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− | '''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 there are some doubts. 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. 331–2. </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.
| + | ** [[Pocket Prince]] 4×6.5 folder |
− | | + | ** [[Japanese 3×4 and 4×4 pseudo TLR|Prince Baby Ref]] 3×4 pseudo TLR |
− | It also seems that the [[Prince Flex]], another camera associated with Prince Camera Works in original advertisements, was developed by [[Neumann & Heilemann]], or in cooperation with this company. A rumor says that Neumann & Heilemann merged with the Prince factory and that the Prince Flex was the first resulting product.<REF> This is mentioned as a rumor in {{Kokusan}}, p. 340. </REF>
| + | ** 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 |
− | 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 [[Hit]]-type subminiature |
− | | + | * [[Toyoca Ace|Prince Ruby]], name variant of the [[Toyoca Ace]] |
− | === Postwar developments ===
| + | * [[Prince 16-A]], subminiature camera taking 17.5mm film |
− | After the war, the company [[Tōyō Seiki Kōgaku]] made 6×6 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.
| + | * L. M. Prince & Bro., a US camera maker of the late XIXth century |
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− | 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.
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− | == Cameras ==
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− | 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:
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− | * [[Prince Peerless]] 6.5×9 plate folder (1934–6) | |
− | * [[Semi Prince]] 4.5×6 folder (1934/5–9) | |
− | * [[Prince Flex]] 6×6 TLR (1937–9) | |
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− | Here are other cameras called Prince and advertised by [[Fukada Shōkai]]:
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− | * [[Pocket Prince]] 4×6.5 folder (1939–40) | |
− | * [[Japanese 3×4 and 4×4 pseudo TLR cameras|Prince Baby Ref]], 3×4 pseudo TLR (1939–40) | |
− | A 6.5×9 plate folder simply called [[Prince plate folder|Prince]] is also reported.<REF> {{McKeown}}, p. 331. </REF>
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− | Here are two other cameras advertised by [[Fukada Shōkai]] in a context associating them with the models above:
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− | * Doris 3×4 strut-folder (1939–41)
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− | * Baby Doris 3×4 folder (1941–3) | |
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− | Postwar Prince cameras:
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− | * [[Princeflex]]
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− | * [[Princeflex|Princeflex 2]] | |
− | * [[Princeflex|Prince Junior]] | |
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− | == Notes ==
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− | <references />
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− | == Bibliography ==
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− | * {{Showa10}}
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− | * {{McKeown12}}
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− | * {{Lewis}}
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− | == Links ==
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− | * 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] | |
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− | [[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
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