Editing Rocket Camera

{{Japanese Semi postwar
|image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/ck3/221803900/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/65/221803900_316060a5a5_m.jpg]
<br>''6&times;4.5 Rocket, a Japanese "tea tin" camera''
}}
[[File:Rocket camera I.jpg|thumb|Rocket Camera by mayumi.k]]
The '''Rocket Camera''' are Japanese inexpensive cameras taking 16 exposures on [[120 film]]. They were made in the 1950s, ostensibly by [[Rocket Camera Co.]]<REF> {{Sugiyama}} also mentions the company Meiji Optical for items 4169 and 4170. </REF> Various models are known.

== Usual model, 4&times;5cm format ==
The most usual model takes 4&times;5cm format pictures and has a box-shaped body, said to be made of tin.<REF> Made of tin: {{Sugiyama}}, item 4143. </REF> The advance knob is at the top left and a simple viewfinder is attached to the rear of the top plate. There is a single uncovered red window in the back, near the top.

The lens is a fixed-focus meniscus and the shutter only provides B and I settings. The lens plate is usually marked ''Rocket Camera'' at the top and ''ROCKET CAMERA CO. PAT. 359573'' at the bottom.

Name variants exist: one of them is the '''General''', written ''General'' at the top and ''ROCKET CAMERA CO. MADE IN JAPAN'' at the bottom, another is the '''Palmer''', written ''PALMER'' and ''JAPAN ROCKET CAMERA CO.''<REF> General: see for example {{Sugiyama}} item 4143, and {{McKeown}}, p.&nbsp;844. Palmer: {{McKeown}}, p.&nbsp;844. </REF>

== Other models, larger format ==
[[File:Rocket camera.jpg|thumb|Rocket Camera by mayumi.k]]
Other models of the Rocket Camera are said to take 4.5&times;6cm pictures.<REF> {{Sugiyama}}, items 4169&ndash;70. </REF> One of them has a metal body and is only known from {{Sugiyama}}.<REF> {{Sugiyama}} item 4169, called "Rocket Camera No.&nbsp;1". </REF> The body shape is rounded and the viewfinder is contained under a top housing. The lens plate has the same markings as the regular 4&times;5cm model.

Another model has a stylish [[bakelite]] body.<REF> {{Sugiyama}} item 4170, called "Rocket Camera No.&nbsp;2". See also [http://www.comodo.nl/comodo/hosted/bakeliteandplasticmuseum.nl/prodsheet.asp?cat=27&sub=57&prod=1898 this page of the Bakelite and Plastic Museum]. </REF> The viewfinder is the same simple type as the 4&times;5cm model, the advance knob is on the left and there is an accessory shoe on the right. The lens plate again has the same markings.

The '''Orient Camera Model-P''' is similar in shape to the bakelite model, but it is made of pressed metal. It reportedly takes 4&times;5.5cm pictures.<REF> {{McKeown}}, p.&nbsp;761. </REF> The shutter plate is inscribed ''Orient Camera'' at the top and ''<small>ORIENT CAMERA MODEL&ndash;P</small>'' at the bottom, with ''INST'' and ''BULB'' shutter settings.<REF> Example pictured in {{McKeown}}, p.&nbsp;761. </REF>

== Notes ==
<references />

== Bibliography ==
* {{McKeown12}} Pp.&nbsp;761 and 844.
* {{Zukan}} Items 4143 and 4169&ndash;70.
These cameras are not listed in {{Kokusan}}.

== Links ==
In English:
* [http://www.merrillphoto.com/RocketCameraReview.htm Rocket Camera] at [http://www.merrillphoto.com/ Merrill Photography]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/ck3/221803900/in/set-1526638/ Rocket Camera] in [http://www.flickr.com/photos/ck3/ CK's Flickr photostream]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tgray/212901715/in/set-72157594171578234/ Rocket Camera] in [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tgray/ Travis Gray's Flickr photostream]
* [http://www.comodo.nl/comodo/hosted/bakeliteandplasticmuseum.nl/prodsheet.asp?cat=27&sub=57&prod=1898 Rocket Camera] at the [http://home.planet.nl/~kockpit/ Bakelite and Plastic Museum]

[[Category: Japanese 4x5 viewfinder]]
[[Category: Japanese 4.5x6 viewfinder]]
[[Category: Bakelite]]
[[Category: R]]