Difference between revisions of "Record (Konishiroku)"

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The '''Record''' (レコード) is a Japanese camera taking unperforated [[35mm film]], made from about 1926 by Rokuoh-sha, manufacturing branch of [[Konica|Konishiroku]] (predecessor of [[Konica]]). It was the first Japanese camera to use 35mm-wide film.
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== Description ==
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The Record is inspired from the [[Unette]] by [[Ernemann]], and uses the same type of unperforated [[35mm film]], spooled with paper backing. The film runs vertically inside the brick-shaped wooden body. The exposure format is 22×32mm, with the largest dimension transversal to the film advance. The camera thus takes horizontal pictures when held in its natural position.
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The body is hinged along the right-hand rear edge, and it opens in two for film loading, unveiling the spool holders, film rollers and exposure chamber. The film is advanced by a key on the photographer's right, and there is certainly a single red window in the back. There is a folding frame finder and a holding shackle at the top. Two levers are visible on the right, near the front side; the upper one is used for Instant pictures, and the other is for Time exposures.<REF> Function of the two levers: Awano, p.4 of {{CCN}} no.256. </REF> The lens is a meniscus and has two aperture settings, perhaps 9 and 15, certainly switched by the sliding button visible above on the front side.<REF> Two aperture settings: Awano, p.4 of {{CCN}} no.256. </REF>
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== Commercial life ==
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The Record reportedly appeared in October 1926.<REF> Sakai, p.23 of {{KKS}} no.10. </REF> In the May 1927 advertisement in ''[[Shashin Geppō]]'',<REF> Advertisement reproduced in Awano, p.5 of {{CCN}} no.256. </REF> the camera is presented as "for beginners" and the picture shows a young boy using the Record. The camera is listed for {{yen|6|1927}}, and the film roll allow for twelve exposures is listed for ¥0.30. The advertisement says that the Record costs one third of the price of a camera using [[127 film]], presumably an allusion to the [[Pearlette]]. It seems that the film can be processed for projection slides, and a film processing device is announced as available soon and listed for ¥2; a dedicated enlarger is also mentioned.
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The December 1929 advertisement in ''[[Shashin Geppō]]''<REF> Advertisement reproduced in Awano, p.6 of {{CCN}} no.256. </REF> shows the Pearlette and the Record side by side; the Record is presented as "enjoyable by young boys and young girls" (少年少女に喜ばれる). The prices of the Record camera and film roll are unchanged. The film processing device is not mentioned, but a Record slide projector, also functioning as an enlarger, is shown and listed for ¥9.50.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==

Revision as of 00:06, 16 January 2008

The Record (レコード) is a Japanese camera taking unperforated 35mm film, made from about 1926 by Rokuoh-sha, manufacturing branch of Konishiroku (predecessor of Konica). It was the first Japanese camera to use 35mm-wide film.

Description

The Record is inspired from the Unette by Ernemann, and uses the same type of unperforated 35mm film, spooled with paper backing. The film runs vertically inside the brick-shaped wooden body. The exposure format is 22×32mm, with the largest dimension transversal to the film advance. The camera thus takes horizontal pictures when held in its natural position.

The body is hinged along the right-hand rear edge, and it opens in two for film loading, unveiling the spool holders, film rollers and exposure chamber. The film is advanced by a key on the photographer's right, and there is certainly a single red window in the back. There is a folding frame finder and a holding shackle at the top. Two levers are visible on the right, near the front side; the upper one is used for Instant pictures, and the other is for Time exposures.[1] The lens is a meniscus and has two aperture settings, perhaps 9 and 15, certainly switched by the sliding button visible above on the front side.[2]

Commercial life

The Record reportedly appeared in October 1926.[3] In the May 1927 advertisement in Shashin Geppō,[4] the camera is presented as "for beginners" and the picture shows a young boy using the Record. The camera is listed for ¥6, and the film roll allow for twelve exposures is listed for ¥0.30. The advertisement says that the Record costs one third of the price of a camera using 127 film, presumably an allusion to the Pearlette. It seems that the film can be processed for projection slides, and a film processing device is announced as available soon and listed for ¥2; a dedicated enlarger is also mentioned.

The December 1929 advertisement in Shashin Geppō[5] shows the Pearlette and the Record side by side; the Record is presented as "enjoyable by young boys and young girls" (少年少女に喜ばれる). The prices of the Record camera and film roll are unchanged. The film processing device is not mentioned, but a Record slide projector, also functioning as an enlarger, is shown and listed for ¥9.50.

Notes

  1. Function of the two levers: Awano, p.4 of Camera Collectors' News no.256.
  2. Two aperture settings: Awano, p.4 of Camera Collectors' News no.256.
  3. Sakai, p.23 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10.
  4. Advertisement reproduced in Awano, p.5 of Camera Collectors' News no.256.
  5. Advertisement reproduced in Awano, p.6 of Camera Collectors' News no.256.

Bibliography

Links

In Japanese: