Minolta Vest
From Camerapedia.org
The Minolta Vest (ミノルタ・ヴェスト) or Minolta Best (ミノルタ・ベスト) is a collapsible camera taking both 4×6.5cm and 3×4cm exposures on 127 film, made by Molta (the predecessor of Minolta) from 1934.[1] It was distributed by Asanuma Shōkai and was advertised until 1940. It was still mentioned in an official document compiled in 1943.[2]
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Description
 
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| Bakelite sliding boxes, collapsed and extended. (Image rights) |
The body of the Minolta Vest is made of bakelite, reinforced with bits of tissue.[3] The lens and shutter assembly is mounted on a front plate, itself attached to a collapsible structure consisting of three rectangular sliding boxes. These boxes are made of the same plastic as the rest of the body, externally reinforced with metal parts. It is said that the whole concept of a bakelite camera with "bakelite bellows" was imagined by Ehira Nobujirō, who worked for Molta before founding his own Ehira company.[4] The same system was later used on the Minolta Six 6×6 camera.
The front plate is kept in closed position by a metal spring attached to the top plate and is pulled out by two small handles. The standing leg retracts behind the front plate and the serial number is engraved on its back.
 
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| Half-frame exposure mask, attached and detached. (Image rights) |
There is a folding frame finder in the middle of the top plate, with indications for both 4×6.5 and 3×4 formats. A mask must be inserted in the exposure chamber to take 3×4cm pictures. The back is hinged to the left and contains two uncovered red windows to control film advance, one in the middle and the other at the left end.
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| Camera's back. (Image rights) |
The name Minolta is embossed in the front leatherette. The back leatherette is embossed with a hexagonal strip and an MTS logo, whose shape differs depending on the version.
The shutter is an everset Marble giving T, B, 25, 50, 100 speeds on all the versions and the shutter plate is always inscribed MARBLE, but there are differences of detail as described below. The release lever is always attached to the front of the shutter housing.
The Minolta Vest was produced in the Amagasaki (尼崎) plant, at least after it was opened in 1936.[5] It is said that its total production was about 30,000 examples.[6]
Evolution
Early version, f/8 lens only
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| Minolta Vest no.5788, f/8 lens, early shutter plate, flat metal knob. Picture courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights) |
 
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| Close-up attachment, mounted and detached. (Image rights) |
The Minolta Vest was first released with a fixed-focus f/8 lens. The early model has a specific shutter plate design, with both circular and diagonal metal stripes. The speed settings are engraved on the shutter plate itself and the name MARBLE is engraved immediately below. There is an MTS logo on the right and the aperture scale is at the bottom, with 8, 11, 16, 22 settings in metal over a black background.
The f/8 lens is fixed-focus and the camera was sold with a close-up attachment that can be screwed into the lens rim. The lens has no marking; its focal length is 75mm and it was made by Asahi Kōgaku.[7] An original advertisement describes it as a "cemented four element lens", probably corresponding to an aplanat construction, consisting of two cemented doublets.[8] Some sources distinguish between an Aplanat 75/8 and a Coronar 75/8 and others say that the lens was called Coronar Anastigmat, but the use of the Coronar name (a triplet lens design) is very unlikely.[9]
  
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| Metal advance knob, flat and threaded type. On the right picture, the two-stage threaded knob protrudes from the camera case. (Image rights) |
 
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| Pulling handle: flatter and round. (Image rights) |
The advance knob is made of metal and situated at the bottom right, as seen by a photographer holding the camera horizontally. Three variants of this advance knob are known. One of them is very high and has a hollow top.[10] this page of the Kitamura camera site. </REF> Another is thin and has a flat top with a small offset screw.[11] The late type of advance knob is thin and has a hollow top with a screw thread to attach a higher knob, probably to make film winding easier while the camera is in its leather case.[12]
The two handles used to pull out the front plate present minor variations: most cameras have round handles, whereas the camera pictured in this article and very few others have a flatter handle shape.[13]
The early model was offered for ¥19.50 in advertisements dated April and July 1935.[14] It was still pictured in an advertisement dated July 1936, listed together with the newer f/5.6 version, at an unchanged price.[15]
   
