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Rower Bijou |
 Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in France from 1937 to (After) 1937.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 10819
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Rower
Referred to simply as "Rower" for the sake of simplicity, the full name of the company was "Société de Fabrication et de Vente des Appareils Photographiques, des Films Rower."
This company was established on May 17, 1935, with its address at 92 Avenue des Champs-Élysées. It operated as a SARL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée) with a capital of 50,000 francs.
The company was declared bankrupt on February 13, 1940. During this period, the capital had been doubled.
Traduction de Daniel C.
I got this information from Mr Paul Royet who worked at this time as a camera repair and used to manufacture folding bellows for its repairs. (He became the director of SEM and invented the rolling luggage).
“I received an important order for very small bellows to fit a camera which was supposed to be the star of the ’37 exhibition.
To avoid the cutting of paper models and their pasting on the leather, I thought it would be better to print them directly using a thick ink rigid enough. I patented this process but the only use of it till now was only for this little camera.
It seems that the camera has not been a success because I am not sure that my second delivery has been paid for”.
Knowing no camera corresponding to this description, I asked Mr Royer what was this camera. “ I do not know. I have never seen it…. And how many bellows did you provide?. 500 but I do not remember if it was for the whole lot or the quantity per delivery.”
In the “Cyclope 2006-7”, André Isard brings the confirmation that it was indeed a Rower “Bijou”.
Format: about 40x35 mm in special roll. Bakelite body, but the front shutter block is metallic . Folding frames finder. Double Stignax Lens. F = 64 mm. Diaphragm 4 et 5
Obviously inspired from the Bantam and the Jiffy by Kodak.
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