Tougodo 4×4 TLR
The Toyoca-44 is a Japanese 4×4 TLR made by Tougodo at the end of the 1950s, during the brief 4×4 camera boom. Different versions exist, notably with manual or semi-automatic film advance. The camera was also sold as Haco-44, Kino-44, Laqon-44 and Tower 44.
Contents
General description
All the Tougodo 4×4 TLR models have the same basic body, with a classical TLR shape. They have a predominantly black finish, except for the Haco-44. The front standard moves back and forth for focusing. The focus knob is on the photographer's left and has depth-of-field indications; the advance knob is on the opposite side. The viewing hood contains a sports finder, and the nameplate has an oval shape. The back is hinged at the top and closed by a latch under the camera, with O and C indications. The taking lens is a Kinokkor 6cm f/3.5 and the viewing lens is a View Kinokkor 6cm f/3.5, again except for the Haco-44.
Manual model
The simplest model has manual film advance, controlled by a red window. The shutter release is a simple button placed below the taking lens.
The shutter gives B, 25–300 speeds,[1] the shutter plate is black and is simply marked SYNCHRONIZED at the top. The PC synch socket is buried in the front standard, between the two lenses. The manual model has no accessory shoe. The shutter is manually wound by a small lever.
The manual model is only known with the KINO–44 nameplate.[2]
Regular model
The regular model has semi-automatic film advance, with an exposure counter on the photographer's right. It still has a red window at the left of the back, protected by a vertically sliding cover, certainly to set the position of the first exposure. The right side plate also has a small sliding button, certainly to engage the exposure counter mechanism, and an accessory shoe.
The shutter release and the synch socket are placed the same as on the manual model. There are bayonet attachments on both lenses. The shutter reportedly gives B, 1–300 speeds and has a self-timer.[3]
  
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| Regular Toyoca-44, Kinokkor 6cm f/3.5 taking lens no.62429, View Kinokkor 6cm f/3.5 viewing lens. Pictures courtesy of Robert Furnari @ frendakfurnari. (Image rights) |
The regular model exists in black as the Toyoca-44, with Kinokkor and View Kinokkor lenses, and a Toyoca–44 nameplate.[4] It was also sold as the Haco-44, certainly a distributor's brand, with Hacor 6cm f/3.5 lenses, a HACO–44 nameplate, a film reminder on the focus knob and gray leatherette covering. This Haco-44 exists with gray paint or black paint.[5]
   
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| Gray-painted Haco-44, Hacor 6cm f/3.5 lenses (taking lens no.63578, viewing lens no.63613). Pictures courtesy of eBayer tuiteka. (Image rights) |
Deluxe model
The so-called deluxe model[6] is similar to the regular model but for the Citizen-MV shutter (B, 1–400, self-timer), enclosed in a larger casing with a protruding part at the bottom, containing the release button, the synch socket and an M/X selector with a yellow dot. Variations are known in the shape of the sliding button engaging the exposure counter mechanism: on some examples, the button is contained in a large round cup and slides towards the bottom in a visible slit; on others, the surrounding cup is smaller and no slit is visible, the same as on all the examples of the regular model observed so far.[7]
The deluxe model is known with the KINO–44, LAQON–44, TOWER 44 and Toyoca–44 nameplates.[8]
Commercial life
The Kino-44 was featured in the October 1958 issue of Sankei Camera, among other cameras specifically made for export, and again in the December 1960 issue of Shashin Kōgyō.[9] These are the only occurrences reported in Japanese camera magazines. It is probable that none of the Tougodo 4×4 TLR cameras were sold in Japan.
The Toyoca-44 was probably sold directly by Tougodo. The Tower 44 name variant was sold by Sears and the Haco-44 is sometimes attributed to Haking.[10] The distributors of the Kino-44 and Laqon-44 are unknown.
Notes
- ↑ Speed range: Sugiyama, item 2133, and McKeown, p.929, about the Kino-44.
- ↑ Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 2133, example pictured in here and here at Asacame, and example observed for sale at a dealer.
- ↑ Speed range: McKeown, p.929, about the Haco-44.
- ↑ Toyoca-44: examples pictured in McKeown, p.932, in this page of the 44 Club, observed for sale at a dealer and at a past auction by Auction Team Breker.
- ↑ Gray paint: examples pictured in this page, in McKeown, p.929, and here as lot no.717 of Westlicht Auction no.3. Black paint: example pictured here at onetwoseven.org.uk.
- ↑ The name "Deluxe" is used in Sugiyama, item 2134, in McKeown, p.929, about the Kino-44, and in this page and this page at Asacame. It is not confirmed by any original document found so far.
- ↑ Compare the deluxe Kino-44 pictured here in a Westlicht Photographica auction (large cup) and the deluxe Tower 44 pictured here at tlr-cameras.com (small cup).
- ↑ Kino-44: example pictured in Sugiyama, item 2134, example pictured in here and here at Asacame, example pictured here at Nana-chōme no tabe, and example observed for sale at a dealer. Laqon-44: example pictured in Sugiyama, item 2143, and example observed for sale at a dealer. Tower 44: example pictured in McKeown, p.878, example pictured here at www.tlr-cameras.com, example observed for sale at a dealer and example observed in an online auction. Toyoca-44: example pictured here at Fotomuseet i Osby.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.382.
- ↑ Haco by Haking: this page at onetwoseven.org.uk, this page at photographica-world.
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Item 1210.
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). Pp.878, 929 and 932.
- Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Items 2133–4 and 2143.
Links
In English:
- Haco-44 (black paint) at onetwoseven.org.uk
- Sales by Westlicht Photographica Auction:
- Haco-44 (gray paint), lot no.717 of auction no.3 (24 March 2003)
- Kino-44 (deluxe), lot no.695 of auction no.8 (27 November 2005)
- Picture of a deluxe model (with missing nameplate) in a post at photo.net
- Toyoca-44 and Tower 44 in a page about 4×4cm TLRs in Barry Toogood's www.tlr-cameras.com
In French:
- Kino-44 among 4×4 TLR cameras at Dirapon's website
In Swedish:
- Toyoca-44 in a page about TLRs at Fotomuseet i Osby
In Japanese:
- Pages at Asacame:
- Kino-44
- Japanese 4×4 TLRs, including the Kino-44
- Pages of the 44 Club:
- Kino-44 and other 4×4 TLRs in a post at Nana-chōme no tabe (click on the picture to enlarge)
In Chinese:
- Tower 44 among other 4×4 TLRs at www.chinesecamera.net
