Difference between revisions of "King"

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== Company History ==
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The '''King''' family business started in Pforzheim in 1936 producing electrical components. Bigger premises were acquired at Bad Liebenzell (Black forest) in 1938, but the war interrupted plans, and the company re-emerged as Regula-Werk King KG, with the affordable [[Regula]] camera being its main line. The company produced some [[flashgun]]s and a vast array of 35mm cameras under various names, producing many for other companies including [[Boots]], [[Dixons]] and [[Foto-Quelle]]'s [[Revue]] brand; while some were even built under licence in places as far away as India. By 1970, a not so successfull SLR project cost the company dearly (infringement of Leitz patents? There is only one reference in the internet, from Brazil!), and the pocket cameras took on an altogether cheaper look, often being bought in from Hong Kong. The 110 format models kept the company afloat until 1984 when it was declared bankrupt, after egineering a new Disc-camera that did not sell. A brief revival allowed other makers to badge-engineer Regula products for a while longer, including [[Voigtländer]], who ordered its Vitoret 110 through King, even after production switched to Hong Kong.
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=== Regula cameras ===
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are listed on [[Regula|their own page]].
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=== Non-Regula cameras ===
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* Dominant
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* [[Mastra V35]] (a simplified [[Regula III series|Regula IIIa]])
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* Pacer 35K & Orizont Optim A (Similar to the Regula [[Regula_Picca|Picca C]])
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* [[Tickyphot]]
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<br style="clear: left;" />
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<br style="clear: right;" />
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== King Camera Examples - 1950s to 1970s ==
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<small>All images by {{image author|Morinaka.}}</small> {{with permission}}
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{{Flickr image
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| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/10456228@N00/6755254257/in/pool-camerawiki
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| image=http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6755254257_e748e6a481_m.jpg
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| image_align=left
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| image_text=King [[Regula I-P]]
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}}
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/10456228@N00/4599294232/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4599294232_d38a73d279_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= King [[Regula Cita]]
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}}
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/10456228@N00/4465547118/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4019/4465547118_3345dd101a_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= King [[Regula III series|Regula IIId]]
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}}
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<br style="clear: left;" />
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<br style="clear: right;" />
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/10456228@N00/4609233768/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1202/4609233768_98bd3b97de_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= King [[Olympia_Auto-Set_I/II|Regula Auto-Set II]]
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}}
 
{{Flickr_image
 
{{Flickr_image
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricksoloway/1471952127/in/pool-camerapedia/
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|image_source=  
|image= http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1045/1471952127_384b748f09_m.jpg
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/10456228@N00/4384448035/in/pool-camerawiki
|image_align= right
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|image= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4019/4384448035_2f6d696fd0_m.jpg
|image_text= Regula VF and Regula IIIc
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= King [[Regula_Sprinty|Regula Sprinty C]]
 
}}
 
}}
''See also [[King Shōkai]], a Japanese distributor, and the King products sold by [[Asanuma Shōkai]].''
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{{Flickr_image
 
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/10456228@N00/4738481208/in/pool-camerawiki
Kamerawerke '''King''' KG was a German camera maker based in Bad Liebenzell. It was mainly known for its [[Regula]] models. Some of its cameras were made as OEM models for brands of other companies, including [[Boots]], [[Dixons]] and [[Foto-Quelle]]'s [[Revue]] brand.
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|image= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4738481208_e90616c102_m.jpg 
 
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|image_align= left
The company was founded in 1936 as an electrical supplier. Cameras were introduced in 1950. Camera production ceased at King in 1984 after financial trouble.
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|image_text= King [[Regula_Picca|Regula Picca CLK]]
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}}
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<br style="clear: left;" />
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<br style="clear: right;" />
  
=== Links ===
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== Links ==
* [http://photo.even.free.fr/col_app.php?type=regula King page] at [http://photo.even.free.fr/ Collection G. Even's site]
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* [http://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/index.php?/category/53 Regula King page] at [http://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/ Collection G. Even's site] (in French)
* King Regula camera's in [http://fotografika.andrysstienstra.nl/merk.php?merk=King&t=e Andrys Stienstra's camera collection]
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* King Regula camera's in [http://www.kamerasamling.nl/merk.php?merk=King Andrys Stienstra's camera collection]
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070321233452/http://www.mwclassic.com/articles/irregular_regulas/irregular_regulas.htm Irregular Regulas] (archived)
  
 
[[Category: German camera makers]]
 
[[Category: German camera makers]]
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[[Category: Accessory makers]]
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[[Category: Nobility]]
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[[Category: King]]
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[[Category: Regula]]
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__NOTOC__

Revision as of 10:31, 4 May 2018

Company History

The King family business started in Pforzheim in 1936 producing electrical components. Bigger premises were acquired at Bad Liebenzell (Black forest) in 1938, but the war interrupted plans, and the company re-emerged as Regula-Werk King KG, with the affordable Regula camera being its main line. The company produced some flashguns and a vast array of 35mm cameras under various names, producing many for other companies including Boots, Dixons and Foto-Quelle's Revue brand; while some were even built under licence in places as far away as India. By 1970, a not so successfull SLR project cost the company dearly (infringement of Leitz patents? There is only one reference in the internet, from Brazil!), and the pocket cameras took on an altogether cheaper look, often being bought in from Hong Kong. The 110 format models kept the company afloat until 1984 when it was declared bankrupt, after egineering a new Disc-camera that did not sell. A brief revival allowed other makers to badge-engineer Regula products for a while longer, including Voigtländer, who ordered its Vitoret 110 through King, even after production switched to Hong Kong.

Regula cameras

are listed on their own page.

Non-Regula cameras



King Camera Examples - 1950s to 1970s

All images by Morinaka. (Image rights)





Links