Pearlette

This is a work in progress.

The Pearlette (パーレット) is a Japanese folding camera taking 4×6.5cm and 3×4cm exposures on 127 film, made by Konishiroku (predecessor of Konica) from 1925 to the early postwar period. The Pearlette is historically significant as the first mass-produced Japanese camera.

See also the Special Pearlette and B Pearlette which have nothing in common except for the name and format.

General description

The Pearlette is a near-copy of the Piccolette by Contessa-Nettel, itself inspired by the Vest Pocket Kodak. The camera is easily recognized by the name Pearlette under the lens.

The front standard is mounted on a pair of scissor struts and extends to the bottom, acting as a standing leg. There is a round cut-off on each side of the body to pull out the front standard easily. A pivoting brilliant finder is mounted on one corner of the front plate. There are two tripod threads: one is at the bottom right, as seen by a photographer holding the camera vertically, and the other is on a strut joining the two sides of the trellis structure at the bottom. Most of the other features evolved during the camera's very long production run.

The regular models have a fixed-focus lens, either a simple meniscus achromat lens (usually US 8, i.e. f/11) or a triplet lens (f/6.8, later f/6.3). The shutter is a Woco by Wollensak or a Pegasus or Echo by Konishiroku, depending on the year of production. All have three speeds: 1/25, 1/50 and 1/100.

A special edition called the High-Grade Pearlette was also offered for a short time with higher lens and shutter specifications.

First generation: side loading

The first generation models have a removable side plate for film loading, and an advance key at the top left. They always display a logo on the front plate, opposite the brilliant finder, reading RK and ROKUOH SHA TOKYO.

1925 model: no wireframe, Wollensak lens and shutter

Pearlette, 1925 model. From Ars Camera December 1926. (Image rights)

The Pearlette was introduced in June 1925. The original model is mainly recognized by the absence of a wireframe finder, and the sliding button used to open the side. The brilliant finder is of the folding type, and its front window has a thin rim surrounded by three small screws. There is a small hole on the front plate, next to the lens, whose purpose is unknown. The fixed body side is engraved PEARLETTE, and has a silver tripod attachment retained by three screws. The camera takes 4×6.5cm pictures only, and the back has a removable disc containing a single red window. The removable disc was used to clean or dismantle the lens, or to attach the camera to an enlarger, using it as an enlarging lens. The scissor struts can be extended further by acting on a spring-loaded lever on the rear side of the front plate, at the bottom, allowing to take portrait pictures despite the fixed-focus lens.

Advertisement in Ars Camera December 1926. (Image rights)

The shutter is a N°0 Woco by Wollensak, marked N°0 WOCO above the lens and WOLLENSAK U.S.A. below. The speed is set by an index at the top, and the aperture scale is at the bottom. On the original version, the available speeds are T, 25, 50, 100. The camera exists with a Deltas Aplanat 75/6.8 lens or with a meniscus achromat lens whose aperture runs from 8 to 64 in the Uniform Scale.

It is said that the lesser version was priced at ¥17, and the f/6.8 version was priced at ¥25. (The advertisements dated 1925 or 1926 observed so far, including that in Ars Camera December 1926 reproduced here, do not mention the price.)

A dedicated users club was founded in April 1926, some months after the camera's release, continuing the trend initiated with the Minimum Society for the users of the Minimum Idea. Initially called the Pearlette Alliance (パーレット連盟), it was renamed Pearlette Association (パーレット同人会) in May 1930.

The earliest cameras have a large rivet placed under the front logo, well visible on the drawings in the advertisements, and confirmed on an original example. Very soon, this part was moved towards the bottom, to the side of the lens near the puller grip, perhaps reflecting a change in the underlying mechanism. It is said that the new release layout was first advertised in July 1928. It is also said that the front logo was very slightly enlarged at about the same time and the front engravings became golden instead of silver-coloured.

1929 model: wireframe finder and close-up attachment

Pearlette, 1929 model. From Asahi Camera May 1929. (Image rights)

The 1929 model has a newer body with slightly larger dimensions. It has a rectangular wireframe finder hinged to the front standard and containing a close-up lens in the middle, which stands in front of the taking lens when the wireframe is in the folded position. (The previous close-up device extending the scissor struts was removed.) The retractable eyepiece is hosted in the removable disc containing the red window, which is reportedly removed when turned by 90 degrees instead of 45 degrees. The side latch consists of a pivoting lever instead of a sliding button. On the other side, the name is engraved in relief and the tripod attachment is black finished and retained by a single screw. The brilliant finder is rigid, with a thick rim around the front window and a chrome frame around the viewing lens. The release mechanism has been modified once again, with a cable release hole separate from the release button. Minor changes are visible on the front plate: the small hole on the side of the lens and the small rivet inside the logo have disappeared, and the large rivet on the same side has moved upwards again.

Advertisement in Asahi Camera May 1929. (Image rights)

The 1929 model was reportedly released in May. The earliest advertisements known so far are in the May 1929 issue of Asahi Camera and in the June 1929 issue of Shashin Geppō. They mention the new wireframe and close-up attachment, and the rigid brilliant finder. The price is unchanged, at ¥17 for the lesser model with MA lens, and ¥25 for the model with Deltas f/6.8 lens.

In 1931, the wireframe hinge was reinforced and the front plate was enlarged a little.

1932 model: Pegasus shutter, Japanese lenses

The imported lenses and shutters were replaced in 1932 by equipment made by Rokuoh-sha. The Pearlette has a Pegasus shutter giving B, 25, 50, 100 speeds. The shutter plate is mottled and marked PEGASUS at the top and ROKUOH-SHA at the bottom. This version exists with a Hexar Ser.II 75/6.3 lens and with an f/8 meniscus lens, said to be made by Asahi Kōgaku.

