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 was 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.
4.5×6 folders
- Semi Prince (1934), with Schneider lenses and German shutters，distributed by Fukada Shōkai
- Semi Lucky (1934), first with Schneider lenses and German shutters, has been observed at a Yahoo Japan auction with a Neumann & Heilemann Radionar 7.5cm f/4.5 lens and a Neumann & Heilemann Perfekt 5–250, B, T shutter
- Semi Sport (1940), Fujimoto Rapidex shutter
- Semi Luck (1950)
McKeown lists the Semi Lucky under "K.S. Fabrik", together with a Semi Rosen (probably related to the Proud company). A Semi Prince case has been observed with K.S.U. embossed in the back, and a K.S. logo has been observed on a Vero Four.
The name Lucky is still used by Fujimoto for enlargers.
Other
Other cameras named Prince are often attributed to Fujimoto:
- Prince, 6.5×9 folding plate
- Prince Peerless, 6.5×9 folding plate
- Pocket Prince, 4×6.5 folding
- Prince Flex, 6×6 TLR, probably made by Neumann & Heilemann
This is discussed in the Prince page.
Links
In Japanese:
