Difference between revisions of "Prince Flex"

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There is some confusion on the maker of the Prince Flex. The markings on the camera clearly indicate that the Prince Flex is related to [[Neumann & Heilemann]]. The presence of the ''P.C.W.'' logo or the name "Prince Camera Works" in original documents makes believe that this was an actual company; however this was probably not the case (see [[Prince]] and [[Camera Works]]). The fact that [[Fujimoto]] made the [[Semi Prince]] folder led to the assumption that it also made all the other Prince cameras,<REF> For example {{Sugiyama}}, items 1227, 1233 and 2019, and {{McKeown}}, p.&nbsp;331, attribute the [[Prince plate folder]], [[Prince Peerless]] and Prince Flex to Fujimoto. </REF> but this is probably false.
 
There is some confusion on the maker of the Prince Flex. The markings on the camera clearly indicate that the Prince Flex is related to [[Neumann & Heilemann]]. The presence of the ''P.C.W.'' logo or the name "Prince Camera Works" in original documents makes believe that this was an actual company; however this was probably not the case (see [[Prince]] and [[Camera Works]]). The fact that [[Fujimoto]] made the [[Semi Prince]] folder led to the assumption that it also made all the other Prince cameras,<REF> For example {{Sugiyama}}, items 1227, 1233 and 2019, and {{McKeown}}, p.&nbsp;331, attribute the [[Prince plate folder]], [[Prince Peerless]] and Prince Flex to Fujimoto. </REF> but this is probably false.
  
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A rumour 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.&nbsp;340. </REF> another occurrence of the same rumour says that Neumann & Heilemann merged with Fujimoto.<REF> ''Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten,'' p.&nbsp;25. </REF> However Neumann & Heilemann continued to produce shutters under its own name until 1941 or 1942.<REF> See the advertisement for the [[Condor folders|New Semi Condor]] dated January 1941 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;72. </REF>
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A rumour 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.&nbsp;340. </REF> another occurrence of the same rumour says that Neumann & Heilemann merged with Fujimoto.<REF> ''Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten,'' p.&nbsp;25, and {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;439. </REF> However shutters marked as made by Neumann & Heilemann were sold as late as 1941 or 1942.<REF> See for example the advertisement for the [[Condor folders|New Semi Condor]] dated January 1941 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;72. </REF>
  
 
A well informed source says that Fujimoto bought to Neumann & Heilemann a plant in Mukogawa in 1937, and that the [[Semi Lucky]] was produced there.<REF> Tanimura, p.&nbsp;51 of {{KKS}} no.&nbsp;11. </REF> This might explain the above rumour: the Prince Flex would have been developed by Neumann & Heilemann in this Mukogawa plant, and its production would have been taken over by Fujimoto.
 
A well informed source says that Fujimoto bought to Neumann & Heilemann a plant in Mukogawa in 1937, and that the [[Semi Lucky]] was produced there.<REF> Tanimura, p.&nbsp;51 of {{KKS}} no.&nbsp;11. </REF> This might explain the above rumour: the Prince Flex would have been developed by Neumann & Heilemann in this Mukogawa plant, and its production would have been taken over by Fujimoto.

Revision as of 15:21, 31 August 2007

Japanese 6×6 TLR
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
6×6cm Elmoflex | First Reflex | Kiko Flex | Lyra Flex | Minoltaflex | Minoltaflex Automat | Minoltaflex military prototype | Nōman Flex | Ostenflex | Prince Flex | Ricohflex (original) | Ricohflex B | Rollekonter | Roll-o-Frex | Rorter Ref | Rorterflex | Sakura-flex | Simpuflex | Starflex | Taroflex | Valflex | Yokusanflex
Postwar models and other TLR ->
Pseudo TLR and medium format SLR ->
Other Japanese 6×6, 4.5×6, 3×4 and 4×4 ->

The Prince Flex is a Japanese 6×6 TLR, distributed from 1937 to 1939 by Fukada Shōkai and perhaps made by Neumann & Heilemann.[1]

This camera has no design feature in common with the later Princeflex camera made by either Tōyō Seiki Kōgaku or Prince Camera Works.

Description

The Prince Flex looks somewhat like the first Ikoflex "coffee can" model, with a hexagonal front standard. The focusing is done by moving this front standard back and forth. Some sources say that it is controlled by a lever driving a helicoid;[2] however the pictures show no focusing lever but a knob placed on the photographer's left. (The mention of a lever and helicoid is perhaps a confusion with the Ikoflex which has such a lever underneath the front standard.) The film advance is driven by a knob on the right and controlled by red window.