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| Leaflet for the Minolta Vest dated about 1935, presenting the early f/8 model.[16] Scans courtesy of Andrea Apra. Click on the image for a translation. (Image rights) |
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| Minolta Vest, early f/8 model. Extract from a leaflet dated about 1935.[17] Scan courtesy of Andrea Apra. Click on the image for a translation. (Image rights) |
New shutter face, f/8 and f/5.6 versions
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| Minolta Vest, early f/8 model on the left, new f/5.6 model on the right, from a leaflet dated about 1936.[18] Scan courtesy of Andrea Apra. Click on the image for a translation. (Image rights) |
 
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| Left: Minolta Vest no.18289, f/5.6 lens, metal knob. Right: Minolta Vest no.34898, f/8 lens, late shutter plate, threaded metal knob. Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights) |
A new model with a front-cell focusing f/5.6 lens was introduced in late 1935 or early 1936. This has a new shutter plate, black with a metal rim. It is marked PATENTS NIPPON at the top and MARBLE at the bottom with the MTS logo on the right. The speed wheel has a thicker conical shape and the settings are engraved on the rotating part. The aperture scale is at the bottom, with the settings written in black over the metal background.
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| Scheme and description of the Coronar lens. Click on the image for a translation. (Image rights) |
The lens is usually engraved Coronar Anastigmat Nippon 1:5.6 f=75mm with a serial number.[19] It was certainly made by Asahi Kōgaku,[20] like the lenses for the prewar Semi Minolta, and the serial numbers probably run in the same sequence. The lens rim is chrome and there is a cylindrical infinity stop. The distance scale goes from 1m to 7m and infinity, and the aperture scale has 5.6 and 6.3 to 25 settings in the old aperture system. There is a red dot on the distance scale and on the aperture scale, for hyperfocal setting.
 
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| MTS logo in back leatherette, round and rectangular type. (Image rights) |
It is supposed that this model only exists with the threaded advance knob. The back leatherette is embossed with a rectangular MTS logo whereas the early f/8 version has a round MTS logo.
The f/5.6 model was already listed in an advertisement dated January 1936.[21] An advertisement dated July 1936 lists this model for ¥28 and pictures it side by side with the early f/8 version.[22]
 
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| Old and new shutter plate of f/8 model. (Image rights) |
The new shutter plate was later adopted on the f/8 model too. It was pictured as such in an advertisement dated April 1937.[23]
Introduction of the f/4.5 model
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| Minolta Vest no.23250, f/4.5 lens, metal knob. Picture courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights) |
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| Shutter plate of f/4.5 model. (Image rights) |
A third model with front-cell focusing f/4.5 lens was introduced in mid-1937.[24] The lens is engraved Coronar Anastigmat Nippon 1:4.5 f=75mm with a serial number. The shutter plate is very similar to the f/5.6 model but it has three metal stripes on both sides of the lens. The infinity stop is the same but there is no red dot for hyperfocal distance, and the distance scale goes from 1m to 30m and infinity. The aperture scale has 4.5, 5.6 and 6.3 to 25 settings in the old system.
One example with f/4.5 lens is pictured in Sugiyama with a shutter plate exactly similar to the f/5.6 model, without the metal stripes.[25] It seems that its aperture scale has 4.5 to 22 settings in the new system, but this is barely legible.
An advertisement dated August 1937[26] listed the f/8, f/5.6 and f/4.5 models for ¥19.50, ¥28 and ¥35 respectively. In advertisements dated October 1937 and January 1938,[27] the prices have raised to ¥21, ¥32 and ¥38 respectively. The same models were still offered in October 1939 for prices reportedly going from ¥23 to ¥41.[28]
Bakelite knob
 
