Graflex.org

William Hallett · Joined: 07 Jan 2012 Posts: 103

If anyone is passing through Toronto Airport, the Malton Airport Gallery on the second floor in the departure area currently has an interesting exhibit of old cameras. Of particular interest is a 4 x 5 Press King, a press camera similar to a Crown Graphic briefly produced in Toronto in the late 1940's. The example on display is fitted with a 135 Optar in a Graphex shutter. There is no rangefinder, and the body appears to be metal, with an outline reminiscent of a Super Graphic.

Jeff L · Joined: 17 Nov 2013 Posts: 1

I did see the display at Pearson YYZ with the B&H Press King.
I did a search and there doesn't seem to be much info out there about the B&H Manufacturing Company.
It all lead me here, and to consider getting a Crown Graphic (because I can't find a Press King) to try some 4x5.

Jody S · Joined: 17 Dec 2025 Posts: 4

I have one that I have been bringing to various camera shows, including most recently the Camerama show in Toronto.

The Photographic Historical Society of Canada puts out a monthly magazine, online-only now, but I bought a box full of their older paper issues from a retiring collector from the Niagara region, and sure enough they did a write-up on the Press King back in the 1960s (?). I went through my box, and sure enough I had that issue, except the Press King write-up was on a loose leaf insert in the mag and I didn't get that.

I was told to write to the PHSC and they would go through their archives to find that insert, but it's been a couple of years and I haven't gotten around to it yet.

In operation it's similar to a Crown Graphic except the back rotates. It's a massive, heavy cast aluminum camera, could be used as a weapon in a pinch. I don't know exactly where mine is but if anyone is interested I'll find it and post a couple images.

hsandler · Joined: 27 Apr 2016 Posts: 40

I've seen Press Kings come up in Canada maybe twice in the last 10 years and I scour the used camera ads nationally often. I have a Crown Graphic, so would only buy one for the interesting Canadian angle if it was in decent shape. I recall they were made in Toronto, but have not found any other information.