Ensign Ful-Vue

Ful-Vue, the alternate British box camera design with the big viewfinder, introduced by Barnet Ensign in 1945.

cit: "The Ful-Vue camera is really a very simple camera. It consists of a light-tight box. In front of the box there is a hole, over which the lens is fixed. Behind this whole is the shutter. There is a second lens in a second box above it. This produces a picture on the viewfinder on top of the camera. In the back of the box is another hole covered by a red window. This helps you in winding the film on, which you do by the knob at the side of the box near the top." [Marcel Natkin].

The earliest Ful-Vue version of 1939 was a typical box camera, but already having the characteristic big viewfinder. In 1945 the camera was redesigned, getting away from average box camera design. In 1950 further improvements were made, the new shutter, an all plastic front panel, and flash synchronization. The improved version was called Ful-Vue II.

Links

• the Ful-Vue at www.ensign.demon [1]

Literature

• Natkin, Marcel: Ful-Vue Guide. London and New York 1949.