Difference between revisions of "Promaster"
m (redlinking 2000PK Super, have invited photos to pool) |
(→Links: 1981 ad introducing Spectrum 7 lens line) |
||
(11 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
− | '''Promaster''' is | + | {{Flickr_image |
+ | |image_source= https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/52798343714/in/pool-camerawiki/ | ||
+ | |image= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52798343714_b465159d99.jpg | ||
+ | |image_align= right | ||
+ | |image_text= 1978 P•R•O advertising | ||
+ | |image_by= | ||
+ | |image_rights= | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | '''Promaster''' is a brand name used by '''Photographic Research Organization''',<ref>"Promatic" and "Promaster" [https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=login&p_lang=english&p_d=trmk trademark search result], 1965, at [http://www.uspto.gov/ United States Patent and Trademark Office].</ref> earlier styled '''P•R•O''' or '''P.R.O.''' This is a American photographic accessory distributor known for lenses, filters, tripods, bags, memory cards, and lighting equipment. P•R•O products are sold through independent local stores, giving them access to a wide breadth of products and joint buying power. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The organization was founded in 1958 with six US east coast retailers joining forces.<ref>These are named in a [http://www.sironline.com/press/pdf/pro/071808/PRO_backgrounder.pdf 50-year retrospective press release] from 2008, at the [http://www.sironline.com/whatwedo.htm S.I.R. Marketing P.R. agency website].</ref> Products branded P.R.O. in the 1960s<ref>See a [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/52639286603/in/pool-camerawiki/ 1966 review] of a P-R-O electronic flash (Popular Photography, Vol. 59, No. 6; pages 58, 60).</ref> were most visibly advertised by [[Ritz Camera]] (in its days as a regional chain of just dozens of stores). However Promaster remained active after Ritz developed its own exclusive private-label brands, and later when the Ritz national chain entered bankruptcy. Promaster still exists as of 2023. | ||
+ | |||
==Cameras== | ==Cameras== | ||
'''Compact''' | '''Compact''' | ||
Line 8: | Line 19: | ||
'''SLR''' | '''SLR''' | ||
* [[Promaster 2000PK Super]] (name variant of [[Cosina C1s]]) | * [[Promaster 2000PK Super]] (name variant of [[Cosina C1s]]) | ||
− | * [[Promaster 2500PK Super]] | + | * [[Promaster 2500PK Super]] (see [[Hikari 2002]], etc.) |
+ | * Promatic Compact-R ([[Petri MF-1]]) | ||
* [[Promatic SLF/1.7]] | * [[Promatic SLF/1.7]] | ||
+ | * [[Chinon LED Promaster]] | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Line 15: | Line 28: | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
* [http://www.promaster.com Promaster corporate website] | * [http://www.promaster.com Promaster corporate website] | ||
+ | * [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/52835209576/in/pool-camerawiki/ "Spectrum 7" lens introduction], advertised in the November, 1981, ''Modern Photography'' magazine (Vol. 45, No. 11; page 174) | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{Flickr_image | ||
+ | |image_source= https://www.flickr.com/photos/saintseminole/358858622/in/pool-camerawiki/ | ||
+ | |image= https://live.staticflickr.com/132/358858622_5ed1e6927d_w.jpg | ||
+ | |image_align= left | ||
+ | |image_text= Promaster-branded flash units | ||
+ | |image_by= Wil C. Fry | ||
+ | |image_rights= nc | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
[[Category: USA]] | [[Category: USA]] | ||
[[Category: Distributors]] | [[Category: Distributors]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Electronic flash]] |
Latest revision as of 13:51, 24 April 2023
1978 P•R•O advertising |
Promaster is a brand name used by Photographic Research Organization,[1] earlier styled P•R•O or P.R.O. This is a American photographic accessory distributor known for lenses, filters, tripods, bags, memory cards, and lighting equipment. P•R•O products are sold through independent local stores, giving them access to a wide breadth of products and joint buying power.
The organization was founded in 1958 with six US east coast retailers joining forces.[2] Products branded P.R.O. in the 1960s[3] were most visibly advertised by Ritz Camera (in its days as a regional chain of just dozens of stores). However Promaster remained active after Ritz developed its own exclusive private-label brands, and later when the Ritz national chain entered bankruptcy. Promaster still exists as of 2023.
Cameras
Compact
- Promaster AF-1
- Fuji Promaster DL-160
SLR
- Promaster 2000PK Super (name variant of Cosina C1s)
- Promaster 2500PK Super (see Hikari 2002, etc.)
- Promatic Compact-R (Petri MF-1)
- Promatic SLF/1.7
- Chinon LED Promaster
Notes
- ↑ "Promatic" and "Promaster" trademark search result, 1965, at United States Patent and Trademark Office.
- ↑ These are named in a 50-year retrospective press release from 2008, at the S.I.R. Marketing P.R. agency website.
- ↑ See a 1966 review of a P-R-O electronic flash (Popular Photography, Vol. 59, No. 6; pages 58, 60).
Links
- Promaster corporate website
- "Spectrum 7" lens introduction, advertised in the November, 1981, Modern Photography magazine (Vol. 45, No. 11; page 174)
Promaster-branded flash units image by Wil C. Fry (Image rights) |