The Fulvueflex Synchroflash

Fulvueflex Synchroflash

The Fulvueflex Synchroflash was the last of the Ful-Vue models and a huge departure from its predecessors.  Released in 1957, this camera really flew in the face of what Ensign stood for - good build quality with excellent lenses.  Conceptually, it wasn't very different from the Super.  It was a pseudo TLR with flash sockets and a flip up hood to shield the viewfinder.  Unlike the Super, it took 120 film, didn't have a tripod bush, ruby window shield, or a three-point focusing mount. 

Fulvueflex viewfinder hood

Fulvueflex back

One of the major differences, however, was the build quality.  The body of the camera was made of polystyrene and the lenses, too, were plastic.  Not all Fulvueflexes bear the Ross Ensign name.  Some, unlike mine (pictured), bear the name Ensign India and were manufactured by Ensign (India) Ltd in Delhi.*

Source: http://www.ensign.demon.co.uk/ensign%20india.htm

A preview of the camera was announced in The Chemist and Druggist in March 1957.  It seems the camera was on display at a photo fair in April of that year:

The Chemist and Druggist, March 9th 1957

"What's all the rush about?

They're off to see their local dealer.

Every photographer today is wise to the importance of a first class lens on his camera. A fact which makes it easier to sell a Ross Ensign camera than any other, and one which will bring an unprecedented number of visitors straight from the Fair to your shop to buy the camera of their choice fitted with the best lens in the world.

But spare time to visit the Ross Stand yourself where you will find promise of even more exciting things to come. New Ross Ensign colour cameras and slide projectors, a new precision enlarger and a fine new series of inexpensive enlarging lenses.

See the new wide screen CinemaScope lenses for 35 mm still and 16 mm cine projection and the latest in low price Ross binoculars. And whatever you do, don't miss the pre-view of the new Ful-Vue – the FULVUEFLEX. It's brand new right through with a fully supporting range of profitable accessory lines. Stand 39. Photo Fair, April 11-17." p.9

Shutter release

The wide list of accessories that complimented the camera were advertised in the same publication in May 1957. As there was no focusing mount a separate portrait lens was required for close up shots. 

May 4th 1957

"There were several new models in the camera range of Ross Ensign Ltd., 3 Clapham Common North Side, London, SW4. A simplified and restyled version of the well-known Ful-Vue – the FULVUEFLEX – has a fixed-focus lens, large reflex view-finder with hinged hood and ever-set flash contacted shutter. It takes twelve exposures on 120-size roll film and at its price (£2 14s 11d) is likely to prove popular. A full range of accessories includes capacitor flash unit (£1 12s 6d), ever-ready case (15s 4d), lens hood (2s 5d), yellow filter (6s 11d), portrait lens (8s 4d) and folding direct-vision view-finder (14 7d)." p.487

Astaross lens and threaded mount

Another advert appeared in the same publication in August.  Interestingly it seems to suggest that the plastic Astaross lens supplied on the camera was one of its main selling points. 

August 10th, 1957 

"Give your Till a gold injection . . .

Here's everything the public wants from a snapshot camera – giant viewfinder, easy operation, modern styling and low price. But it is the Astaross lens on the Fulvueflex which is going to ring the till. Designed by Ross to give every amateur the certainty of success at every click of the shutter, the lens on the Fulvueflex is, optically speaking, quite unique among snapshot cameras at this price. With the Fulvueflex camera it is the lens that makes the picture and the sale.

Fulvueflex with Astaross Lens 54/11 inc. P.T." p.7

We can only wonder what they meant by 'optically speaking, quite unique'.

Flash sockets

A listing for the Fulvueflex Synchroflash in The Chemist and Druggist in May 1958 makes for an interesting price comparison with the Ful-Vue Super, which was still being manufactured and sold at the time.    

May 3rd 1958, p. 492 

"ROSS ENSIGN LTD

Cameras and accessories:

Fulvueflex 53 2
Capacitor flash unit presentation set (complete) 27 6
Presentation set (camera and E.R. case) 66 4
Les Hood 2 1
Filter 6 0
Close-up lenses 7 2

Ful-Vue Super 53 9
Capacitor Flash Unit presentation set (complete) 21 6
Presentation set (camera and case) 65 2
F.V. Super case 11 4

Ful-Vue II E.R. Case 6 3."

The Ful-Vue Super

Ful-Vue Super

 The Ful-Vue Super was a heavily restyled Ful-Vue with some added features.  Released by Ross Ensign in 1954, they boasted in its manual that:

"...in the Ful-Vue Super you have the result of over fourteen years research and development on one camera design." pp.2-3

"The Ful-Vue Super has all the best features of cameras in the luxury class at a fraction of th cost and with none of the complications which always baffle the amateur." p.3

The biggest design changes from the previous models were its viewfinder hood and filmloading cradle.  The hood lifted over the viewfinder and prevented bright sunlight from obscurring the image during composition.  The film loading cradle swung beneath the camera when the back was removed and greatly improved the ease of loading:

"Perhaps the most pleasant surprise in store for every Ful-Vue Super owner is the ease with which the film can be loaded thanks to its swing-cradle loading chamber."p.4

Loading cradle

The camera has a pressure diecast body, whilst the hood and back were made of pressed steel.  The flash socket, tripod bush, and and three-point focusing lens remain from the previous model, though the distances offered are now 2, 4, and infinity yards.  The mount also mentions metres, which are similar in length to yards and so it seems they are represented as roughly equivalent distances.