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| Left picture: Minolta Vest no.49684, f/8 lens, bakelite knob. Right picture and thumbnails: Minolta Vest no.50613, f/4.5 lens, bakelite knob. Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights) | ||||
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| Bakelite advance knob. (Image rights) |
The Minolta Vest was modified at some time with a bakelite advance knob situated at the top right. The other film flanges at the top left and at the bottom were also switched to bakelite, only the centre part of the tripod thread remaining in metal. The metal knob still appeared in an advertisement dated December 1939[29] and the change occurred after that date and before October 1941 (see below).
The bakelite knob exists on all three versions. However the only f/5.6 example with a bakelite knob observed so far is pictured in Francesch. It has some part lining the bakelite top plate and supporting the frame finder in an offset position as well as an accessory shoe.[30] This may be the result of a repair of the broken plastic body.
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| Extract of the October 1941 catalogue by Asanuma Shōkai. Click on the image for a translation. (Image rights) |
The Minolta Vest was listed in the official price list compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, under the names "Minolta Vest I" (ミノルタヴェストⅠ, ¥23) and "Minolta Vest II" (ミノルタヴェストⅡ, ¥41), probably corresponding to the f/8 and f/5.6 or f/4.5 models respectively.[31]
The Asanuma Shōkai catalogue dated October 1941 mentions the three models but only gives the price with f/5.6 lens (¥42.50) and with f/4.5 lens (¥48).[32] The case cost ¥6.76 and the hood with filter holder in 25mm diameter cost ¥1.50. The catalogue is illustrated by a drawing of the camera with a bakelite knob, and uses the name "Minolta Best" (ミノルタベスト).
The f/8 version of the Minolta Vest was again listed in the government inquiry listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943, under the name "Minolta Best I" (ミノルタベストⅠ).[33]
Case
 
