Difference between revisions of "Prince"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
m (→‎Postwar developments: minor rewording)
m (link fix)
 
(24 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
'''Prince Camera Works''' is a Japanese entity, associated with many cameras called Prince, and whose history is not entirely clear.
+
{{disambig}}
−
 
+
The name '''Prince''' designates one of the following:
−
== History ==
+
* Prince products sold before 1945 by the Japanese distributor [[Fukada|Fukada Shōkai]], in association with the trademark "Prince Camera Works" (プリンスカメラウアークス, ''Purinsu Kamera Uākusu'') and a ''PCW'' logo:
−
=== Before the war ===
+
** [[Prince plate folders|Prince]] 6.5×9 plate folder
−
 
+
** [[Prince Peerless]] 6.5×9 plate folder
−
The name '''Prince Camera Works''' is first associated with prewar Japanese cameras distributed by the company [[Fukada Shōkai]]. It appears in original advertisements and on some products<REF> For example an accessory rangefinder observed in a Yahoo Japan auction. </REF>, either in its full form or through a ''P.C.W.'' logo.
+
** [[Semi Prince]] 4.5×6 folder
−
 
+
** [[Prince Flex]] 6×6 TLR
−
The simplest and most obvious theory is that Prince Camera Works was a camera maker. However it is said by many sources that the [[Semi Prince]], a camera associated with Prince Camera Works in original advertisements, was actually manufactured by [[Fujimoto]]. On that basis, some sources<REF> Including {{McKeown}}, p.&nbsp;331&ndash;2. </REF> attribute to Fujimoto all the other cameras named Prince and associated with Prince Camera Works. However the latter theory seems to be a confusion: the [http://www.fujimoto-photo.co.jp/web/corp/history/index.html company history] at the [http://www.fujimoto-photo.co.jp/web/index.html Fujimoto official website] mentions the Semi Prince as Fujimoto's first camera in 1934, while other Prince cameras apparently existed before that. It is also possible that the [[Prince Flex]], another camera associated with Prince Camera Works in original advertisements, was manufactured by [[Neumann & Heilemann]]. All this leads to doubts about whether Prince Camera Works was an actual camera maker or not.
+
** [[Pocket Prince]] 4×6.5 folder
−
 
+
** [[Japanese 3×4 and 4×4 pseudo TLR|Prince Baby Ref]] 3×4 pseudo TLR
−
It seems probable that the trademark Prince was owned by the distributor [[Fukada Shōkai]]. Perhaps Prince Camera Works was a company associated with Fukada, that made some of the cameras called Prince but not all of them, or perhaps it was just a name used to hide the fact that the cameras were bought to various manufacturers.
+
** Prince auxiliary rangefinder
−
 
+
* [[Princeflex|Princeflex and Prince Junior]] 6×6 TLR, sold in the 1950s by the Japanese distributor [[Mima|Mima Shōkai]], again in association with the trademark "Prince Camera Works" (プリンスカメラワークス, ''Purinsu Kamera Wākusu'') and a ''PCW'' logo
−
=== Postwar developments ===
+
* Prince [[Hit]]-type subminiature
−
After the war, the company [[Tōyō Seiki Kōgaku]] made 6&times;6 TLR cameras called [[Princeflex]] and [[Princeflex|Prince Junior]], distributed by [[Misuzu Shōkai]]. These cameras were sometimes advertised with the mention of Prince Camera Works and the ''P.C.W.'' logo.
+
* [[Toyoca Ace|Prince Ruby]], name variant of the [[Toyoca Ace]]
−
 
+
* [[Prince 16-A]], subminiature camera taking 17.5mm film
−
At about the same time, a probably different company called [[Tōkyō Seiki]] or [[Doris|Doris Camera]] was using the Doris name again on various models.
+
* L. M. Prince & Bro., a US camera maker of the late XIXth century
−
 
 
−
== Cameras ==
 
−
Here are cameras known to be associated with Prince Camera Works in original advertisements, either through the full name or through the ''P.C.W.'' logo:
 
−
* [[Prince Peerless]] 6.5&times;9 plate folder (1934&ndash;6)
 
−
* [[Semi Prince]] 4.5&times;6 folder (1934/5&ndash;9)
 
−
* [[Prince Flex]] 6&times;6 TLR (1937&ndash;9)
 
−
 
 
−
Here are other cameras called Prince and advertised by [[Fukada Shōkai]]:
 
−
* [[Pocket Prince]] 4&times;6.5 folder (1939&ndash;40)
 
−
* [[Japanese 3&times;4 and 4&times;4 pseudo TLR cameras|Prince Baby Ref]], 3&times;4 pseudo TLR (1939&ndash;40)
 
−
A 6.5&times;9 plate folder simply called [[Prince plate folder|Prince]] is also reported.<REF> {{McKeown}}, p.&nbsp;331. </REF>
 
−
 
 
−
Here are two other cameras advertised by [[Fukada Shōkai]] in a context associating them with the models above:
 
−
* Doris 3&times;4 strut-folder (1939&ndash;41)
 
−
* Baby Doris 3&times;4 folder (1941&ndash;3)
 
−
 
 
−
Postwar Prince cameras:
 
−
* [[Princeflex]]
 
−
* [[Princeflex|Princeflex 2]]
 
−
* [[Princeflex|Prince Junior]]
 
−
 
 
−
== Notes ==
 
−
<references />
 
−
 
 
−
== Bibliography ==
 
−
* {{Showa10}}
 
−
* {{McKeown12}}
 
−
* {{Lewis}}
 
−
 
 
−
== Links ==
 
−
* Discussion about Prince and Doris within [http://www.tlr-cameras.com/Japanese/index.html this Japanese miscellanea page] at [http://www.tlr-cameras.com/ tlr-cameras.com]
 
−
 
 
−
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
 

Latest revision as of 17:06, 4 November 2008

Disambiguation Page

The name Prince designates one of the following:

  • Prince products sold before 1945 by the Japanese distributor Fukada Shōkai, in association with the trademark "Prince Camera Works" (プリンスカメラウアークス, Purinsu Kamera Uākusu) and a PCW logo:
  • Princeflex and Prince Junior 6×6 TLR, sold in the 1950s by the Japanese distributor Mima Shōkai, again in association with the trademark "Prince Camera Works" (プリンスカメラワークス, Purinsu Kamera Wākusu) and a PCW logo
  • Prince Hit-type subminiature
  • Prince Ruby, name variant of the Toyoca Ace
  • Prince 16-A, subminiature camera taking 17.5mm film
  • L. M. Prince & Bro., a US camera maker of the late XIXth century
Retrieved from "http://camera-wiki.org/index.php?title=Prince&oldid=59257"