Princeflex
The Princeflex (プリンスフレックス) and Prince Junior (プリンスジュニア) are Japanese 6×6 TLR cameras, distributed from 1953 to 1956 by Misuzu Shōkai and made by Tōyō Seiki Kōgaku and perhaps later by Cosmo Camera Seisakusho.
The postwar Princeflex has no resemblance to the 1937 Prince Flex.[1] (See the Prince page for a discussion of the various cameras with that name.)
Contents
Maker
Advertisements dated September 1953 and September 1954 say that the Princeflex was made by Tōyō Seiki Kōgaku, later advertisements for the Prince Junior dated September and October 1955 and January 1956 do not give the maker's name. It seems that Tōyō Seiki Kōgaku, which was also the maker of the Elbowflex and Elbow Six, changed its name for Cosmo Camera Seisakusho (Kosumo Kamera Seisakusho) in mid-1955. It is thus probable that the Prince Junior was made by Cosmo.
All the advertisements consistently mention the distributor Mima Shōkai. The name "Prince Camera Works" (プリンスカメラワークス, Purinsu Kamera Wākusu) is added above the distributor's name, often associated with a stylized "PCW" logo — just like advertisements for the prewar Prince models. Many sources interpret this as another maker name,[2] but it is most probable that "Prince Camera Works" was not the name of any actual company and was only used in advertising, as was certainly the case before 1945.
General description
The Princeflex and Prince Junior are regular copies of the Rolleicord. Focusing is by a knob on the right side, sliding the whole front plate. The film advance knob is on the photographer's right too. There is a magnifying lens and a sportsfinder in the viewing hood. The name Prince flex or Prince Junior is inscribed on a stepped nameplate above the front plate.
All the models have 80/3.5 viewing and taking lenses. The release button is placed at the bottom of the front standard, actuated by the photographer's right hand fingers.
It is possible that the Elbowflex is the same camera: they look very similar and clearly share parts.
Versions
Princeflex
The original Princeflex has knob advance controlled via a red window, and it can also take 4.5×6 pictures with a mask. It has Luminar Anastigmat lenses and a TSK shutter (B, 1–200, self-timer), certainly made by Tōyō Seiki Kōgaku itself. The shutter release has a release lock and a thread for a soft release. The ASA synch post is buried in the front plate, opposite the shutter button. The focusing knob is surrounded by a depth-of-field scale. The company name TOYOSEIKI OPT.CO.LTD. is written in small characters under the Prince flex name plate, together with the serial number.
This model was advertised in Japanese photography magazines for about a year starting from the August 1953 issues.[3] In an advertisement dated September 1953,[4] the camera was offered for ¥17,000.
The only other picture observed so far is in this page at yume_camera, it probably shows a prototype (s/n 1001).
Princeflex 2
The Princeflex 2 has semi-automatic film advance rather than red windows: there is a round window for an exposure counter at the top of the right-hand side plate, and a button to unlock film advance next to the focusing knob. The lenses are Super Luminar 80/3.5. The shutter is of an unknown type, still giving B, 1–200 speeds. The release button has a simpler shape, with a soft release thread and what is advertised as an improved shutter lock. The synch post is of the PC type but its location is unknown. The back latch has changed, it is now the same as on the early Elbowflex (see for example here at Minosan's blog). This model, unlike others, has a P.C.W. logo above the viewing hood.
The Princeflex 2 was advertised in Japanese photo magazines dated from September 1954 to April 1955.[5] In an advertisement dated September 1954,[6] it was offered for ¥18,000. No surviving example has been observed so far.
Prince Junior
The Prince Junior was marketed as a less expensive camera (¥9,500). It has semi-automatic film advance with an exposure counter but no double exposure prevention. There is an accessory shoe on the left plate. It has J-Luminar 8cm/3.5 viewing and taking lenses and a Ceres shutter (B, 1–300). McKeown also mentions a Rectus shutter, and shows a picture of a camera with PRINCE JUNIOR written in uppercase and a body shape different from those shown in the links below. It was advertised in Japanese photo magazines dated from September 1955 to April 1956.
It has been observed with a double lens cap, in chrome with Prince engraved on the top part.
Sources / Further reading
- 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. Items 792–4.
- 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), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). Pp. 82 and 88 (brief mentions only).
- 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. 803.
- 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. Item 2225.
Links
In English:
- Page about various Japanese TLRs, including the Prince Junior, at tlr-cameras.com, there is a discussion of the various Prince cameras
In Japanese:
- Prince Junior page and Princeflex table at Japan Family Camera
- Prince Flex and Princeflex at yume_camera