Difference between revisions of "Proud"
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) m (date detail) |
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (other Adler cameras not supplied by Proud) |
||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
The company was founded was Miyazaki Shizuma (宮崎静馬), son of the owner of a large camera shop in Suda.<REF> Sakurai Eiichi, p.64 of {{KKS}} no.20. </REF> Most of the cameras were copies of German folders, like the [[Zeh]] [[Goldi]] or the [[Balda]] [[Baldax]], and the camera bodies were made by a sub-contracting factory.<REF> Made by a sub-contractor: Sakurai Eiichi, p.64 of {{KKS}} no.20. </REF> | The company was founded was Miyazaki Shizuma (宮崎静馬), son of the owner of a large camera shop in Suda.<REF> Sakurai Eiichi, p.64 of {{KKS}} no.20. </REF> Most of the cameras were copies of German folders, like the [[Zeh]] [[Goldi]] or the [[Balda]] [[Baldax]], and the camera bodies were made by a sub-contracting factory.<REF> Made by a sub-contractor: Sakurai Eiichi, p.64 of {{KKS}} no.20. </REF> | ||
| − | It was Miyazaki Shizuma who suggested to the company Takachiho (predecessor of [[Olympus]]), which had developed a camera lens, to venture into camera production, and the bodies of the original [[Semi Olympus]] were supplied by Proud.<REF> Sakurai Eiichi, p.64 of {{KKS}} no.20. </REF> | + | It was Miyazaki Shizuma who suggested to the company Takachiho (predecessor of [[Olympus]]), which had developed a camera lens, to venture into camera production, and the bodies of the original [[Semi Olympus]] were supplied by Proud.<REF> Sakurai Eiichi, p.64 of {{KKS}} no.20. </REF> Camera bodies were also supplied to [[Asahi Bussan|Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō]] for the [[Baby Rosen, Rosen Four and Adler Four|Adler Four]] 4×4cm camera. |
Miyazaki Shizuma was also engaged in the lens maker [[Miyoshi|Miyoshi Kōgaku]], as the responsible of the commercial aspects.<REF> Inoue, p.131 of {{KKS}} no.14. </REF> This explains why Miyoshi became Proud's main lens supplier, displacing the German company [[Friedrich]]. It seems that Proud was gradually merged into Miyoshi, which finally took over the camera producing activity. The [[Semi Prux]] 4.5×6 horizontal folder (a copy of the [[Duo Six-20|Kodak Duo]]) was jointly advertised by the two companies in 1939–40. Miyoshi later continued the production of cameras with the [[Roavic]] (inspired by the [[Duo Six-20|Kodak Duo Series II]]), the [[Semi Kelly]] (a Baldax copy) and the [[Alma Four]]. | Miyazaki Shizuma was also engaged in the lens maker [[Miyoshi|Miyoshi Kōgaku]], as the responsible of the commercial aspects.<REF> Inoue, p.131 of {{KKS}} no.14. </REF> This explains why Miyoshi became Proud's main lens supplier, displacing the German company [[Friedrich]]. It seems that Proud was gradually merged into Miyoshi, which finally took over the camera producing activity. The [[Semi Prux]] 4.5×6 horizontal folder (a copy of the [[Duo Six-20|Kodak Duo]]) was jointly advertised by the two companies in 1939–40. Miyoshi later continued the production of cameras with the [[Roavic]] (inspired by the [[Duo Six-20|Kodak Duo Series II]]), the [[Semi Kelly]] (a Baldax copy) and the [[Alma Four]]. | ||
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
=== 127 film === | === 127 film === | ||
* [[Baby Rosen, Rosen Four and Adler Four|Baby Rosen]] (copy of the [[Zeh]] [[Goldi]], 3×4cm, 1935–6) | * [[Baby Rosen, Rosen Four and Adler Four|Baby Rosen]] (copy of the [[Zeh]] [[Goldi]], 3×4cm, 1935–6) | ||
| − | * [[Baby Rosen, Rosen Four and Adler Four|Rosen Four]] (copy of the [[Zeh]] [[Goldi]], 4×4cm, 1936), the [[Baby Rosen, Rosen Four and Adler Four|Adler Four]] is a name variant sold by [[ | + | * [[Baby Rosen, Rosen Four and Adler Four|Rosen Four]] (copy of the [[Zeh]] [[Goldi]], 4×4cm, 1936), the [[Baby Rosen, Rosen Four and Adler Four|Adler Four]] is a name variant sold by [[Asahi Bussan|Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō]] |
=== 120 film === | === 120 film === | ||
Revision as of 20:47, 6 July 2009
Proud was a Japanese camera maker before World War II.