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| Examples of case for the Minolta Vest. Pictures courtesy of eBayer hbpartner. (Image rights) |
Several types of cases are known. They are embossed Minolta in various ways, and one of them is embossed Minolta BEST.
The name
The company used both the names Minolta Vest and Minolta Best. In Japan at the time, 127 film was thought of as "Vest film" because of the Vest Pocket Kodak, but usually pronounced with a "b" and written ベスト・フィルム (besuto firumu) in katakana.[34] Meanwhile, an elementary understanding of English was widespread and the English word "best" would have been understood; "Best" may well have also reminded people of the Bessa, well known and highly regarded at the time.
The name Minolta Vest is found most often in advertisements and catalogues, written ミノルタ・ヴェスト (minoruta vesuto) in katakana or "Minolta-Vest" in Roman script.[35] The name "Minolta Best" in Roman writing has been observed on a leather case for the camera, providing evidence that the company used both names. The form ミノルタ・ベスト (minoruta besuto) in katakana appears in some advertisements, but it can be used for either "best" or "vest".[36]
The camera is also called "Minolta Marble" by some sources. This is a confusion with the name of the shutter, prominently written on the shutter plate.
Another rumour spread by various websites is that the Minolta Vest was the first camera to bear the Minolta name. However, it was preceded by the Minolta strut-folding camera, inspired by the Plaubel Makina.
Notes
- ↑ Date: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.342, mentions advertisements dated 1935 to 1940 but it says 1934 on p.470. Many other sources say 1934, including Francesch, p.76, Sugiyama, pp.27–8, Scheibel, p.19, McKeown, p.673, Tanimura, p.1 of Camera Collectors' News no.116, and Awano, p.16 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12. However the dating of Molta cameras sometimes contains mistakes (see Semi Minolta and Minolta Six). The Japanese Historical Camera, usually scrupulous about these matters, says November 1934.
- ↑ "Inquiry into Japanese cameras" ("Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa"), item 181.
- ↑ Bakelite reinforced with bits of tissue: Tanimura, p.32 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.51. (Lewis, p.50, Baird, p.38, and The Japanese Historical Camera simply say bakelite; whereas McKeown, p.673, says that it was some sort of plastic "in the experimental stage in Germany".)
- ↑ Concept imagined by Ehira Nobujirō: Tanimura, p.32 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.51.
- ↑ Awano, p.7 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.
- ↑ Awano, p.7 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12; Tanimura, p.33 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.51.
- ↑ Focal length and attribution to Asahi Kōgaku: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced in Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp. 180–7.. The same source says that it was an simple cemented doublet (単玉), apparently by mistake.
- ↑ July 1935 advertisement inserted in Toki no Nagare (a publication of Asanuma Shōkai), reproduced in Tanimura, p.9 of Camera Collectors' News no.116. The text reads "合計四枚Xレンズ" where "X" stands for an illegible character.
- ↑ Distinction between Aplanat and Coronar: Francesch, p.76. Coronar Anastigmat: McKeown, p.673, Eimukku 735 Minolta, p.133.
- ↑ Examples pictured in Lewis, p.50, in Scheibel, p.19, in Eimukku 735 Minolta, p.133, in the 70th anniversary poster reproduced in Photoclub Alpha and in other websites copying the same picture.
- ↑ Example pictured in this article and example observed in an online auction.
- ↑ The early model is pictured with this advance knob in Baird, p.41, and McKeown, p.673.
- ↑ Flatter handle type: examples pictured in this article and in Sugiyama, item 1191.
- ↑ April: advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Tanimura, p.11 of Camera Collectors' News no.118.
July: advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.83; and advertisement inserted in Toki no Nagare (a publication of Asanuma Shōkai), reproduced in Tanimura, p.9 of Camera Collectors' News no.116.
The price is given as ¥19.00, perhaps by mistake, in the advertisement on the second cover of Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin June 1st, 1935, reproduced on p.18 of Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku.
The earliest advertisement listed on p.342 of Kokusan kamera no rekishi is curiously dated November 1935; it reportedly mentions the Minolta Vest as a "new model" (新発売), but this is perhaps a mistake.
See also the leaflets reproduced in this page, dated about 1935: Yūshū kokusan Minoruta Vesuto kamera rōrufirumu-yō and Asanuma Shōkai hatsubai no kokusan kamera Minoruta Happī. - ↑ Advertisement inserted in Toki no Nagare (a publication of Asanuma Shōkai), reproduced in Tanimura, p.9 of Camera Collectors' News no.116. See also the leaflet reproduced in this page, dated about 1936: Danzen kesshutsu shita kokusan kamera.
- ↑ Yūshū kokusan Minoruta Vesuto kamera rōrufirumu-yō.
- ↑ Asanuma Shōkai hatsubai no kokusan kamera Minoruta Happī.
- ↑ Danzen kesshutsu shita kokusan kamera.
