Palma plate folders
The Palma (パルマー)[1] are Japanese folding cameras taking film plates. They were distributed and perhaps made by Kyūreidō around 1929.[2]
Contents
Description
The Palma has double extension bellows and a small focusing wheel on the right of the folding bed. There is both a brilliant finder and a folding finder, certainly of the Newton type, attached to the top of the left hand side. The Palma has vertical and perhaps horizontal movement ability.
Versions
The Palma appeared in an advertisement dated February 1929,[3] where it was called "国産S.Y.K パルマー", meaning "Japan made S.Y.K Palma". The meaning on the initials is unknown. Three sizes were available: 4.5×6cm (Atom), 6.5×9cm (Daimeishi) and 9×12cm (Tefuda). Each camera was sold with six single-sided plate holders. A number of lens and shutter combinations were offered:[4]
| body size | Atom (4.5×6cm) |
Daimeishi (6.5×9cm) |
Tefuda (9×12cm) |
| lens and shutter | |||
| Anticomar f/6.3, Vario | ¥45 | ||
| Anticomar f/4.2, Compur | ¥75 | ||
| Welka[5] f/6.3, Vario | ¥50 | ¥60 | |
| Meyer f/6.3, Ibsor | ¥65 | ¥75 | |
| Welka f/4.5, Ibsor | ¥68 | ¥80 | |
| Welka f/4.5, Compur | ¥83 | ¥90 |
Lewis also mentions Unifocal lenses and says that the Meyer lens was called Helioplan.[6]
Notes
- ↑ The Roman spelling "Palma" is unconfirmed. It is found in Lewis, p. 44 but this source is not very reliable for Roman names. The katakana パルマー could as well correspond to "Palmer" or "Palmar" or another variation.
- ↑ Date of the advertisement reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura.
- ↑ The prices are hardly legible and minor mistakes are possible.
- ↑ The name in katakana is ヲエルカー and Lewis, p. 44, says Welka. Other Roman names like "Welkar" or "Welcar" are also plausible.
- ↑ Lewis, p. 44.
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.
The Palma are not listed in Sugiyama nor in Kokusan kamera no rekishi.
Links
In Japanese:
- Advertisement for the Palma published in the February 1929 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura.
