Functional object - Baby Max Camera, Tougodo, 1950s

Historical information

The Baby-Max is a Japanese subminiature camera popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It was often sold in a pack containing the camera, case and boxes of Kikufilm Panchromatic, a film specialised for toy cameras. Each film took ten 14x14mm images on 17.5mm paper backed roll. It was manufactured by Tougodo, a Japanese camera maker, active from 1930 to the early 1960s. The film with this camera has an expiry date of November 1962.

Significance

This item is significant due to its popularity in the 1950s and demonstration of the evolution of camera technology.

Physical description

The Baby-Max is a Japanese subminiature camera. It has an elongated body with polygonal ends. The viewfinder is integrated in the top casing. There is a knob on the photographer's right to roll the film and there is a small fake knob on the left. The back is hinged to the right and locked by a sliding bar on the left. It contains a single uncovered window in the middle. The lens has a fixed focus and aperture, and has no markings. There is a lever to operate the shutter. The case is of brown faux leather. It is accompanied by a box of KIKUFILM.

Inscriptions & markings

Around the central lens: "BABY-MAX / MADE IN JAPAN"

References

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