Difference between revisions of "Sakura Palace"
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The '''Sakura Palace Portable Camera''' (さくらパレース手提暗函) or '''Palace Portable Camera''' (パレス手提暗函)<REF> The name is given as Sakura Palace Portable Camera (さくらパレース手提暗函) in the advertisement reproduced in Tanaka, p.94 of {{KKS}} no.10, and as Palace Portable Camera (パレス手提暗函) in the advertisement reproduced in [http://www2f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ter-1212/sakura/palace.htm this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha]. The Roman name "Palace" is inferred from the ''katakana'' パレース or パレス, but it is not confirmed by original documents. "Portable Camera" is an arbitrary translation of ''tesage anbako'' (手提暗函), which could also be rendered as "Hand Camera". The Japanese word ''anbako'', literally meaning "dark box", was forged after "camera obscura" and was used for cameras until the 1910s approximately. </REF> is a Japanese folding camera made by [[Konica|Rokuoh-sha]], the manufacturing branch of [[Konica|Konishi]] (predecessor of [[Konica]]). It was reportedly released in June 1908.<REF> Lewis, p.20, and chronology from the official company history ''Shashin to tomo ni hyaku-nen'', reproduced in Tanaka, p.94 of {{KKS}} no.10. The date is simply given as 1908 in the [http://www2f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ter-1212/sakura/11year.htm chronology at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha]. </REF> | The '''Sakura Palace Portable Camera''' (さくらパレース手提暗函) or '''Palace Portable Camera''' (パレス手提暗函)<REF> The name is given as Sakura Palace Portable Camera (さくらパレース手提暗函) in the advertisement reproduced in Tanaka, p.94 of {{KKS}} no.10, and as Palace Portable Camera (パレス手提暗函) in the advertisement reproduced in [http://www2f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ter-1212/sakura/palace.htm this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha]. The Roman name "Palace" is inferred from the ''katakana'' パレース or パレス, but it is not confirmed by original documents. "Portable Camera" is an arbitrary translation of ''tesage anbako'' (手提暗函), which could also be rendered as "Hand Camera". The Japanese word ''anbako'', literally meaning "dark box", was forged after "camera obscura" and was used for cameras until the 1910s approximately. </REF> is a Japanese folding camera made by [[Konica|Rokuoh-sha]], the manufacturing branch of [[Konica|Konishi]] (predecessor of [[Konica]]). It was reportedly released in June 1908.<REF> Lewis, p.20, and chronology from the official company history ''Shashin to tomo ni hyaku-nen'', reproduced in Tanaka, p.94 of {{KKS}} no.10. The date is simply given as 1908 in the [http://www2f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ter-1212/sakura/11year.htm chronology at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha]. </REF> | ||
| − | The camera takes pictures on both {{tefuda}}-size (8×10.5cm) plates and rollfilm, presumably 118 film.<REF> Advertisement reproduced in Tanaka, p.94 of {{KKS}} no.10, and Lewis, p.33. </REF> The illustrations indicate that the camera consists of two parts: a regular plate camera and a large rollfilm holder into which the main body is inserted.<REF> Illustrations reproduced in [http://www2f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ter-1212/sakura/palace.htm this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha]. One of them also appears in the advertisement reproduced in Tanaka, p.94 of {{KKS}} no.10. </REF> The main camera has | + | The camera takes pictures on both {{tefuda}}-size (8×10.5cm) plates and rollfilm, presumably 118 film.<REF> Advertisement reproduced in Tanaka, p.94 of {{KKS}} no.10, and Lewis, p.33. </REF> The illustrations indicate that the camera consists of two parts: a regular plate camera and a large rollfilm holder into which the main body is inserted.<REF> Illustrations reproduced in [http://www2f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ter-1212/sakura/palace.htm this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha]. One of them also appears in the advertisement reproduced in Tanaka, p.94 of {{KKS}} no.10. </REF> The main camera has a front standard made of two cylindrical masts, a [[brilliant finder]] perched atop the right-hand mast, a handle on the right-hand side, and a standing leg under the folding bed. It seems that two cases were provided, one for the camera alone with some plate holders, and the other for the camera with the rollfilm holder attached. At least one illustration shows double extension bellows driven by a wheel on the photographer's right. |
An advertisement by [[Konica|Konishi Honten]] mentions two models: '''No.1''' (壹號) and '''No.2''' (貳號), and says that No.2 is distinguished by its double extension bellows.<REF> Advertisement reproduced in [http://www2f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ter-1212/sakura/palace.htm this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha]. </REF> The following versions are listed: | An advertisement by [[Konica|Konishi Honten]] mentions two models: '''No.1''' (壹號) and '''No.2''' (貳號), and says that No.2 is distinguished by its double extension bellows.<REF> Advertisement reproduced in [http://www2f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ter-1212/sakura/palace.htm this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha]. </REF> The following versions are listed: | ||
Revision as of 17:58, 5 April 2008
The Sakura Palace Portable Camera (さくらパレース手提暗函) or Palace Portable Camera (パレス手提暗函)[1] is a Japanese folding camera made by Rokuoh-sha, the manufacturing branch of Konishi (predecessor of Konica). It was reportedly released in June 1908.[2]
The camera takes pictures on both tefuda-size (8×10.5cm) plates and rollfilm, presumably 118 film.[3] The illustrations indicate that the camera consists of two parts: a regular plate camera and a large rollfilm holder into which the main body is inserted.[4] The main camera has a front standard made of two cylindrical masts, a brilliant finder perched atop the right-hand mast, a handle on the right-hand side, and a standing leg under the folding bed. It seems that two cases were provided, one for the camera alone with some plate holders, and the other for the camera with the rollfilm holder attached. At least one illustration shows double extension bellows driven by a wheel on the photographer's right.
