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Cornu: Reyna Cross III

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:28 pm
by Arnaud Saudax
Hi, this camera was not a product from Cornu in Paris, but from SEM in Saint Etienne (France). SEM set for "Société des Etablissements Modernes de Mécanique."

Re: Cornu: Reyna Cross III

Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 7:43 am
by diser
Arnaud,
Thanks for the info! You are right, Cornu was not manufacturing these cameras during WWII. But according to some sources (McKeown's guide) SEM company didn't manufacture them either. This company was established in 1945-1946 in Aurec, France, and it was based on the Paul Royet's manufacturing process which actually was in St. Etienne (free zone) during WWII. Paul was the one to manufacture Reyne Cross III cameras under the license from Cornu. At the same time I'd agree with "SEM" as a manufacturer, basically because SEM company was derived from Royet.

Re: Cornu: Reyna Cross III

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:14 am
by diser
Moved to SEM.

Re: Cornu: Reyna Cross III

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 6:24 pm
by diser
Moved again, this time to Royet.

Re: Cornu: Reyna Cross III

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 12:30 am
by Daniel C
Hi Diser,
Do you mean Royer with a R at the end ?
As far as I know, This model is usually considered as built by SEM.
in 1942, Cornu has subcontracted the assembly of the Reyna to Jean Cross at St Etienne in French non occupied zone.
The camera was then named "Reyna Cross".
In 1946 The manufacture in St Etienne changed his name to SEM

(Reference from the book "Histoire des appareils Français- Periode 1940-1960" by Bernard Vial)

Re: Cornu: Reyna Cross III

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 1:14 am
by Arnaud Saudax
Hi Diser,
you are wrong, so Mc Keown!
SEM (stand for "Société des établissements modernes de mécanique et de décolletage Jean Cros") was created by Mr Jean Cros in ~ 1938 - 1939 to make weapons and military devices. After France's capitulation in 1940, company needs to change production... Jean Cros creates a Cinématographic and Photographic department. He hires Mr Paul Royet as Technical Director to start production of Reyna in "free zone" from Cornu licence. (Cros meets Cornu near Paris, in Aluvac factory.)
Paul Royet makes the Reyna-Cross II and Reyna-Cross III in SEMM plants at Saint-Etienne.
The only product from Paul Royet itself is the patented shutter "Micromécanic" (Name of this first brand.) When Gitzo stops to produce shutters, Royet sold a lot of Micromécanic to SEMM company (for Reyna-Cross III), and some times after, he exchanges his patent and tools against 50% of SEMM shares...
Some times after, Jean Cros leaves the company and Paul Royet becomes chairman. (PDG)
After the war, SEMM moves to Aurec, and creates Orec shutter and Orenac camera, but also Sem-Kim and Baby-Sem, derivating from first Reyna...
Best regards

Re: Cornu: Reyna Cross III

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:58 am
by diser
Thanks everyone, SEM it is! :)