- ↑ At least one example of the Minolta Vest is reported with an 80mm f/5.6. This lens is probably not original and was maybe swapped with that of a Minolta Six.
- ↑ Lewis, p.182.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Ars Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.96.
- ↑ Advertisement inserted in Toki no Nagare (a publication of Asanuma Shōkai), reproduced in Tanimura, p.9 of Camera Collectors' News no.116. Another advertisement dated July 1936, published in Shashin Shinpō and showing the f/5.6 version, is reproduced in Hagiya, p.10 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.98.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.342, says that this version appears in the advertisements from September 1937, but on p.97 the same source reproduces an August 1937 advertisement listing the f/4.5 lens option.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 1188.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.97.
- ↑ October 1937: advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.98. January 1938: advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Tanimura, p.15 of Camera Collectors' News no.118.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in this page of the Heiki Seikatsu website. The prices are not legible but they are reported in the web page.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Shōgakusei no Kagaku, reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
- ↑ Francesch, p.77.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku", type 2, sections 2 and 4.
- ↑ Catalogue by Asanuma Shōkai, dated October 1941, p.9.
- ↑ "Inquiry into Japanese cameras" ("Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa"), item 181. The camera is mistakenly registered as made of steel.
- ↑ Japanese does not distinguish between /v/ and /b/ sounds, and so the /v/ sound of English, French, etc. and words written with "v" are often pronounced and written as /b/ within Japanese. For some recent loanwords and foreign names originally pronounced [v] (a "labiodental" sound, i.e. one made with upper lip and lower teeth), some Japanese speakers use a "bilabial" (i.e. lips-only) sound, [β]. While its articulation differs from English [v], its sound will strike most nonspecialists as very similar; outside phonetics contexts, it is normally taken as "v".
- ↑ The Roman form "Minolta-Vest" (with an hyphen) appears in an original leaflet whose scan was observed in an online auction.
- ↑ The names of other contemporary cameras were written ベスト (besuto) in Japanese but "Vest" in Roman writing, as on the Vest Alex (ベスト・アレックス) and Vest Olympic (ベスト・オリンピック).
Bibliography
Original documents
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| User manual for the Minolta Vest (f/8, early). Scan courtesy of Andrea Apra. (Image rights) |
- Asanuma Shōkai. Shashinki to zairyō (写真機と材料, Cameras and supplies). Catalogue dated October 1941. Pp.7 and 9. Document partly reproduced in this Flickr album by Rebollo_fr.
- "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced in Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp. 180–7. Item 181.
- "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 2, sections 2 and 4.
- Leaflet for the Minolta Vest, dating c.1935. Yūshū kokusan Minoruta Vesuto kamera rōrufirumu-yō (優秀国産ミノルタ・ヴェストカメラロールフィルム用, Excellent Japan-made Minolta Vest camera, for rollfilm). Document owned by Andrea Apra and reproduced in this Flickr album by Rebollo_fr.
- Leaflet for the Minolta and Happy range, dating c.1935. Asanuma Shōkai hatsubai no kokusan kamera Minoruta Happī (浅沼商会発売の国産カメラミノルタ・ハッピー, Japan-made Minolta and Happy cameras distributed by Asanuma Shōkai). Document owned by Andrea Apra and reproduced in this Flickr album by Rebollo_fr.
- Leaflet for the Minolta and Happy range and King accessories, dating c.1936. Danzen kesshutsu shita kokusan kamera (断然傑出した国産カメラ, Definitely excellent Japan-made cameras). Document owned by Andrea Apra and reproduced in this Flickr album by Rebollo_fr.
- Manual of the Minolta Vest, dating c.1934. Minoruta Vesuto shiyōhō (ミノルタヴェスト使用法, Minolta Vest user manual). Document owned by Andrea Apra and reproduced in this Flickr album by Rebollo_fr.
- Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin (日本写真興業通信). Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku (百号ごと十回の記録, Ten records, every hundred issues). Tokyo: Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin Sha (日本写真興業通信社), 1967. No ISBN number. Advertisement on p.18, corresponding to the second cover of the June 1st, 1935 issue.
Recent sources
- 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 276. (See also the advertisements for items 179, 272 and 277 and the text and pictures on pp.10 and 423–4.)
- Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Minoruta ryakushi" (ミノルタ略史, "Minolta short history"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.6–8.
- Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Senzen no Minoruta kamera" (戦前のミノルタカメラ, "Prewar Minolta cameras"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.13–7.
- Baird, John R. The Japanese Camera. Yakima, WA: Historical Camera Publications, 1990. ISBN 1-879561-02-6. Pp.38 and 41.
