Semi Prince

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753849154_6a45347ca8_m_d.jpg
Picture courtesy of Adrian Gotts. (Image rights)
Japanese Semi (4.5×6)
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
folding
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The Semi Prince (セミプリンス) is a series of Japanese 4.5×6 folders, released in 1934 or 1935 and sold until 1939 by the distributor Fukada Shōkai.[1] It was made by Fujimoto Shashinki Seisakusho.[2] However all the advertisements observed show the name Prince Camera Works or the distributor's name.[3]

The Semi Prince was the first Japanese 4.5×6 camera, predating the Semi Minolta and Semi Proud.[4]

General description

All the Semi Prince models are copies of the Ikonta, with the typical folding struts. They have a folding optical finder, whose opening is coupled to the release of the folding bed. There is a key for film advance at the bottom right, as seen by the photographer holding the camera horizontally. The back is hinged to the left and has two red windows. The name Semi Prince is embossed in the leather at the front and on the back, and the folding struts are engraved Semi Prince too.

Semi Prince (I)

Original model

The original model (1934/5–7) has uncovered red windows and no body release, and the back latch is covered by a leather handle. This model was advertised in July 1935[5] in five versions, priced at ¥89, ¥65, ¥60 and ¥55 with an f/4.5 lens and at ¥52 with an f/6.3 lens, the latter being mentioned as "newly available" (新発売). An advertisement dated January 1936,[6] gives details about these five versions:

The Radionar lenses were made by Neumann & Heilemann, presumably under license from Schneider.

753849158_b8a593544a_m_d.jpg 753849154_6a45347ca8_m_d.jpg 753849166_f29b76a889_m_d.jpg 753849186_0edc1e03b1_t_d.jpg 753849172_93bb9dbac1_t_d.jpg
753849182_76645da33e_t_d.jpg
Original Semi Prince, Neumann & Heilemann Radionar 7.5cm f/4.5 lens, Perfect shutter, 5–250, B, T speeds, old advance key.
Pictures courtesy of Adrian Gotts. (Image rights)

In an advertisement dated April 1937,[10] the Pronto shutter option was replaced by two new versions:

In all the cameras equipped with an Isco lens, the actual engraving is Jsco, with an old form of the capital I. Most are engraved Schneider–Jsco 1:4.5 F=7.5cm, but at least one example has been observed[13] with Jsco Anastigmat 1:4.5 F=7.5cm. None has a serial number.

Improved model

The original model was replaced in 1937 for a couple of months by the improved Semi Prince (改良型セミプリンス).[14] This version has no body release and a modified advance key, shaped as a half-moon.[15] It is said to have a common sliding cover for the red windows,[16] but this is not mentioned in the advertisements and all the examples observed so far with a red window cover have a body release.

In advertisements dated July and August 1937,[17] three versions of the improved Semi Prince were listed:

Semi Prince II

The Semi Prince II (1937–8)[19] has an added body release and is confirmed to have a common cover for the red windows, controlled by a vertically sliding lever. It was advertised in the September 1937 issue of Asahi Camera[20] with the same three lens and shutter combinations listed for the previous model (the price was not given).[21]

An example of the Semi Prince has been observed with a body release, a Lucky Anastigmat 7.5cm f/4.5 lens and a Compur shutter (T, B, 1–300).[22] However this example belongs to the Fujimoto company and has the low lens number 00184; it is probable that the lens and shutter were mounted on the camera for testing purpose and that this equipment was never sold on the Semi Prince.

Semi Prince III

The Semi Prince III (1938–9)[23] has a modified back latch, consisting of a long sliding bar with no leather handle, and it has a chrome trim line around the top and bottom plates and around the folding bed. The following lens and shutter combinations were listed in an advertisement dated January 1939:[24]

  • Schneider Isco Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Prontor I shutter, 125–25, B, T speeds (¥85);[25]
  • Schneider Isco Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Prontor II shutter, 175–1, B, T speeds (¥105);[26]
  • Schneider Isco Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Compur shutter, T, B, 1–300 speeds (¥120);[27]
  • Schneider Xenar f/4.5 lens, Compur-Rapid shutter, T, B, 1–500 speeds (¥155).