An advertisement by Konishi Honten mentions two models: No.1 (壹號) and No.2 (貳號), and says that No.2 is distinguished by its double extension bellows.[5] The following versions are listed:
| body version | No.1 | No.2 |
| lens and shutter | ||
| Carl Zeiss Tessar Ser.IIb No.4 lens, Compound shutter |
¥155 | ¥185 |
| Carl Zeiss Tessar Ser.IIb No.4 lens, Auto shutter |
¥140 | ¥150 |
| Bausch & Lomb Symmetrical lens, Auto shutter |
¥80 | _ |
No surviving example of the Sakura Palace Portable is known. This camera is however historically significant because it was certainly the first Japanese camera taking rollfilm.
Notes
- ↑ The name is given as Sakura Palace Portable Camera (さくらパレース手提暗函) in the advertisement reproduced in Tanaka, p.94 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10, and as Palace Portable Camera (パレス手提暗函) in the advertisement reproduced in this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha. The Roman name "Palace" is inferred from the katakana パレース or パレス, but it is not confirmed by original documents. "Portable Camera" is an arbitrary translation of tesage anbako (手提暗函), which could also be rendered as "Hand Camera". The Japanese word anbako, literally meaning "dark box", was forged after "camera obscura" and was used for cameras until the 1910s approximately.
- ↑ Lewis, p.20, and chronology from the official company history Shashin to tomo ni hyaku-nen, reproduced in Tanaka, p.94 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10. The date is simply given as 1908 in the chronology at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Tanaka, p.94 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10, and Lewis, p.33.
- ↑ Illustrations reproduced in this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha. One of them also appears in the advertisement reproduced in Tanaka, p.94 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in this page at R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha.
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). Pp.20 and 33.
- Tanaka Yoshirō (田中芳郎). "Meiji–Taishō jidai no Konishi Honten no kamera wo shiru tame no hon" (明治・大正時代の小西本店のカメラを知るための本, Books about the Konishi Honten cameras of the Meiji and Taishō eras). 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.92–4.
Links
In Japanese:
- Pages of the R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha website:
| Konishiroku prewar and wartime cameras () | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| plate | hand cameras | stereo hand cameras | strut folders | box | telephoto | SLR |
| Idea (original) | Idea A | Idea B | Idea Snap | Idea No.1 | Idea (metal) | Lily (original) | Lily (horizontal) | Lily (metal) | Tropical Lily | Noble | Ohca | Sakura Palace | Sakura Pocket Prano | Sakura Prano | Idea Binocular | Sakura Binocular Prano | Minimum Idea | Idea Spring | Korok | Champion | Cherry | Sakura Army | Sakura Honor | Sakura Navy | Idea Telephoto | Idea Reflex (1910 and 1911) | Idea Reflex (1932) | Neat Reflex | Sakura Reflex Prano | |
| rollfilm | folders | box or collapsible | TLR | |||
| Pearlette | Special Pearlette | B Pearlette | Pearl (for plates and rollfilm) | Pearl No.2 | Pearl (Year 8) | Baby Pearl | Semi Pearl | Sakura Palace | Record | Sakura (box) | Sakura (bakelite) | Sakura-flex | ||||
