Nifcarette

This is a work in progress.

The Nifcarette (ニフカレッテ) is a Japanese 4×6.5 folding camera, made by Nichidoku Shashinki Shōten (the later Minolta) from 1929.

Origin

The Nifcarette was the first camera made by Nichidoku. The first example was completed in March 1929. To design the camera, Tashima Kazuo, the founder of the company, was helped by the German engineers Billy Neumann and Willy Heilemann (who later founded Neumann & Heilemann). Billy Neumann previously worked for Krauss and the Nifcarette was inspired from the Rollette made by this company. The lenses and shutters were imported from Germany and only the body was made in Japan.

Name

Nifcarette embossing. (Image rights)

The Roman spelling appearing on the advertisements and on the camera itself is "Nifcarette". Nifcarette was thus the Roman name used by Nichidoku at the time, and it is used throughout this article. The camera is often called "Nifcalette" by mistake. It would be written and pronounced the same in Japanese, and the name "Nifcalette" is probably the result of an old translation mistake, occurred during the redaction of an early company history after 1945.

"Nifca" comes from Nichidoku Foto Camera. Nichi in Nichidoku means Japan, and it is certainly not coincidental that "Nifca" can also be read as Nippon Foto Camera.

The name Nifcarette was certainly inspired by the names of some German cameras of the time, like the Icarette, Cocarette and Rollette, as well as the Japanese Pearlette.

General description

Nifcarette. Pictures courtesy of Andrea Apra. (Image rights)

Advance key and folding bed release. (Image rights)

The Nifcarette is a vertical folder, taking 4×6.5cm exposures on 127 film. It is not self-erecting: the front standard needs to be manually pulled out after opening the bed. There is a folding brilliant finder attached to the front standard, and sometimes a hinged wireframe too.

There is a winding key at the top right (as seen by the photographer holding the camera vertically), and the folding bed release is placed next to it. The film advance is controlled by a single uncovered red window in the middle of the back. This red window is surrounded by a circular metal frame, which extends to the side and contains the retracting bead for the wireframe finder on the cameras originally equipped with such device.

Nifcarette. Pictures courtesy of Andrea Apra. (Image rights)

Locking button (A and Z). (Image rights)

The side plate and the film chamber with the bellows assembly and spool holders slides out of the body shell when the camera is opened, like on the Krauss Rollette. The camera is locked in closed position by a small sliding button on one side of the body, with A and Z indications (for Aus and Zu, i.e. open and closed in German).

Nichidoku logo. (Image rights)

The name Nifcarette is embossed in the leather covering on the folding bed. The logo of Nichidoku is engraved between the lens rails, with the letters N, D, PH and Co assembled inside a circle, surely for Nichi Doku Photo Company.

Versions

The Nifcarette was offered in at least three models, called A, B and D and corresponding to different body versions. It seems that there was no model C. An anonymous Japanese source reproduced in Tanimura gives the following list of lens and shutter combinations, probably corresponding to the advertised versions:

• Xenar f/4.5, Compur;
• Wekar Double Anastigmat f/4.5, Compur;
• Wekar Anastigmat f/4.5, Ibsor;
• Wekar Anastigmat f/6.3, Ibsor;
• Wekar Anastigmat f/6.3, Pronto;
• Aplanat f/8, Pronto;
• Aplanat f/8, Vario.

The documents observed so far are insufficient to assign these combinations precisely to the body versions. Of course the most expensive combinations tended to be mounted on the most sophisticated Nifcarette A, and the cheapest on the simpler Nifcarette D. Only six different Nifcarette cameras have been observed so far, in the three body versions, in addition to one example of the Sirius Bebe.

The Nifcarette A

The Nifcarette A has a focusing worm-screw on the right of the folding bed, moving the lens standard back and forth on precisely machined rails. There are two handles at the bottom of the lens standard to pull it out after opening the folding bed. The body edges have a metal finish and there is no frame finder.

This model appears in an advertisement dated May 1930 where it is precisely called Nifcarette Model A (ニフカレッテ・モデルA). The advertising picture is heavily retouched and it is reproduced alone in Scheibel and Lewis. It depicts an example with a Schneider Xenar 7.5cm f/4.5 lens and a rim-set Compur shutter giving T, B, 1–300 speeds. The bottom of the lens standard is written Nifca and 1370 (certainly the serial number). It is said that the price of the Xenar version was ¥75 in 1929 and ¥90 in 1930.

The only surviving example of the Nifcarette A observed so far is pictured in Awano. The lens seems to be a Wekar Anastigmat f/6.3 and the shutter is a dial-set Pronto. The serial number is perhaps 1404, engraved at the same place as on the advertising picture.

The Nifcarette B

The Nifcarette B has a focusing lever on the right instead of the worm-screw. The focusing rails are simpler and made of folded sheet metal. The front standard is pulled out by two pins.

This model appears in an advertisement dated September 1930 where it is called Nifcarette B (ニフカレッテB型). This advertisement gives a choice of two shutters: Pronto and Ibsor. The advertising picture shows metal body edges and a wireframe finder in addition to the brilliant finder. The same picture still appears in an advertisement dated January 1931.

Three actual examples have been observed. One is pictured in Francesch and Sugiyama and in this page of the Konica Minolta website. This example belonged to the Minolta Gallery in the 1980s and it is certainly the one that was displayed in the JCII exhibition about Konica and Minolta in 2005. Today (2007) it is probably the property of Konica Minolta or Sony. It has a Wekar Anastigmat 75mm f/6.3 lens (Nr.3782), probably made by Kenngott but not engraved as such, and a dial-set Pronto shutter giving 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds and sporting an AGC logo. The bottom of the lens standard is written Nifca and 3774. This example has metal finished body edges and a folding frame finder, similar to the advertising picture. The frame finder consists of a wireframe attached to the front standard and a simple retractable eyepiece.