An additional close-up lens for the brilliant finder is attached to the front wireframe,.

New model: hinged back

The new Pearlette model, released in 1933, has fixed side plates and the back is hinged to the bottom. There is an advance knob at the top right and a tripod screw at the bottom right, as seen by a photographer holding the camera vertically.

This model was first sold with the Pegasus shutter but it was soon replaced by the Echo shutter. The shutter plate is black with a chrome rim. It is marked Echo at the top and Rokuoh-sha at the bottom and the position of the controls is the same. This version with Echo shutter exists with an Optor 75/6.3 lens or an f/8 meniscus lens, both said to be made by Asahi Kōgaku.

The shutter plate was changed in 1937, with a metal stripe on each side. The markings on the front plate were changed in 1940, with the disappearance of the logo and the adoption of a Pearlette name plate screwed to the bottom of the front standard.

Pearlette with hinged back, decorated sides and black trim. Meniscus achromat lens, Echo shutter. From the collection of Harris Aaronson. (Image rights)

Pearlette with hinged back, plain sides and chrome trim. Meniscus achromat lens, New Echo shutter. Pictures courtesy of Emanuele L. (Image rights)

Bibliography

• Ars Camera. Advertisement by Konishiroku Honten in December 1926. No page number.
• Asahi Camera. Advertisement by Konishiroku Honten in May 1929, p.A1.
• 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. Items 170 and 681. (See also the advertisements for items 167–8 and 314 and the text and picture of pp.43 and 430.)
• Asami Takashi (浅見高史). "Konica history 7. Pāretto." (Konica history 7. パーレット. Pearlette.) 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.10, September 1987. No ISBN number. Konishiroku kamera no rekishi (小西六カメラの歴史, special issue on Konishiroku). Pp.48–52.
• Asami Takashi (浅見高史). "Senzen no kokusan besutoserā-ki Pearlette." (戦前の国産ベストセラー機 Pearlette, The Pearlette, best-selling prewar Japanese camera). 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.4, March 1984. No ISBN number. Meiki no keifu (名機の系譜, special issue on famous camera families). Pp.102–7.
• Baird, John R. The Japanese Camera. Yakima, WA: Historical Camera Publications, 1990. ISBN 1-879561-02-6. Pp.27 and 33–4.
• The Japanese Historical Camera. 日本の歴史的カメラ (Nihon no rekishiteki kamera). 2nd ed. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2004. P.12.
• Kameari Hisao (亀有久雄). "Pāretto kamera no hensen" (パーレットカメラの変遷, Evolution of the Pearlette camera). In Camera Collectors' News no.11 (May 1978). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
• 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). Pp.25, 35, 46, 49, 56, 60, 182.
• 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.544.
• Matsumura Shisui (松山思水). Yoku utsuru Pāretto shashinjutsu (よく写るパーレツト写真術). Tokyo: Kinseidō, 1934.
• Miyazaki Shigemoto (宮崎繁幹). Konika kamera no 50-nen: Konika I-gata kara Hekisā RF e (コニカカメラの50年：コニカI型からヘキサーRFへ, Fifty years of Konica cameras: From the Konica I to the Hexar RF). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 2003. ISBN 4-257-12038-X.
• Nakajima Kenkichi (中島謙吉). Vesutan Pāretto no tsukaikata (ヴェス単パーレットの使ひ方). Tokyo: Kōdaisha, 1938.
• Sakai Shūichi (酒井修一). "'Anbako' kara 'ōtofōkasu' he: kamera no hensen to tomo ni ayunda 114-nen" (「暗函」から「オートフォーカス」へ・カメラの変遷と共に歩んだ114年, From 'camera obscura' to 'autofocus': 114 years of camera evolution). 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.10, September 1987. No ISBN number. Konishiroku kamera no rekishi (小西六カメラの歴史, special issue on Konishiroku). Pp.8–13.
• 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 1135–42, 1144–6 and 1382.

Links

In English:

• Pearlette at medfmt
• Pearlette in English and in Japanese at Cosmonet's Classic Camera

In Japanese:

• Pages of the R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha website:
  • Pearlette history
  • Advertisement in Shashin Geppō June 1929
  • Advertisement in Shashin Geppō December 1930
  • Pictures of the front standard, Wollensak lens and original box
  • High-Grade Pearlette, from the book Pāretto no tsukaikata (1937)
  • Camera list with the Pearlette
  • Cover of Mirror Image no.39 (special issue on the Pearlette)
  • Rules of the Pearlette Society
• Pearlette in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
• Pearlette variations at Asacame
• Pearlette at Aya's Camera
• Pearlette at Puppy's Island
• Pearlette at Kamera no Tabi
• Pearlette at S. Takagi's Shashinki no Mori
• Pearlette and more pictures at Hayata Camera Laboratory
• Pearlette and Pearlette lens at Pleasure Classic Lenses
• Pearlette, other Pearlette and colour Pearlette at Nagoya's Camera Club
• Repair of a Pearlette and of another Pearlette at the Handmade and Classic Camera site
• Pearlette in a Japanese blog
• Pearlette in Sakusen Ichiman-ri's camera pages
• Pearlette at Itō Sadanobu's camera collection
• Pearlette in this post, this post and this post of the Junk Binbō blog
• Pearlette in the first page and second page of the Yamada Camera Museum
• Pearlette at Aho Ressha Pictorial
• Pearlette (postwar) at Camera Collection Minorhouse
• Page with a picture of a Pearlette in Tomo ni shita kamera
• Pearlette, small picture at Ken's website
• Advertisement for the Pearlette, published in the 23 March 1938 issue of Asahi Graph, reproduced in the small format camera page of the Gochamaze website