Cornu Fama |
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Manufactured or assembled in France from 1954 to (Circa) 1959.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 4230
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
In Saint-Étienne, the Reyna-Cross cameras were built using the original body, but for the Sem Kim, the front plate was reduced in thickness. To accommodate this change, Cornu decided to create a camera with interchangeable lenses, following the Leica standard in terms of thread and focal distance. However, in this case, each lens had its own shutter.
This design concept was also used for the Week-End and Week-End camera models.
The Fama camera would be exclusive to the Maillard company, and its distribution would be quite limited.
Similar to the Ontobloc II and III models, the viewfinder came with an attached cover. What set these models apart primarily was the viewfinder's ability to frame for one, two, three, or four different focal lengths using a set of sliding masks.
This small Fama bears the serial number 85 and differs from other presented Fama by the absence of accessory shoe.
It is fitted with the optical block that is normally found on the Week End Bob II, and which has the particularity to be rotated to the desired position. This feature was related to the ability of this lens to be transformed into a small telephoto lens by adding extension tubes and adding a strong divergent lens. Unfortunately, these small complements generally choose to live their own lives and are extremely rare on flea markets.
![Cornu Fama](../../cornu/images/fama-85.jpg )
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