Palma Brilliant and Rosko Brilliant
The Palma Brilliant and Rosko Brilliant are Japanese 6×6 pseudo TLR cameras. It is said that they were distributed by Goyō Shōkai around 1955.[1] The Rosko Brilliant was certainly exported to the USA by Rosko.
Contents
Description
The Palma Brilliant and Rosko Brilliant have the same bakelite body. The central part is shaped like a TLR, with a very large brilliant finder above and a fixed-focus lens below. The film runs horizontally and the film spool containers extend from each side, with the advance knob at the top left and a dummy knob symmetrically placed on the other side. The shape is thus half way between a (pseudo) TLR and a rigid viewfinder camera. The back is locked by a latch on the left.
The lens is described as a Rosko 70mm f/6.3 in the user manual. Two control wheels are available at the bottom of the front plate: one has 1, 2, 3 aperture settings, respectively corresponding to f/6.3, f/8 and f/11, and the other has B and I (1/25) speed settings.[2] The release button is to the right of the central box. There is a non standard flash shoe on the left, with cordless synch contacts.
 
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| User manual of the Rosko Brilliant. (Image rights) |
Variations
The Palma Brilliant is only known from Sugiyama. The name PALMA is written in big letters at the bottom of the front plate, and BRILLIANT MODEL 2 is written in small letters underneath. It reportedly takes 120 film.[3]
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| Rosko camera in original box. (Image rights) |
The Rosko Brilliant is externally identical. The name ROSKO is written at the bottom of the front plate, with BRILLIANT 620 MODEL 2 written underneath. This model takes 620 film[4] and is an export version, certainly distributed by Rosko.
 
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| Rosko flashgun with box. (Image rights) |
The Rosko was sold in a red box, only marked ROSKO. A black bakelite flashgun, embossed ROSKO on the back, was supplied as an accessory in a similar red box.
Notes
Bibliography
- 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.365.
- 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 4164 and 4171.