The Semi Prince is not in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, probably because it was no more produced at the time.[28]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1934 release date: Company history at the Fujimoto official website; Supuringu kamera de ikou, pp. 78–9. — The first advertisements mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340, are dated 1935. Tanimura, pp. 1–2 of Camera Collectors' News no. 116, says that the Semi Prince was featured in an article of the January 1935 issue of Asahi Camera. — 1939: Last advertisements mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  2. ↑ Company history of the Fujimoto official website; Lewis, p. 53; Supuringu kamera de ikou, pp. 78–80; McKeown, pp. 331–2.
  3. ↑ Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 90–1, and advertisement reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
  4. ↑ Tanimura, pp. 1–2 of Camera Collectors' News no. 116, says that the Semi Minolta and Semi Proud were mentioned as "soon to follow" at the end of an article about the Semi Prince in the January 1935 issue of Asahi Camera. Supuringu kamera de ikou, p. 78–9, says that the Semi Prince was sold half a year before the Semi Minolta.
  5. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 90.
  6. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 90.
  7. ↑ This version is pictured in this page, in Sugiyama, item 1230 (with a non-original accessory shoe), in McKeown, p. 331, and has been observed in online auctions, with lenses made by Neumann & Heilemann.
  8. ↑ This version is pictured in Supuringu kamera de ikou, pp. 78–9, and has been observed in online auctions. The example with Vario shutter pictured in Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten, p. 15, is reported to have an Isco lens, but a serial number is visible and it probably has a Regulyt instead.
  9. ↑ This version is pictured in Sugiyama, item 1228 (with an early SEMI PRINCE embossing), and has been observed in online auctions.
  10. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 90.
  11. ↑ This version is pictured in Sugiyama, item 1231, and has been observed in an online auction.
  12. ↑ This version is pictured in Sugiyama, item 1232, in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 428, in this page, and has been observed in online auctions.
  13. ↑ Example with Isco and Pronto shutter observed in a Yahoo Japan auction.
  14. ↑ Date: the only advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340, are dated July and August 1937.
  15. ↑ Compare for example the cameras pictured in Sugiyama, items 1231 (old key) and 1229 (new key).
  16. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  17. ↑ July 1937: Advertisement published in Asahi Graph (14 July 1937) reproduced in the Gochamaze website. August 1937: advertisement published in Asahi Camera reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 91.
  18. ↑ This version is pictured in Sugiyama, item 1229 (misidentified as a "Semi Prince II"), and in Tomo ni shita kamera (with an accessory shoe added next to the viewfinder).
  19. ↑ Dates: advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  20. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 91.
  21. ↑ The version with Isco f/4.5 lens and Compur shutter has been observed in online auctions. The version with Isco f/4.5 lens and Prontor II shutter is pictured in this page at ksmt.com.
  22. ↑ Example pictured in Supuringu kamera de ikou, pp. 78–9.
  23. ↑ Dates: advertisements and articles listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  24. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 91.
  25. ↑ This version has been observed in online auctions.
  26. ↑ This version has been observed in an online auction.
  27. ↑ This version has been observed in online auctions.
  28. ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short.

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. Items 225–8. (See also the advertisements for items 155 and 230–1 and the picture p. 428.)
  • 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.
  • Template:Kakaku1940 The Semi Prince does not appear in this document.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten (思い出のスプリングカメラ展, Exhibition of beloved self-erecting cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P. 15.
  • Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Items 1228–32.
  • Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minolta I-gata to II-gata." (セミミノルタⅠ型とⅡ型, "Semi Minolta I and II") In Camera Collectors' News no. 116 (February 1987). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.

Links

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