The second example, sold in 2007 in an online auction, is extremely similar. It also has metal body edges, the wireframe finder and a Pronto shutter. The lens seems to be inscribed W. Kenngott Stuttgart and the aperture is perhaps f/6.3, but the pictures of the auction were hardly legible. The camera also has the Nifca nameplate, perhaps with serial number 30xx.

Another example is pictured in Francesch, Scheibel, McKeown and Baird. It has a Heliostar Anastigmat München 75mm f/6.3 lens (Nr 75004) and a dial-set Koilos shutter giving 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds. The shutter plate is written Nifca Photo. The nameplate with the serial number is absent, perhaps because it is missing: a hole is visible that was probably intended for the attaching screw. This example has black body edges and a different advance key.

The Nifcarette D

The Nifcarette D has a simpler lens standard, moved back and forth by hand for focusing. There is an index on the left, moving along a distance scale. It is said that the cheapest variant with Vario shutter cost ¥18.

One example is pictured in this page at Yone Lab, with no frame finder and metal body edges. The advance key differs from the other examples observed. The shutter is a dial-set Pronto giving T, B, 100, 50, 25 speeds. The lens has f/8 to f/32 aperture settings and is reportedly engraved "Wekar-Aplanat". The camera has the Nifca nameplate with body n°5019.

Another example is pictured in Francesch and Sugiyama. It has a dial-set Vario shutter giving 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds and it is reported to have an Aplanat 75mm f/8 lens. The body edges are black painted. The bottom of the lens standard is rougher than on the other examples and is left in plain metal finish.

The Sirius Bebe

It seems that the Nifcarette was renamed Sirius Bebe (シリウスベベ) after the company changed its name from Nichidoku Shashinki Shōten to Molta Gōshi-gaisha in 1931. Only one example has been observed so far, pictured in Awano. It has a dial-set Compur shutter and black painted body edges. It seems that the advance key is replaced by a knob. A folding frame finder is attached to the side plate but it is probably not original: it has two bars for 3×4cm format and a clamp is visible to attach a wireframe at the side of the lens standard.

Bibliography

• Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Minolta ryakushi" (ミノルタ略史, "Minolta short history"). 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.12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.6–8.
• Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Senzen no Minolta kamera" (戦前のミノルタカメラ, "Prewar Minolta 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.12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.13–7.
• Baird, John R. The Japanese Camera. Yakima, WA: Historical Camera Publications, 1990. ISBN 1-879561-02-6. Pp.37–9.
• Francesch, Dominique and Jean-Paul. Histoire de l'appareil photographique Minolta de 1929 à 1985. Paris: Dessain et Tolra, 1985. ISBN 2-249-27685-4.
• Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). "Kōkoku ni miru Minolta kamera no rekishi" (広告に見るミノルタカメラの歴史, "Minolta camera history seen through the advertisements"). 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.12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.9–12.
• "Hensen kamera ichiran-pyō" (変遷カメラ一らん表, Table of camera evolution.) In Shashin Kōgyō no.77 (September 1958). P.295.
• 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.49.
• 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.671.
• Scheibel, Anni Rita and Joseph. 70 Jahre Minolta Kameratechnik — Von der Nifcalette bis zur Dynax 9. Stuttgart: Lindemanns Verlag, 3rd edition, 1999. ISBN 3-89506-191-3. Pp.8–9.
• 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. Items 1179–80.
• Taniguchi Masao (谷口匡男). "Minoruta kamera no sakujitsu, konnichi" (ミノルタ・カメラの昨日、今日, Minolta cameras, yesterday and today). In Shashin Kōgyō no.77 (September 1958). Pp.275–9.
• Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Neumann & Heilemann: kieta ashiato, Minoruta setsuritsu to sono ato no karera wo otte" (Neumann & Heilemann 消えた足跡・ミノルタ設立とその後の彼等を追って, On the traces of Neumann & Heilemann at the founding of Minolta and afterwards.) 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.12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.96–9. (Quoting Tashima's book Watakushi no rirekisho.)
• Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minolta I-gata to II-gata" (セミミノルタⅠ型とⅡ型, "Semi Minolta I and II"). In Camera Collectors' News no. 116 (February 1987). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
• Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minolta I-gata gaibun" (セミミノルタⅠ型外聞, "Things heard about the Semi Minolta I"). In Camera Collectors' News no. 131 (May 1988). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.

Links

In English:

• Minolta folding cameras, with a picture of the Nifcarette B (Pronto, Wekar f/6.3), in the Manual Minolta website

In German:

• Nifcarette B (Pronto, Wekar f/6.3) at kefk.net

In Japanese:

• Nifcarette B (Pronto, Wekar f/6.3) in the Konica Minolta official history site
• Nifcarette B (Pronto, Wekar f/6.3) in the Map Camera Museum
• Nifcarette B (Pronto, Wekar f/6.3) in the Kitamura Camera Museum
• Nifcarette D (Pronto, Wekar-Aplanat f/8) and specs at the Yone Lab website

In Korean:

• Nifcarette B (Koilos, Heliostar f/6.3) at infocam.co.kr

In Chinese:

• Nifcarette B (Koilos, Heliostar f/6.3) in a Chinese webpage