Proud plate folders
The Proud or Proud DC is a Japanese 6.5×9cm folding plate camera introduced in 1933, certainly made by the Proud company.[1]
The Proud plate folder was advertised in the 10 May 1934 issue of Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin.[2] The picture shows a regular plate folder, with a focusing wheel on the photographer's right, a brilliant finder, a wireframe finder, and vertical movements driven by a knob at the top of the right-hand branch of the front standard. The advertisement mentions a Lausar 10.5cm f/4.5 lens, and says that the price range went from ¥38 to ¥85.
The following combinations were reportedly available on the Proud plate folder:[3]
- Radionar f/4.5 lens by Schneider, Vario shutter;
- Lausar f/4.5 lens by Tomioka, Rulex shutter;
- Lausar f/4.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥86 in 1934);
- Corygon f/4.5 lens by Friedrich, Compur shutter (¥85 in 1934).
A metal plate folder, apparently in 6.5×9cm format, has been observed with a film pack holder sporting the Proud logo.[4] Its identification with a Proud plate folder is probable but not certain. The camera has a brilliant finder, a wireframe finder, a focusing wheel on the photographer's right and a distance scale on the left, but no visible movement ability. The folding bed release and the leather handle are atop the body. This particular example has a Rulex shutter by Neumann & Heilemann giving 1–200, B, T speeds, and a Corygon 10.5cm f/4.5 lens.
Notes
- ↑ Date: Lewis, pp.46–7.
- ↑ Advertisement in Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin no.1, 10 May 1934, p.9, reproduced on p.11 of Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku.
- ↑ Lenses, shutters and prices: Lewis, pp.46–7. This source mistakenly says Verio instead of Vario, and Lauser instead of Lausar.
- ↑ Example observed for sale by a dealer.
Bibliography
- 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). Pp.46–7.
- Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin (日本写真興業通信). Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku (百号ごと十回の記録, Ten records, every hundred issues). Tokyo: Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin Sha (日本写真興業通信社), 1967. No ISBN number. P.11, corresponding to p.9 of issue no.1, dated 10 May 1934.
The Proud is not listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi (perhaps because it is older than 1935) nor in Sugiyama.
