to have surfaced | + | The undated leaflet reproduced above was certainly published at that period.<REF> Leaflet for the Mulber camera by "Mulber Camera Works", c.1936. </REF> It shows the name "Mulber Camera Works", and the stamp of a retailer. The picture of the camera is the same as in the above advertisements. Another picture shows the leather case, with the ''Mulber'' logo embossed at the front, hanging over the shoulder of an elegant woman. |
| + | |||
| + | {| class="plainlinks" align="right" width=250px style="text-align: center;" | ||
| + | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/5029922001/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4091/5029922001_72f992f972_t.jpg] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | || ''Announcement of the Mulber in {{ACA}} April 1936. {{public domain Japan old}}'' | ||
| + | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Mulber was also featured as a new product in the April 1936 issue of {{ACA}};<REF> Column in {{ACA}} April 1936, p.671. </REF> the column is quite terse and shows no picture. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;" | ||
| + | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/5030263341/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/5030263341_6b54ecc04b_m.jpg] | ||
| + | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/5030878534/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/5030878534_95536e6c4b_m.jpg] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | || ''September 1938'' | ||
| + | || ''January 1939'' | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | colspan=2 | ''Advertisements for the Mulber in {{ACA}}. {{public domain Japan old}}'' | ||
| + | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | After an interruption of almost two years, the Mulber was advertised again in the August 1938 to March 1939 issues of {{ACA}}.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.341. </REF> The advertisements dated September 1938 and January 1939, reproduced above, were placed by [[Kuwata|Kuwata Shōkai]] and show the camera together with the [[Mulber Six]].<REF> Advertisements in {{ACA}} September 1938, p.A36, and January 1939, p.A27. </REF> They show a picture of a different camera; the ''Mulber'' name molded at the front is now shaped as the ''Mulber'' logo appearing in various documents. The price is lower, at {{yen|10|1938}} (case ¥2.50 extra). | ||
| + | |||
| + | No surviving example of the Mulber seems to have surfaced yet. | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
Revision as of 21:16, 27 September 2010
The Mulber (マルバカメラ) is a 3×4 Japanese camera, distributed by Kuwata Shōkai from 1936 to 1939.[1] (Some advertisements also mention "Mulber Camera Works", but this was certainly a dummy name, as other names ending in Camera Works.)
Contents
Description
The Mulber has a bakelite body and a telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly.[2] The name is molded in the bakelite at the front of the body, as Mulber or MULBER. There is a tubular optical finder in the middle of the top plate, and the advance knob is at the left end, as seen by the photographer. There is a button or knob to the right of the viewfinder, perhaps used to close the camera body after film loading. The telescopic tube is pulled out after a slight rotation to the left;[3] this arrangement was protected by a patent.[4]
The lens is a fixed-focus Mulber 50mm f/6.3, specially designed for the camera.[5] The shutter is everset and gives B, 25, 50 speeds. The release lever is directly attached to the shutter casing, and there is a thread on the side for a cable release. The shutter plate has the name MULBER in fancy letters at the top, MULBER CAMERA WORKS under the lens, and a hexagonal KKS logo on the right. (These "KKS" initials are found on various other products sold by Kuwata.)
Commercial life
|
|
|
| March 1936 | April 1936 | July to September 1936 |
| Advertisements for the Mulber in Asahi Camera. (Image rights) | ||
The Mulber was first advertised in Asahi Camera from March to September 1936.[6] These advertisements list the camera at ¥15 (case ¥3.50 extra).[7] The March advertisement has no company name in Japanese characters, only "Murber Camera Works", obviously a typo for "Mulber Camera Works".[8] This is probably a dummy name (see Camera Works), and no address is provided. The documents dated April and July to September mention the distributor Kuwata Shōkai instead.
All the advertisements discussed above display a Mulber logo, and give the name of the camera as "Mulber Camera" (マルバカメラ). They all show the same picture of an early camera with lens no.1021.[9] It seems that the picture was heavily retouched. It curiously shows no f/6.3 setting on the aperture scale, only 8, 10, 12, 15 — perhaps because it was erased by mistake. The name at the front of the camera appears as MULBER in capital letters.
|
|
| Leaflet for the Mulber, c.1936. (Image rights) |
The undated leaflet reproduced above was certainly published at that period.[10] It shows the name "Mulber Camera Works", and the stamp of a retailer. The picture of the camera is the same as in the above advertisements. Another picture shows the leather case, with the Mulber logo embossed at the front, hanging over the shoulder of an elegant woman.
|
| Announcement of the Mulber in Asahi Camera April 1936. (Image rights) |
The Mulber was also featured as a new product in the April 1936 issue of Asahi Camera;[11] the column is quite terse and shows no picture.
|
|
| September 1938 | January 1939 |
| Advertisements for the Mulber in Asahi Camera. (Image rights) | |
After an interruption of almost two years, the Mulber was advertised again in the August 1938 to March 1939 issues of Asahi Camera.[12] The advertisements dated September 1938 and January 1939, reproduced above, were placed by Kuwata Shōkai and show the camera together with the Mulber Six.[13] They show a picture of a different camera; the Mulber name molded at the front is now shaped as the Mulber logo appearing in various documents. The price is lower, at ¥10 (case ¥2.50 extra).
No surviving example of the Mulber seems to have surfaced yet.
Notes
- ↑ Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.341.
- ↑ Bakelite body: leaflet for the Mulber camera by "Mulber Camera Works", c.1936, reproduced in this page, and column in Asahi Camera April 1936, p.671.
- ↑ Column in Asahi Camera April 1936, p.671.
- ↑ Patent filed for the telescopic tube: leaflet for the Mulber camera by "Mulber Camera Works", c.1936, reproduced in this page, and column in Asahi Camera April 1936, p.671.
- ↑ Specially designed: leaflet for the Mulber camera by "Mulber Camera Works", c.1936, reproduced in this page.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.341.
- ↑ Advertisements in Asahi Camera March 1936, p.A27, April 1936, p.A26, July 1936, p.A44, August 1936, p.A48, and September 1936, p.A56. That dated March is reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.95.
- ↑ There are other typos in the lens name, spelled アルバ in March and コルバ in April instead of マルバ.
- ↑ Advertisements in Asahi Camera March 1936, p.A27, April 1936, p.A26, July 1936, p.A44, August 1936, p.A48, and September 1936, p.A56.
- ↑ Leaflet for the Mulber camera by "Mulber Camera Works", c.1936.
- ↑ Column in Asahi Camera April 1936, p.671.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.341.
- ↑ Advertisements in Asahi Camera September 1938, p.A36, and January 1939, p.A27.
Bibliography
Original documents
- Asahi Camera April 1936. "Atarashii kikai to zairyō" (新しい機械と材料, New equipment and machinery). P.671.
- Asahi Camera. Advertisement by "Murber Camera Works" (certainly Kuwata Shōkai) in March 1936, p.A27.
- Asahi Camera. Advertisements by Kuwata Shōkai:
- April 1936, p.A26;
- July 1936, p.A44;
- August 1936, p.A48;
- September 1936, p.A56;
- September 1938, p.A36;
- January 1939, p.A27.
- "Mulber Camera Works". Leaflet for the Mulber camera. Date not indicated. Document reproduced in this Flickr album by Rebollo_fr.
Recent sources
- 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. Item 257.
This camera is not listed in Sugiyama.
