No-need-darkroom

The no-need-darkroom process was used by many inexpensive Japanese cameras from the late 1920s to the postwar period. It was notably used by Tougodo from 1930. The film was sold and loaded into the camera in light-proof paper sheaths. After the exposure, the sheath was immersed in red-tinted developer fluid, which protected the film from further exposure even in daylight. Then the film was removed from the sheath and immersed in the fixer, and the picture was ready.

List of known no-need-darkroom cameras:

• Tougo box cameras
• It, box camera by Murakami
• Taishō-shiki (大正式), folding camera by Ōsaka Shashinki Shōkai
• Hayatori Renshūyō (早取練習用), box camera by Ōsaka Shashinki Shōkai

Bibliography

• Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P.43.
• 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). P.931.
• 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. P.63.

Links

In Japanese:

• Tougodo cameras in Nekosan's website, explaining the no-need-darkroom process