Prince

From Camera-wiki.org
Revision as of 18:21, 22 May 2007 by Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (definitively convinced that "Prince Camera Works" is a mere name)
Jump to: navigation, search

Prince Camera Works is a trademark, associated with many Japanese cameras called Prince. It was used by the distributor Fukada Shōkai before 1945 (as プリンスカメラウアークス, Purinsu Kamera Uākusu), and it was revived by the distributor Mima Shōkai from 1953 to 1956 (as プリンスカメラワークス, Purinsu Kamera Wākusu). It was

History

Prewar and wartime Prince cameras

The name Prince Camera Works was first associated with prewar Japanese cameras distributed by the company Fukada Shōkai. It appears in original advertisements and on some products,[1] either in its full form or through a P.C.W. logo. All these products were distributed by the company Fukada Shōkai, which was certainly the owner of the Prince trademark.

It seems that "Prince Camera Works" was just a dummy name, used by the distributor Fukada Shōkai for advertising purpose or to hide the real maker's name. This practice was not uncommon among Japanese distributors at the time (see the discussion at Camera Works).

It is well established that the Semi Prince, a camera associated with Prince Camera Works in original advertisements, was actually manufactured by Fujimoto.[2] On that basis, some sources[3] attribute to Fujimoto all the other cameras named Prince and associated with Prince Camera Works. It is not known if this attribution is correct or not.

The Prince Flex, another camera associated with Prince Camera Works in original advertisements, is prominently inscribed Neumann & Heilemann. It was certainly developed by Neumann & Heilemann, or in cooperation with this company. A dubious rumor says that Neumann & Heilemann merged with the Prince factory (perhaps meaning Fujimoto) and that the Prince Flex was the first resulting product.[4]

Other attributions

Some sources attribute the Doris (3×4) and Baby Doris cameras to "Prince Camera Works".[5] They were distributed by Fukada, and at least the Doris was advertised in a context associating it with the Prince cameras (it is called the "sister of the Semi Prince": セミプリンスの姉妹品).[6] However the actual maker of these cameras is not known for sure: see the discussion in the corresponding pages.

Postwar developments

From 1953 to 1956, 6×6 TLR cameras called Princeflex and Prince Junior were distributed by Mima Shōkai. These were made by the company Tōyō Seiki Kōgaku, and perhaps by Cosmo Camera Seisakusho from 1955. These cameras were advertised with the P.C.W. logo and the mention of "Prince Camera Works" next to the distributor's name. This is certainly why these cameras are sometimes attributed to "Prince Camera Co.", probably a mistake.[7]

Prince cameras

Prewar

Only the Prince Peerless, Semi Prince and Prince Flex are known for sure to be associated with Prince Camera Works in original advertisements, either through the full name or through the P.C.W. logo. The other models are known to appear in advertisements by Fukada Shōkai, except for the Prince plate folder, for which no original document has been observed.

Postwar

Notes

  1. ↑ For example an accessory rangefinder observed in a Yahoo Japan auction.
  2. ↑ Company history of the Fujimoto official website; Lewis, p. 53; Supuringu kamera de ikou, pp. 78–80; McKeown, pp. 331–2.
  3. ↑ Including McKeown, p. 331–2.
  4. ↑ This is mentioned as a rumor in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340, whereas Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten, p. 28, says that Neumann & Heilemann merged with Fujimoto.
  5. ↑ McKeown, p. 803; Sugiyama, items 1038–9.
  6. ↑ Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 80.
  7. ↑ For example Sugiyama, item 2225, and McKeown, p. 803.

Bibliography

  • Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7.
  • Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard).
  • McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover).
  • Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5.
  • Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten (私の二眼レフカメラ展, Exhibition of twin lens reflex cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P. 28.
Retrieved from "http://camera-wiki.org/index.php?title=Prince&oldid=59245"