- Eimukku 735, Manyuaru Kamera Shirīzu 15 (エイムック735・マニュアルカメラシリーズ15). Minolta: Minoruta kamera no subete (Minolta:ミノルタカメラのすべて, Minolta: all of Minolta cameras). Tokyo: Ei Shuppansha, 2003. ISBN 4-87099-923-4. "Jabara-shiki kamera no kiseki" (蛇腹式カメラの軌跡", Evolution of folding cameras). Pp.130–1 and 133. (See also the pictures on the front cover and on p.4.) Gives a brief summary of the Minolta Vest and shows a few pictures.
- Francesch, Dominique and Jean-Paul. Histoire de l'appareil photographique Minolta de 1929 à 1985. Paris: Dessain et Tolra, 1985. ISBN 2-249-27685-4. Pp.21–2 and 76–7.
- Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). "Kōkoku ni miru Minoruta kamera no rekishi" (広告に見るミノルタカメラの歴史, "Minolta camera history seen through the advertisements"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.9–12.
- The Japanese Historical Camera. 日本の歴史的カメラ (Nihon no rekishiteki kamera). 2nd ed. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2004. P.20.
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), ISBN 0-935398-16-3 (hard). Pp.50 and 182.
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.673.
- Saeki Kakugorō (佐伯恪五郎). "Tashima Gizō-shi ni kiku" (田嶋義三氏に聞く, "Asking Tashima Gizō"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.76–9.
- Scheibel, Anni Rita and Joseph. 70 Jahre Minolta Kameratechnik — Von der Nifcalette bis zur Dynax 9. Stuttgart: Lindemanns Verlag, 3rd edition, 1999. ISBN 3-89506-191-3. Pp.18–9.
- 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. Items 1188–92.
- Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Ehira Nobujirō no kamera: Ehira Kōki, Uehā kara Eruchina made" (江平信次郎のカメラ・江平光機、ウエハーからエルチナまで, The cameras of Ehira Nobujirō, from the Weha to the Eltina). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras 51, June 1999. ISBN 4-257-13024-5. Kurashikku kamera supesharu (クラシックカメラスペシャル, issue about miscellaneous classic cameras). Pp.32–9. (Mentions the Minolta Vest as a creation of Ehira Nobujirō.)
- Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Supuringu kamera <semi minoruta>" (スプリングカメラ<セミミノルタ>, "'Semi Minolta' self-erecting camera"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.19–24. (Contains a reproduction of an advertisement showing the Minolta Vest.)
- Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minoruta I-gata to II-gata." (セミミノルタⅠ型とⅡ型, "Semi Minolta I and II") In Camera Collectors' News no. 116 (February 1987). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. (Discusses the release date and contains a reproduction of an advertisement showing the Minolta Vest.)
- Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minoruta I-gata to II-gata (sono 2)." (セミミノルタⅠ型とⅡ型(その2), "Semi Minolta I and II (part 2)") In Camera Collectors' News no. 118 (April 1987). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. (Contains reproductions of advertisements showing the Minolta Vest.)
- Zaisu Ikon (座椅子遺恨, probably a pseudonym of Y. Saji). "Besuto sanka (M–O)" (ベスト讃歌[M–O], Vest hymn [M–O]). In Camera Collectors' News no.63 (September 1982). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. P.4. (Gives a brief description and pictures of two cameras; one of these is presumably the same as Sugiyama's item 1190.)
- Zaisu Ikon (座椅子遺恨, probably a pseudonym of Y. Saji). "Besuto sanka (hoi 3)" (ベスト讃歌[補遺3], Vest hymn [appendix 3]). In Camera Collectors' News no.99 (September 1985). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. P.6.
Links
General links
In English:
- Minolta Vest in the 70th anniversary Minolta poster, reproduced at Photoclub Alpha
- Minolta Vest among Minolta folding cameras and Minolta cameras using 127 film in the Manual Minolta website
- Minolta Vest in Alon Halutzy's website
- Minolta Vest in the Western Photographic Historical Society website
In Japanese:
- Minolta Vest in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
- Minolta Vest repair notes at Kan's Room
- Minolta Vest at the AJCC
- Minolta Vest at Itō Sadanobu's camera collection
- Minolta Vest in the first page of the Yamada Camera Museum
- Minolta Vest in the Kitamura Camera Museum
Original documents
In Japanese:
- Advertisements reproduced in the camera company page of the Gochamaze website:
- Advertisement for the Minolta range, published in the 23 March 1938 issue of Asahi Graph
- Advertisement for the Baby Minolta and Minolta Vest, published in the December 1939 issue of Shōgakusei no Kagaku
- Advertisement for the Minolta Vest published in the October 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in this page of the Heiki Seikatsu website. It is the fourth advertisement from the top.
| Nifca, Molta and Chiyoda prewar and wartime cameras () | |
|---|---|
| folding plate cameras | |
| Nifcaklapp | Nifcasport | Sirius | Arcadia | Lomax | Eaton | Happy | |
| folding rollfilm cameras | telescopic bakelite cameras |
| Nifcarette | Sirius Bebe | Semi Minolta | Auto Semi Minolta | Minolta Vest | Baby Minolta | Minolta Six |
| strut-folding cameras | TLR cameras |
| Nifca-Dox | Minolta | Auto Minolta | Auto Press Minolta | Minoltaflex | Minoltaflex Automat | Minoltaflex wartime prototype |
| Minolta Classic Cameras |
|---|
| Vest (or Best) | V2 | SR-2 | SRT 101 | XE | XD | CLE | 7000 | 9000 | 800 si |
Categories: Japanese 4x6.5 viewfinder | Bakelite | Minolta | Ehira | M | V | 1934
