MINATURE PETAL SPY CAMERA PATENTED FROM JAPAN CIRCA

Description: MINATURE PETAL SPY CAMERA PATENTED FROM JAPAN CIRCA 1940.The world's smallest subminiature photo camera !!!The PETAL is the smallest subminiature photographic camera in the world. It was manufactured in 1947 by the PETAL Optical Company of Japan (St. Peter Optical Company) [1] and was intended for inconspicious photography. The camera can take six exposures onto a film disc that could be inserted in daylight, but was difficult to operate due to its size and fixed shutter speed.Being slightly larger than a 2 Euro coin, it was the smallest camera in the world at the time, and this is still the case today. It can take six circular exposures of 6 mm each onto a 25 mm film disc which is pre-loaded in a special cassette that can be inserted in full daylight.The image on the right shows a typical round PETAL. As the inscription suggests, it was made shortly after WWII, during the occupation of Japan (1945-1852) [2]. The camera fits the palm of a hand and is smaller than the Minox Riga. PETAL subminiature cameraThe camera has a fixed focus 12 mm (f/5.6) lens. The required exposure (1 of 6) can be selected by rotating the rear half of the body of the camera. The numbers 1 to 6 are engraved in the rear half, and should be lined up with a dot on the front half, where it 'clicks' into place. When shooting pictures, the small viewfinder at the top can be used as an aid. The complete PETAL kit consists of the camera, usually with a red ribbon through a hole aside the viewfinder, an instruction sheet, a leather storage case, a film cartridge and a wooden box. In most cases, the manual and the wooden box have been lost over time. In additon, there were some nice accessories, such as the (rare) film cutter and a film holder that was used for handling the film in a developing tank. A good description of the camera is given by Jerry Friedman [1]. In the late 1940s and the 1950s, the PETAL camera became a hot item for Private Investigators (PI) in the United States. Having a PETAL, raised your profile as a successful PI [3]. At the time, the PETAL was sold for approx. US$ 10, which was about a week's pay back then. SHIPPING WITH DHL EXPRESS

Price: 599 USD

Location: NICOSIA

End Time: 2024-11-08T19:36:29.000Z

Shipping Cost: 65 USD