Minagawa Molby |
Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in Japan from (Circa) 1941 to (After) 1941.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 2632
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Minagawa
This device is a bit of an enigma.
It is attributed to Minagawa with a manufacturing by Kuribayashi (which later became Petri) on a basis that could be derived from the Roico or the Gokoku of Riken.
The comments refers to a camera taking 3x4cm images on 127 film and the one displayed in "The Collector's Guide to Japanese cameras"
shows a camera very similar with the Roico from Riken with a 60mm Anagstimat Rolle optical .
But this particular camera is a 4X4, the counter can count up to 12 views and increments each time the film moves a little more than 4cm
It incredibly looks like a Roico and its optical is engraved Roico.
So the first thing I did after having received it, is to have removed the rangefinder (uncoupled).
With the engraving hidden under it, it becomes clear that this copy is a Roico which has undergone the addition of a rangefinder.
According to camera_wiki.org, the price lists of Japanese cameras from 1941 show four Molby's models , would there have been 3x4 models and 4x4 models of Molby's ?
Given the mechanical complexity of the change for a low interest, it is unlikely.
Have they all been built on a base Roico? Who built the rangefinder?
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