Tōkyō Seiki
The name Doris appeared before the war on two Japanese models taking 3×4 pictures, distributed by Fukada Shōkai, that was also distributing the Prince cameras. The maker of these models is unclear, but they are somtimes attributed to Prince Camera Works.[1]
After the war, the company Tōkyō Seiki K.K. (東京精機株式会社) made a 4.5×6 folder called Doris from 1952. It is said that the camera was named after its maker (presumably meaning designer), a Mr Motodori (本鳥): "Dori's camera", thus "Doris".[2]
By 1955, the company had been renamed Doris Camera K.K. (ドリスカメラ株式会社), keeping the same address.[3] The range of models was extended with the Dorisflex TLR and the Doris Six 6×6 folder.
Camera list
Prewar models:
- Doris (3×4), 3×4 strut folder (1939–41)
- Baby Doris, 3×4 vertical folder (1941–3)
Postwar models:
- Doris, Doris-P and Doris IA, 4.5×6 folders
- Doris Six, 6×6 folding
- Dorisflex and Dorisflex A, 6×6 TLR
Notes
- ↑ Attribution to Prince Camera Works: McKeown, p. 803.
- ↑ Niimi, p. 92. The name Motodori also appears in Motodori Shashin Kikai Kōgyō-sho, the maker of the Semi Lester, but it is maybe a coincidence.
- ↑ The address was Tōkyō-to Itabashi-ku Tokiwadai 1, 16 (東京都板橋区常盤台1の16). Source: advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 153.
References / further reading
- 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.
- 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. 250, 803, 927–8.
- Niimi Kahee (新見嘉兵衛). Kamera-mei no gogen sanpo (カメラ名の語源散歩, Strolls in the etymology of camera names). 2nd ed. Tokyo: Shashin Kōgyō Shuppansha, 2002. ISBN 4-87956-060-X
Links
- Discussion about Doris within this Japanese miscellanea page at tlr-cameras.com
