Rubies
The Rubies[1] (ルビース) are Japanese 6.5×9cm plate folders distributed and perhaps made by Fuyōdō in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Rubies Hand Camera
The camera was advertised as the Rubies Hand Camera (ルビースハンドカメラ) in the May, July and September 1929 issues of Asahi Camera.[2] It is described as having an all-metal body, double extension bellows, Meyer lenses, and vertical and horizontal movements. The illustration shows a small focusing wheel on the photographer's right, a screw certainly used for vertical movements, and both a brilliant finder and a wireframe finder with a round eyepiece. An oval plate engraved RUBIES is visible inside the folding bed, between the focusing rails. The following versions are listed, supplied with six plate holders and one film pack holder:[3]
The Compur is the older dial-set model, as appears in the illustration.
Advertisements in Asahi Camera May, July and September 1929 (right). (Image rights) |
Rubies B
The Rubies B (ルビース・B・カメラ) was advertised in the June 1932 issue of Asahi Camera. It has double extension bellows and an all-metal body, presented as "improved and perfected". The picture shows many differences with the Rubies Hand, and it seems that the vertical movement ability has disappeared. The lenses are provided by Meyer and Schneider. The following versions are listed:
- Meyer f/6.3, New Vario, ¥32;
- Meyer f/6.3, Ibsor, ¥38;
- Meyer f/4.5, Auto Pronto, ¥42;
- Meyer f/4.5, Ibsor, ¥45;
- Meyer f/4.5, Auto Compur, ¥55;
- Xenar f/4.5, Auto Compur, ¥65.
The pictured camera is the most expensive version, with the Schneider Xenar 10.5cm f/4.5 lens and the newer rim-set Compur.
Advertisement in Asahi Camera June 1932. (Image rights) |
Notes
- ↑ The Roman spelling "Rubies" is given in Lewis, p.44, but it is unconfirmed.
- ↑ Advertisements in Asahi Camera May 1929 (p.A9), July 1929 (p.A9) and September 1929 (p.A10).
- ↑ A similar, less detailed list is given in Lewis, p.44.
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera. Advertisement by Fuyōdō in May 1929 (p.A9), July 1929 (p.A9), September 1929 (p.A10), February 1930 (p.A21) and June 1932 (p.A17).
- 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 Rubies is not listed in Sugiyama.