Ful-Vue Super, showing flash socket

Focusing mount

Tripod bush

The manufacturers stress the versatility of the camera in its manual:

"...the Ful-Vue Super can be used for flash shots, close ups and distant views, night photography and even action pictures." p.5

As with the model II, the Super has a ruby window shield, though the winding knob on the earlier model has been replaced with a pressure pad that winds the shield in place. 

Ruby window shield

In the image below, the shutter that covers the ruby window is partially closed.

Partially shielded ruby window

A departure from earlier Ful-Vue models was the use of 620 film in the Super rather than 120.  This meant smaller film spools and was possibly done to minimise the size of the camera.  620 spools can still be used by unwinding 120 film (in darkness) and rewinding onto the smaller spool. 





BJP Almanac, 1954

"A foldng viewfinder hood, swing cradle loading chamber and pressure die-cast body are some of the new and exclusive features of the 1954 Ful-Vue Super camera." p.66

"The most interesting news item is that an entirely original Ful-Vue is on its way. Known as the Ful-Vue Super, it will incorporate all the improvements and new features suggested by the manufacture of over a million of these cameras since the last model was introduced. The Ful-Vue Super will be the finest twin-lens box camera ever offered to the public." p.67

The Chemist and Druggist, June 25th, 1955

"GET INTO THE PICTURE YOURSELF"

"If it did no more than maintain its established reputation, the Ful-Vue would still be every dealer's best selling snapshot camera this season. But the Ful-Vue Super goes further much further. It has a new lens, new swing-cradle film loading and pressure die-cast body. It looks and handles like an expensive twin lens reflex and retails at a price which represents unbelievable value. If you have not already placed your new season's order for the Ful-Vue and other popular Ross Ensign cameras, ask our Sales Department to put you in the picture right away."

"Create additional sales by showing the Ful-Vue with its flash unit and ever-ready case. Retail Price: 59/8, Flash Unit 23/11, Ever-ready Case 12/8." p.39

The Chemist and Druggist, April 14^th, 1956

"ENSIGN FUL-VUE SUPER:

Twelve negatives on 620 film: die-cast metal body; large reflex view-finder with hinged hood; focusing lens; flash-contated shutter. £3 2s. 7d. In card box with ever-ready case and flashgun with “gift” labels. £5 0s. 9d." p.264

Popular Photography, April 1956

"Here's an excellent gif presentation that should be appreciated by any member of the family. It's an Ensign “Ful-Vue” box camera, taking 12 exposures on a 120 roll, packed in a heavy cardboard carrying case that's made like a suitcase, along with its own eveready case and a B-C flash unit. It also has a supply of stick-on labels suitable for any occasion. The Ful-Vue is a reflex type, with folding hood to protect its viewing lens, f/11 taking lens, and speeds of I, B and Flash. It's of light-weight metal alloy and the whole package lists at $10.50 from any London dealer. (Duty, about $4.35)" p122

The Ful-Vue II

Ful-Vue II

The model II was introduced in 1950, and while at first glance it looks very similar to the modified, 1946 Ful-Vue, there are some improvements.  Firstly, the shutter release was moved to the front of the camera, and was activated via an upward, rather than downward motion.

Ful-Vue II

A plastic front panel housed the new shutter assembly, which included a flash synch terminal.  Earlier model IIs featured Ensign's bayonet synch plug, while later models had the compur co-axial type.*  A Ful-Vue flash unit was released in 1951.

Ful-Vue flash unit instructions

The camera no longer had Ensign's 'All distance' lens, but rather a three-point focusing mount with the distances marked in yards.  The distances marked are 2, 3-5, and 6-infinity yards, though it remains to be seen how accurate these are.  Whereas before the lens mount was pulled out to enable close up shots, this one is rotated to the desired distance.

The plastic shutter assembly, with flash terminal and three-point focusing mount.

A further improvement came with the addition of a shield for the rear ruby window.  This was operated with a winding knob and prevented light from damaging the film. Some model IIs also came with tripod bushes on the base.  Coloured Ful-Vues 'a la mode' were released in 1953, which Adrian Richmond states were to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.*  Available colours were red, white, and blue,

left: Ful-Vue (c.1946) and Right: Ful-Vue II (c.1950)

Comparison of ruby window on both cameras.

The camera was featured in The Chemist and Druggist on 14th March, 1953.  

“Streamlined” and Simple. - The smart appearance of the Ensign Ful-Vue camera, which is modelled on the lines of an expensive twin-lens instrument, combined with its giant viewfinder, make it a ready seller among customers looking for a simple, fixed-focus camera taking twelve pictures on 120-size films. The camera is synchronised for flash. The makers are Barnet-Ensign-Ross Ltd., London, E17." p.257

Its popularity is made clear in an advert in the same publication on 13th March, 1954.

"THEY ALL START WITH A FUL-VUE"

"These popular Ross Ensign Models demand no expert knowledge to sell, involve no large capital outlay and ensure the quickest possible turnover in every district. It is not every chemist who has the capital to stock, or the time to sell expensive cameras. But every busy chemist is interested in popular cameras which sell themselves. More Ful-Vue and Snapper cameras are sold over the chemist's counter than through any other retail outlet, proving that the price and quality are absolutely right for every class of snapshot photographer."

"FUL-VUE – More than a million Ful-Vue cameras have been sold since 1939. This handsome camera with its giant viewfinder and easy operation is still the best box camera value at £2.9.9 tax paid." p.15

*Source: http://www.ensign.demon.co.uk/ful-vue.htm