Stereo Leader

The Stereo Leader (ステレオリーダー) is a Japanese camera taking pairs of 23×24mm exposures on 35mm film, made by Tougodo then by Heart Sangyō in 1955–6.

Description

The Stereo Leader has a body made of plastic, somewhat similar to that of the Stereo Hit. The viewfinder protrudes in the middle of the top plate. The film is advanced by a knob on the right end, as seen by the photographer, and the rewind knob is at the left end. The camera obviously has auto-stop advance, and various controls are visible on the top plate, certainly including the rewind unlock button and an exposure counter. The Stereo Leader can take 29 stereo pairs on a 36-exposure film roll and 16 pairs on a 20-exposure roll. It seems that the back is removable for film loading.

There is a black rectangular casing attached to the front of the camera, with the shutter release at the top right. Three circular bulges protrude from this casing; the central one certainly contains the shutter, focus and diaphragm coupling mechanism, whereas the other two contain the lenses. The name STEREO Leader is inscribed on the central part and the words LEADER ANASTIGMAT 1:4.5 45MM are inscribed around each lens. The shutter cocking lever protrudes from the right lens casing. The shutter is called TMK; it is synchronized for flash and the synch post consists of a two-pin female socket protruding from the left lens casing. The three main controls are placed above: from left to right there is the aperture scale, from 4.5 to 16, the distance scale in feet, and the speed scale with B, 25, 50, 100 settings. There is a lever with STEREO and SINGLE indications at the bottom of the central bulge, switching the shutter operation from stereo pairs to single pictures. There is probably some other control on the top plate accordingly switching the film advance mechanism.

Commercial life

The Stereo Leader was featured in Japanese magazines dated September and October 1955. The September 1955 advertisement in Asahi Camera for the Stereo Hit also mentions an unnamed "Stereo Camera" (ステレオカメラ) using 35mm film, with f/4.5 lenses and B, 25, 50, 100 speeds, offered for ¥8,000 and certainly corresponding to the Stereo Leader. The October 1955 advertisement in the same magazine gives the full name (ステレオリーダー) and shows a picture of the camera; the maker is mentioned as Tōgōdō Sangyō (better known as Tougodo).

The April 1956 advertisement in Sankei Camera says that the manufacturer is Heart Sangyō and the distributor is Shikōdō; it is not known if the production of the Stereo Leader was transferred to Heart Sangyō, or if this was a sub-contractor of Tougodo from the start. The advertisement also names the authorized dealers Chiyoda Shōkai, Yamato Shōkai and Chūō Shashin-yōhin. The price is now ¥8,800, including the following accessories:

• Stereo Leader flash unit;
• plastic viewer;
• 16 inserts for film pairs;
• leather case.

Bibliography

• 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. Item 993. (See also the advertisement for item 723.)
• 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.929.
• Shima Kazuya (島和也). "Sutereo kamera onparēdo" (ステレオカメラオンパレード, Stereo cameras on parade). 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.27, December 1993. No ISBN number. Stereo World (ステレオワールド). Pp.21–5.
• 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. Item 6036.

Links

In English and Italian:

• 35mm stereo cameras (1), including the Stereo Leader, at Massimo Bertacchi's Innovative cameras