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Cornu Reyna II |
 Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in France from 1942 to (After) 1942.
Index of rarity in France: Infrequent (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 10615
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Cornu
Around 1940, Cornu requested Aluvac to cast the bodies and backs of a small 24 x 36 camera in aluminum. These parts were marked as Aluvac 3439 and Aluvac 3440. These components were used for about two decades by two companies to produce numerous popular camera models.
The Société des Établissements Modernes de Mécanique Générale et de Décolletage Jean Cros was established in Saint-Étienne just before 1939 with state funding to support the war effort. Jean Cros had Aluvac mold rocket fins for him.
After the defeat, Jean Cros, forced to refocus his activities in the civilian sector, considered entering the camera manufacturing business. He reconnected with Paul Royet, who had been a "special assignment" employee in his factory until his demobilization, to offer him the position of Director of the photographic section, where everything had to be created from scratch.
In 1941, Jean Cros, the director of SEMM, obtained a license from Cornu to manufacture a camera in Saint-Étienne using these parts. Paul Royet, the future director of SEM, successfully carried out this project
During the wartime and in the occupied zone, the Reyna camera arrived very discreetly. It did not appear in any catalogs or advertisements. It lacked leather covering due to restrictions, but on the early models, some parts were made of chromed brass, quickly replaced by aluminum.
Paul Royet would go on to design the Reyna Cross II based on the Reyna, optimizing the mechanism to simplify production. Soon, Cornu adopted several modifications, transitioning from the Reyna to the Reyna II.
- Reyna: Engraved "Reyna" on the front, later engraved "Reyna" on the top cover.
- Reyna II: Engraved "Reyna II Paris" on the top cover.
- Reyna Cross II: Engraved "Reyna Cross II" on the top cover.
Compared to the Reyna, the view counter mechanism of the Reyna II was modified to be concealed by a small cover, initially in chrome-plated brass and later in aluminum.
Reyna II cameras have a serial number engraved either on the lower front face or inside the body. In the latter case, the logo with the double horns is engraved on the lower front face. The serial numbers range between 2000 and approximately 8000, though I do not believe there were 6000 Reyna II cameras produced.
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