Toho Six
The Toho Six is a Japanese 6×6cm folding camera, made in 1953 by Tōhō Kōgaku.
Description
The Toho Six I is a horizontal folder, with three-part folding struts inspired from the 6×6 Ikonta. It has two viewfinders contained in the top housing. The main viewfinder has a square window in the middle, and is certainly intended for 6×6cm exposures. The other viewfinder is offset to the right, as seen by the photographer, and has a round window; it is probably intended for 4.5×6cm exposures. The camera name Toho Six and MODEL–I is engraved above the two viewfinders. There is an accessory shoe and the folding bed release on the left. The shutter release is at the usual location on the right.
The film is advanced by a knob at the left end of the top plate, with an arrow engraved above to indicate the turning direction. The opposite side of the top plate has a similar knob, which has a decorative purpose only. The back is hinged to the right and contains two red windows placed one above the other, protected by horizontally sliding individual covers. The upper red window is for 4.5×6cm exposures and the middle red window is for 6×6cm. The company name TOHOKOGAKU is embossed in the leather under the red windows.
The shutter is an NKS (B, 1–200, self-timer), synchronized via an ASA bayonet post. The name NKS is engraved at the bottom of the speed rim and at the top of the shutter plate. The lens is a front-cell focusing Toho Special 80/3.5, and the aperture scale is above the shutter housing.
Commercial life
The Toho Six was featured in the September 1953 issue of Ars Camera and advertised in the October to December issues of Nihon Camera.[1] The November advertisement, placed by Tanaka Shōkai, lists the camera as the "Toho Six Model-1" (トーホーシックスⅠ型), offered for ¥9,400 (case included).[2]
Only one surviving example of the Toho Six I has been observed so far,[3] and no mention of another model of the Toho Six has been found.
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 613.
The camera is not listed in Sugiyama.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.355.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.150.
- ↑ Example observed in an online auction.