Fujimoto

Fujimoto is a Japanese company that still exists, making lab systems, enlargers and slide projectors. It was founded in 1913 to make photogravure equipment. It established as Fujimoto Mfg Co (Fujimoto Seisakusho, 藤本製作所) in 1933, began the production of cameras in 1934 and the production of enlargers in 1935. Some cameras were distributed by the Fukada Shōkai (深田商会) company. All activity stopped in 1945. In 1950 it was revived as Fujimoto Camera Mfg Co (Fujimoto Shashinki Seisakusho, 藤本写真機製作所). It very soon dropped the production of cameras, and it became Fujimoto Photo Industries Co Ltd (Fujimoto Shashin Kōgyō Kabushiki Kaisha, 藤本写真工業株式会社) in 1966.

The Prince name has been used by other companies, but the Lucky name is still used by Fujimoto for enlargers.

4.5x6 folding

• Semi Prince (1934), with Schneider lenses and German shutters，distributed by Fukada Shokai
• Semi Lucky (1934), first with Schneider lenses and German shutters, also exists with Neumann & Heilemann Radionar 7.5cm/4.5 and Neumann & Heilemann Perfekt shutter to 1/250
• Semi Sport (1940), Fujimoto Rapidex shutter
• Semi Luck (1950)

McKeown lists the Semi Lucky under "K.S. Fabrik", together with a Semi Rosen, relating it to the Proud company.

Other

Other cameras with the Prince name are often attributed to Fujimoto:

• Prince, 6.5x9 folding plate
• Prince Peerless, 6.5x9 folding plate
• Pocket Prince, 4x6.5 folding
• Prince Flex, 6x6 TLR, probably made by Neumann & Heilemann

This is discussed in the Prince page.

Links

• History at the Fujimoto corporate site, in Japanese