There is a X-shaped rib on the viewing hood, with a small plate at the centre, inscribed Prince Flex. There is another nameplate engraved Neumann & Heilemann at the top of the front plate. The serial number is written above the viewing lens, again on a small plate attached by two screws.

The Prince Flex has a Neotar 7.5cm f/4.5 taking lens and a Radionar 7.5cm f/3.5 viewing lens, both made by Neumann & Heilemann. The shutter is a Perfekt by the same company, giving 1–300, B, T speeds. The shutter plate is inscribed NEUMANN HEILEMANN at the top and perhaps PERFEKT at the bottom, with an NH logo on the right.

First Japanese 6×6 TLR

The Prince Flex was the first Japanese 6×6 TLR. It was launched in mid-1937, before the Minoltaflex (December). One source says that the camera was released in July.[3] It was first advertised in August and it was featured in the new products column of Asahi Camera in September.[4]

A year previously, the 4.5×6 Hansa Rollette Ref had been the first TLR-shaped Japanese camera, but the viewing lens was not used for focusing.[5] The 4.5×6 Roll Light Ref was released in January 1937 but it is not entirely clear if it is a real TLR or a pseudo TLR.[6]

Advertisements and other documents

An advertisement dated September 1937 by the distributor Fukada Shōkai offered both the Prince Flex and the Semi Prince II.[7] The Prince Flex was announced as a new product but no price was given yet. This advertisement does not mention either Neumann & Heilemann (although this name is clearly visible within the illustration of the Prince Flex) or Prince Camera Works, however it does show the stylized P.C.W. logo associated with the latter.

The Prince Flex was advertised until 1939,[8] and an advertisement dated January[9] offered the camera for ¥198. The camera was not mentioned in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, presumably because its production had stopped.[10]

Maker

There is some confusion on the maker of the Prince Flex. The markings on the camera clearly indicate that the Prince Flex is related to Neumann & Heilemann. The presence of the P.C.W. logo or the name "Prince Camera Works" in original documents makes believe that this was an actual company; however this was probably not the case (see Prince and Camera Works). The fact that Fujimoto made the Semi Prince folder led to the assumption that it also made all the other Prince cameras,[11] but this is probably false.

A rumour says that Neumann & Heilemann merged with the Prince factory and that the Prince Flex was the first resulting product,[12] another occurrence of the same rumour says that Neumann & Heilemann merged with Fujimoto.[13] However shutters marked as made by Neumann & Heilemann were sold as late as 1941 or 1942.[14]

A well informed source says that Fujimoto bought to Neumann & Heilemann a plant in Mukogawa in 1937, and that the Semi Lucky was produced there.[15] This might explain the above rumour: the Prince Flex would have been developed by Neumann & Heilemann in this Mukogawa plant, and its production would have been taken over by Fujimoto.

Actual examples

The actual examples slightly differ by the presence or absence of a lever placed to the side of the hexagonal front standard, on the photographer's left.

The only serial numbers observed so far are 614 and 768.[16]

Notes

  1. ↑ Dates: advertisements and articles listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  2. ↑ See Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 12 and this page at yume_camera.
  3. ↑ July: The Japanese Historical Camera, p. 29 (in Japanese and English); Japanese-only version in this page of the JCII.
  4. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  5. ↑ The Japanese Historical Camera, p. 23 (in Japanese and English); Japanese-only version in this page of the JCII.
  6. ↑ Date: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342, and this page of the JCII.
  7. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 91.
  8. ↑ The last advertisement listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340, is dated April 1939.
  9. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 91.
  10. ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short.
  11. ↑ For example Sugiyama, items 1227, 1233 and 2019, and McKeown, p. 331, attribute the Prince plate folder, Prince Peerless and Prince Flex to Fujimoto.
  12. ↑ This is mentioned as a rumor in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  13. ↑ Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten, p. 25, and Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 439.
  14. ↑ See for example the advertisement for the New Semi Condor dated January 1941 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 72.
  15. ↑ Tanimura, p. 51 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 11.
  16. ↑ No. 614: example pictured in Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten, p. 25 and in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 12. No. 768: example observed in an online auction. The example pictured in Sugiyama, item 2019, has a different, illegible, three-digit serial number.

Sources / further reading

Links

In Japanese:

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