Lyravit

The Lyravit (ライラビット) is a Japanese subminiature camera, about which almost nothing is known — the spelling "Lyravit" itself is unconfirmed.^[1] It is only known from the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, where it is classified in the same category as the Mycro and New Midget II, for ¥19.^[2] The brand "Lyra" was used by Fuji Kōgaku for an extensive range of cameras at the time, and the subminiature Lyravit was perhaps made or planned by this company.

Notes Edit

1. ↑ The name appears in Japanese characters in the "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku" (国産写真機の公定価格, Set prices of the Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of October 25, 1940 and setting the retail prices from December 10, 1940. Published in Asahi Camera January 1941 and reproduced in 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. Pp.108—9., type 5, section 6A. The document is hardly legible, and it might read ライラヒット (rairahitto, perhaps "Lyra Hit"), ライラビット (rairabitto, perhaps "Lyravit") or ライラピット (rairapitto).
2. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku", type 5, section 6A.

Bibliography Edit

• "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku" (国産写真機の公定価格, Set prices of the Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of October 25, 1940 and setting the retail prices from December 10, 1940. Published in Asahi Camera January 1941 and reproduced in 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. Pp.108—9. Type 5, section 6A.

This camera is not listed in Sugiyama nor in Kokusan kamera no rekishi.