Tōa Kōki
See Tōa (disambig) for the other Tōa companies.
Tōa Kōki Seisakusho (東亜光機製作所, meaning Far-East Optical Works), usually called Toakoki[1], was a Japanese camera maker. Some sources say that the company was called Takahashi Kōgaku (高橋光学) at the beginning, but this is unconfirmed.[2] A different Takahashi camera maker existed in 1943.[3]
Tōa Kōki made the Gelto 3×4 camera distributed by Hattori Tokei-ten from late 1936 or early 1937. Advertisements dated 1937[4] and 1938[5] are written "Gelto Camera Werke", but it was probably not the name of any actual company. The earliest original document observed so far with the Tōa Kōki name is dated 1939.[6]
The same company also made the Arsen, a close derivative of the Gelto taking 4×4cm pictures and usually attributed to Takahashi Kōgaku.[7] It seems that it also made the Semi Gelto 4.5×6 folder, and at least one document suggests that the National and Ugein folders were made by the company too.[8]
The company was based in Tokyo, Adachi in 1943.[9] It survived the war and the production of the Gelto was resumed. It is supposed that the Geltoflex TLR cameras were made by this company too. By 1952, the company name had become Shinwa Seiki (新和精機).[10]
Contents
127 film
3×4 rigid
- Gelto, various models
4×4 rigid
120 film
4.5×6 folding
The National and Ugein folders were perhaps made by Tōa Kōki.
6×6 folding
6×6 TLR
- Geltoflex, at least three versions
Other
- Gelto rangefinder, sold ¥16.50 in 1939[11]
Notes
- ↑ The Roman spelling that was used by the company is not known, and it is possible that Toakoki is a mistaken name recently crafted by Western collectors.
- ↑ Sugiyama, items 3017–21, attributes the Gelto models to Takahashi up to 1938 and to Tōa Kōki later. This page at Asacame says that the company was called Takahashi in 1936 and changed its name to Tōa Kōki in 1950, but the latter date is obviously a mistake.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras").
- ↑ Advertisement published in the December 1937 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 70.
- ↑ Advertisement published in the September 1938 issue of Asahi Camera.
- ↑ Advertisement published in the March 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 70.
- ↑ Arsen made by Tōa Kōki: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), item 138. Made by Takahashi Kōgaku: Sugiyama, item 3004; McKeown, p. 912. The attribution to Takahashi is certainly false, at least after 1939.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Ugein published in the October 1943 issue of Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 100, where the maker is indicated to be Tōkyō Tōa Kōki-sha (東京東亜光機社).
- ↑ Its address in 1943 was Tōkyō-to Adachi-ku Senju 5–94 (東京都足立区千住5–94). Source: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943.
- ↑ Advertisement published in the July 1952 issue of Shashin Salon, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 136. The address was only mentioned as Tōkyō, Senju (東京・千住). See also the above-mentioned page at Asacame, saying that the company became Shinwa Seiki in 1952.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 70.
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.
- "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced in Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp.180–7.
- 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).
- 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.
