Ful-Vue

1939

Ensign Ltd

London

England

Lens:

Meniscus "All-Distance" lens.

Shutter:

Single-blade return. T & I settings.

Construction:

Metal.

Format:

12, 2 ¼" x 2 ¼" exposures on 120 roll-film.

Focusing:

Two positions. The lens can be pulled forward for close focus.

Attributes:

Large brilliant view-finder. Film advance indicated by red window.

With:

Box.

Ful-Vue

1945

Barnet Ensign Ross Ltd

London

England

Lens:

f11 lens.

Shutter:

Single-blade return. T & I settings.

Construction:

Metal.

Format:

12, 2 ¼" x 2 ¼" exposures on 120 roll-film.

Focusing:

Two positions. The lens can be pulled forward, a similar arrangement is found on pre-war box cameras.

Attributes:

Large brilliant view-finder. Film advance indicated by red window.

Identification:

Faceplate screws at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions.

With:

Instructions.

Ful-Vue

1945

Barnet Ensign Ross Ltd

London

England

Lens:

f11 lens.

Shutter:

Single-blade return. T & I settings.

Construction:

Metal.

Format:

12, 2 ¼" x 2 ¼" exposures on 120 roll-film.

Focusing:

Two positions. The lens can be pulled forward, a similar arrangement is found on pre-war box cameras.

Attributes:

Large brilliant view-finder. Film advance indicated by red window.

Identification:

Faceplate screws at 2, 6 and 10 o'clock positions.

Notes:

Barnet-Ensign name on box.

With:

Instructions. Tie-on sales label. Box.

Ful-Vue

Model II

1949

Barnet Ensign Ross Ltd

London

England

Lens:

f11 lens.

Shutter:

Single-blade return. T & I settings.

Construction:

Metal.

Format:

12, 2 ¼" x 2 ¼" exposures on 120 roll-film.

Focusing:

To 2 yards.

Attributes:

Large brilliant view-finder. Film advance indicated by red window. Flash synchronisation socket.

Identification:

Bayonet flash socket.

With:

Instructions.

Ful-Vue

Model II Red

1952

Barnet Ensign Ross Ltd

London

England

Lens:

f11 lens.

Shutter:

Single-blade return. T & I settings.

Construction:

Metal.

Format:

12, 2 ¼" x 2 ¼" exposures on 120 roll-film.

Focusing:

To 2 yards.

Attributes:

Large brilliant view-finder. Film advance indicated by red window. Flash synchronisation socket.

Identification:

Coaxial flash socket.

Ful-Vue

Model II Blue

1952

Barnet Ensign Ross Ltd

London

England

Lens:

f11 lens.

Shutter:

Single-blade return. T & I settings.

Construction:

Metal.

Format:

12, 2 ¼" x 2 ¼" exposures on 120 roll-film.

Focusing:

To 2 yards.

Attributes:

Large brilliant view-finder. Film advance indicated by red window. Flash synchronisation socket.

Identification:

Coaxial flash socket.

With:

Case.

Ful-Vue

Model II Grey

1952

Barnet Ensign Ross Ltd

London

England

Lens:

f11 lens.

Shutter:

Single-blade return. T & I settings.

Construction:

Metal.

Format:

12, 2 ¼" x 2 ¼" exposures on 120 roll-film.

Focusing:

To 2 yards.

Attributes:

Large brilliant view-finder. Film advance indicated by red window. Flash synchronisation socket.

Identification:

Coaxial flash socket.

With:

Instructions. See-through case.

The first Ful-Vue appeared in 1939, a square-bodied camera with extra large brilliant finder priced at 25/-. In 1945 the camera was re-introduced. The large finder was retained but the body shape was rounded. In 1949 flash synchronisation was added and the camera designated Model II. In 1954 the camera was again re-styled becoming the Super.

The Model II was available in a range of colours - black, grey, red and blue - non-black models were supplied in a plastic see-through case and introduced for the coronation of 1952.

The position of the screws on the faceplate differ on the post-war model (prior to the model II), some, presumably early, versions have the screws at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock others at 2, 6 and 10 o'clock.

Early versions of the Model II had a bayonet flash connector this was later replaced by the normal 3mm coaxial type.

References & Notes:

BJA 1940, pp. 53, 184. BJA 1946, pp. 52, 169. BJA 1951, p. 216. BJA 1954, p. 66. BJA 1955, p. 68. Ensign Photography, p. 6.

Ful-Vue Super

1954

Ross Ensign

London

England

Shutter:

Single-blade return. T & I settings.

Construction:

Metal.

Format:

12, 2 ¼" x 2 ¼" exposures on 620 roll-film.

Focusing:

To 2 yards.

Attributes:

Large brilliant view-finder. Film advance indicated by red window. Flash synchronisation socket. Cable release socket. Tripod socket.

With:

Instruction book.

Ful-Vue Super

1954

Grey

Ross Ensign

London

England

Shutter:

Single-blade return. T & I settings.

Construction:

Metal.

Format:

12, 2 ¼" x 2 ¼" exposures on 620 roll-film.

Focusing:

To 2 yards.

Attributes:

Large brilliant view-finder. Film advance indicated by red window. Flash synchronisation socket. Cable release socket. Tripod socket.

Ful-Vue Super

1954

Gift Set

Ross Ensign

London

England

Shutter:

Single-blade return. T & I settings.

Construction:

Metal.

Format:

12, 2 ¼" x 2 ¼" exposures on 620 roll-film.

Focusing:

To 2 yards.

Attributes:

Large brilliant view-finder. Film advance indicated by red window. Flash synchronisation socket. Cable release socket. Tripod socket.

This comprises a Ful-Vue Super camera, ever ready case and flashgun. It is presented in a cardboard box imitating a small suitcase.

Fulvueflex

c. 1957

Ross Ensign

London

England

Lens:

Astaross

Shutter:

Single-blade return. T & I settings.

Construction:

Plastic.

Format:

12, 2 ¼" x 2 ¼" exposures on 120 roll-film.

Focusing:

Fixed.

Attributes:

Large brilliant view-finder. Film advance indicated by red window. Flash synchronisation socket.

The last in the Ful-Vue camera range was the Fulvueflex of around 1957, the body was made of two pieces of moulded plastic.

Company Details:

Houghton-Butcher

Ross Ensign

Early Photography

Ful-Vue

1939

Ensign Ltd

London

England

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

With:

Ful-Vue

1945

Barnet Ensign Ross Ltd

London

England

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

With:

Ful-Vue

1945

Barnet Ensign Ross Ltd

London

England

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Notes:

With:

Ful-Vue

Model II

1949

Barnet Ensign Ross Ltd

London

England

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

With:

Ful-Vue

Model II Red

1952

Barnet Ensign Ross Ltd

London

England

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Ful-Vue

Model II Blue

1952

Barnet Ensign Ross Ltd

London

England

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification: