The Inoca Stereo (イノカステレオ) is a Japanese stereo camera taking Bolta film, made and sold by Morita Shōkai in 1956.
Description[]
The Inoca Stereo certainly has a bakelite body. The viewfinder protrudes at the top, in the middle. The name Inoca is engraved above, and the word STEREO is inscribed below the finder window. The film is advanced by a knob at the left end, as seen by the photographer, and a white arrow is engraved on the body next to it, to indicate the turning direction. The shutter release is at its usual location on the right. The back is hinged to the right for film loading. The camera can take six pairs of 24×24mm exposures on a roll of Bolta film.[1]
There is a small rectangular casing protruding at the front of the body, supporting the no-name fixed-focus lenses. A sliding lever is visible above this casing, on the photographer's left, with a red arrow inscribed next to it; it is certainly used to wind the shutter. A triangular logo, perhaps reading MWT, is molded between the two lenses. The speed and aperture are controlled by two levers placed below the lenses: the 25, 50, 100, B speed settings are below the right lens, and the 8 and 11 aperture settings are below the left one.
Original documents[]
The only original document mentioning the Inoca Stereo reported so far is an advertisement in the February 1956 issue of Sankei Camera.[2] This document states that the company Morita Shōkai was the maker and distributor (製造発売元), and spells the camera name "Inokastereo", certainly by mistake. The pictured camera has two lens caps attached by a chain to the screws on either side of the lens casing. The advertisement gives the following price list:
- camera and viewer, ¥1,800;
- case, ¥450;
- flash gun, ¥500;
- Inoca stereo set, ¥3,200.
The set is more expensive than the three first items, and certainly includes some more goodies.
Actual examples[]
Only two surviving examples of the Inoca Stereo have been observed so far. The camera pictured in Sugiyama has a low film reminder at the left end of the top plate, and circular engravings at the top of the advance knob.[3] On the other camera, the left end of the top plate is occupied by a conical flange topped by a small knob, and the advance knob has a flat top and a different milled rim.[4]
Notes[]
- ↑ Six pairs: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.378. 24×24mm exposures: Sugiyama, item 6034.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.222. This is the only document listed on p.378 of the same source.
- ↑ Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 6034.
- ↑ Example pictured [http://auction-team.de/new_highlights/2007_10/ph/024.html here at Auction Team Breker.
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 1119.
- 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 6034.
Links[]
In English:
- Inoca Stereo in the highlights of the October 13, 2007 Photographica and Film auction by Auction Team Breker