History
The company was simply called Proud-Sha (プラウド社, meaning Proud Company) and was based in Tokyo.[1] The logo was the word Proud in handwritten script, underlined by a loop coming from the initial letter "P".
The company was founded was Miyazaki Shizuma (宮崎静馬), son of the owner of a large camera shop in Suda.[2] Most of the cameras were copies of German folders, like the Zeh Goldi or the Balda Baldax, and the camera bodies were made by a sub-contracting factory.[3]
It was Miyazaki Shizuma who suggested to the company Takachiho (predecessor of Olympus), which had developed a camera lens, to venture into camera production, and the bodies of the original Semi Olympus were supplied by Proud.[4] Camera bodies were also supplied to Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō for the Adler Four 4×4cm camera.
Miyazaki Shizuma was also engaged in the lens maker Miyoshi Kōgaku, as the responsible of the commercial aspects.[5] This explains why Miyoshi became Proud's main lens supplier, displacing the German company Friedrich. It seems that Proud was gradually merged into Miyoshi, which finally took over the camera producing activity. The Semi Prux 4.5×6 horizontal folder (a copy of the Kodak Duo) was jointly advertised by the two companies in 1939–40. Miyoshi later continued the production of cameras with the Roavic (inspired by the Kodak Duo Series II), the Semi Kelly (a Baldax copy) and the Alma Four.
The postwar Proud models made by Sumida Optical Works are certainly a continuation of the prewar Proud company. This company also revived the Roavic as the Apollo and Mikado (said to be made in cooperation with Nishida).
See Sumida for all postwar Proud cameras.
Camera list
127 film
- Baby Rosen (copy of the Zeh Goldi, 3×4cm, 1935–6)
- Rosen Four (copy of the Zeh Goldi, 4×4cm, 1936), the Adler Four is a name variant sold by Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō
120 film
- Semi Proud (Baldax copy, 4.5×6cm, 1935–8), the Semi Olympus is a variant with a Zuiko lens
- Super Semi Proud (rangefinder model, 4.5×6cm, announced in 1937, sold in 1938–9)
- Semi Proud II and III (Baldax copies, 4.5×6cm, 1938–40), called Semi Proud again after some time
- Semi Proud II (Ikonta copy, 4.5×6cm, 1941–2)
- Semi Prux (horizontal folder, 4.5×6cm, 1938–40, maybe in cooperation with Miyoshi Kōgaku)
It is unclear whether the Semi Rosen, Semi Rosen III and Semi Rosen U were made by Proud or not.
Film plate
- Proud (6.5×9cm, 1933–4)
It is unclear whether the Rosen 6.5×9cm model (c.1935) was made by Proud or not.
Notes
- ↑ Based in Tokyo: advertisement dated December 1936 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.104. McKeown, p.804, says that Proud was also called Rosen Camera Fabrik and K.S. Fabrik. The latter seems to be a confusion, see the corresponding page.
- ↑ Sakurai Eiichi, p.64 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20.
- ↑ Made by a sub-contractor: Sakurai Eiichi, p.64 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20.
- ↑ Sakurai Eiichi, p.64 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20.
- ↑ Inoue, p.131 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.14.
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.
- Inoue Mitsuo (井上光朗). "Shashin renzu no yoake. Renzu-ya Funsenki" (写真レンズの夜明け・レンズ屋奮戦記, Dawn of the photographic lens — Fierce war tales between lens shops). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.14, October 1989. No ISBN number. Rikō kamera no subete (リコーカメラのすべて, special issue on Ricoh). Pp.128–132.
- 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).
- "Zadankai: Orinpasu no michi" (座談会・オリンパスの道, "Conversation: the way of Olympus"). Interview of Sakurai Eiichi (桜井栄一), Maitani Yoshihisa (米谷美久) and Kawazoe Mitsuo (河添光男), by Saeki Kakugorō (佐伯恪五郎). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 20, 25 March 1992. No ISBN number. Orinpasu no subete (オリンパスのすべて, special issue on Olympus). Pp.64–71.
