Semi Prince
Work in progress
The Semi Prince (セミプリンス) is a series of Japanese 4.5×6 folders, sold from 1935 to 1939 by the distributor Fukada Shōkai.[1] It is said that it was made by Fujimoto.[2] However all the advertisements observed show the company name Prince Camera Works or the distributor's name.[3]
All the Semi Prince models are copies of the Ikonta, with a folding optical finder, a key for film advance and two red windows in the back. They are embossed Semi Prince in the front and back leather, and the folding struts are engraved Semi Prince too.
Original model
The original model (1935–7) has no body release and uncovered red windows. It is advertised in July 1935 and January 1936[4], in a choice of six variants:
- Radionar f:6.3 lens, Perfekt shutter by Neumann & Heilemann, giving 5–250 speeds (¥52);
- Radionar f:4.5 lens, Perfekt shutter (¥60);
- Laack Regulyt f:4.5 lens, New Vario shutter, T, B, 25–100 (¥55);
- Schneider Isco Anastigmat f:4.5 lens, Pronto shutter, T, B, 25–100 (¥65);
- Schneider Isco Anastigmat f:4.5 lens, Compur shutter, T, B, 1–300 (¥89).
In an advertisement dated April 1937[5], the Pronto shutter option is replaced by two new variants:
- Schneider Isco Anastigmat f:4.5 lens, Prontor I shutter, T, B, 25–125 (¥65);
- Schneider Isco Anastigmat f:4.5 lens, Prontor II shutter, T, B, 1–175 (¥75).
The original model was replaced in 1937 for a couple of months by the Semi Prince (improved) (セミ・プリンス・改良型), adding covers for the red windows.[6] This new version is advertised for example in the July 14, 1937 issue of Asahi Graph[7] and in the August 1937 issue of Asahi Camera[8], in three variants:
- Schneider Isco f:4.5 lens, Prontor II shutter (¥75);
- Schneider Isco f:4.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥89);
- Schneider Xenar f:4.5 lens, Compur-Rapid shutter (¥113).
Semi Prince II
Semi Prince III
The 1937 ad mentioned earlier presented a Semi Prince "enhanced model" (改良型, offered with three lens/shutter combinations:
- Schneider Xenar F4.5 & Compur-Rapid (¥113)
- Schneider Isco F4.5 & Compur (¥89)
- Schneider Isco F4.5 & Prontor (¥75)
The Compur-Rapid version was pictured in the ad, with no body release.
Two variations have been observed:
- no body release, no red window cover
- Neumann & Heilemann Radionar 7.5cm/4.5 & Neumann & Heilemann Perfekt 5-250-B-T
- unknown lens & Vario 25-50-100-B-T (seen at a Yahoo Japan auction)
- Isco Anastigmat (not marked Schneider) 7.5cm/4.5 & Pronto T-B-100-50-25 w/selftimer (seen at a Yahoo Japan auction)
- Schneider-Isco 7.5cm/4.5 & Prontor 125-100-50-25-B-T (seen at a Yahoo Japan auction)
- Schneider-Isco 7.5cm/4.5 & Prontor II 175-100-50-25-10-5-2-1-B-T (see here, also at a Yahoo Japan auction)
- body release, sliding red window cover (maybe it corresponds to the Semi Prince II mentioned on some Japanese websites)
- unknown 7.5cm/4.5 lens & Prontor 125-100-50-25-B-T (seen at a Yahoo Japan auction)
- Schneider-Isco 7.5cm/4.5 & Compur T-B-1-300 (seen at a Yahoo Japan auction)
- unknown lens & Compur-Rapid, probably to 1/500 (see here, some strange part at the location of the body release)
Isco was written Jsco, using an old form of the capital I.
A variant with a Laack Regulyt 75/4.5 lens and a Vario B, T, 25-50-100 shutter has been offered in an eBay auction, no picture observed.
Notes
- ↑ Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
- ↑ Company history of the Fujimoto official website; Lewis, p. 53; Supuringu kamera de ikou, pp. 78–80; McKeown, pp. 331–2.
- ↑ Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 90–1, or in a page of prewar and wartime advertisements for Japanese cameras at the Gochamaze website.
- ↑ Advertisements published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 90.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 90.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in a page of prewar and wartime advertisements for Japanese cameras at the Gochamaze website.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 91.
Bibliography
In Japanese:
- 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. Items 225–8. (See also the advertisements for items 155 and 230–1.)
- Kawamata Masataku (川又正卓). Semi Prince — Luck. In Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: The use of and actual examples from 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp. 78–80.
In English:
- 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). Pp. 331–2.
- 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. 53, brief mention only.
Links
In Japanese and English:
- Schneider-Jsco lens of a Semi Prince at ksmt.com, with a link to a Semi Prince picture
In Japanese:
- Tomo ni shita kamera, a page with a picture of a Semi Prince (it is the camera that looks like an Ikonta!)
- A table and another table at the All Japan Classic Camera Club website, listing variants of the Semi Prince
- History page at the Fujimoto official website
- Template:Gochamaze