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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. All these products were distributed by the company [[Fukada Shōkai]], and it seems probable that it was the actual owner of the Prince trademark. | + | ** [[Semi Prince]] 4.5×6 folder |
| − | | + | ** [[Prince Flex]] 6×6 TLR |
| − | The exact status of Prince Camera Works is not very clear. The simplest and most obvious theory is that Prince Camera Works was a camera maker.
| + | ** [[Pocket Prince]] 4×6.5 folder |
| − | | + | ** [[Japanese 3×4 and 4×4 pseudo TLR|Prince Baby Ref]] 3×4 pseudo TLR |
| − | However there are some doubts. It is said by many sources<REF> [http://www.fujimoto-photo.co.jp/web/corp/history/index.html Company history] of the [http://www.fujimoto-photo.co.jp/ Fujimoto official website]; Lewis, p. 53; ''Supuringu kamera de ikou'', pp. 78–80; {{McKeown}}, pp. 331–2. </REF> 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. This leads to the theory that Prince Camera Works was just an alternative name for Fujimoto, used by the distributor Fukada Shōkai to hide the real maker's name. However 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] only mentions the Semi Prince as Fujimoto's first camera in 1934, and does not mention other Prince cameras.
| + | ** 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 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 [[Hit]]-type subminiature |
| − | | + | * [[Toyoca Ace|Prince Ruby]], name variant of the [[Toyoca Ace]] |
| − | 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 16-A]], subminiature camera taking 17.5mm film |
| − | | + | * L. M. Prince & Bro., a US camera maker of the late XIXth century |
| − | === Postwar developments ===
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| − | 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.
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| − | | |
| − | At about the same time, a different company called [[Tōkyō Seiki]] and later Doris Camera, probably unrelated, 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) | |
| − | | |
| − | 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, sometimes attributed to Prince Camera Works<REF> In McKeown, p. 803. </REF> and advertised by [[Fukada Shōkai]] in a context associating them with the models above:
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| − | * [[Doris (3×4)|Doris]] 3×4 strut-folder (1939–41) | |
| − | * [[Baby Doris]] 3×4 folder (1941–3) | |
| − | | |
| − | Postwar Prince cameras:
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| − | * [[Princeflex]]
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| − | * [[Princeflex|Princeflex 2]]
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| − | * [[Princeflex|Prince Junior]] | |
| − | | |
| − | == Notes ==
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| − | <references />
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| − | | |
| − | == Bibliography ==
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| − | * {{Showa10}}
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| − | * {{McKeown12}} | |
| − | * {{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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