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.

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 and some manual Kino-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 locked by a black knob 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 Kino-44

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, 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 was only sold as the Kino-44. The main body is black finished and has the KINO–44 nameplate. The leatherette covering is black on most examples, but also exists in gray.

Regular Toyoca-44 and Haco-44

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.

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. Its original case is red, yellow and black, marked TOYOCA–44 40m/m × 40m/m CAMERA.

The same model 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.

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

Deluxe Kino-44, Kinokkor 6cm f/3.5 taking lens, View Kinokkor 6cm f/3.5 viewing lens. Picture courtesy of Pacific Rim Camera. (Image rights)

The so-called deluxe model 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. The position of the round red window is the same as on the regular model, and the advance mechanism is similar.

Deluxe Tower 44 in the 1959 Sears catalogue. (Image rights)

The deluxe model was sold as the Toyoca-44 by Tougodo, as the Tower 44 by Sears, and as the Kino-44 or Laqon-44 by unknown distributors. They mostly differ by the nameplate, respectively reading Toyoca–44, TOWER 44, KINO–44 and LAQON–44, the latter being the most uncommon. Variations are known in the shape of the sliding button engaging the exposure counter mechanism: on the Toyoca and Tower, the configuration is the same as on the regular model, whereas on the Kino, the button is surrounded by a larger cup and slides towards the bottom in a visible slit.

Commercial life

The Kino-44 was featured in the October 1958 issue of Sankei Camera, among other cameras specifically made for export. The Toyoca-44 and Kino-44 are mentioned again in the December 1960 issue of Shashin Kōgyō: they are presented as almost unknown in Japan, and mainly made for export. These are the only occurrences reported in Japanese camera magazines.

This indicates that none of the Tougodo 4×4 TLR cameras was regularly sold in Japan, except maybe a few Toyoca-44 directly distributed by Tougodo. The trademarks other than Toyoca were certainly owned by various foreign distributors. The Tower 44 was sold by Sears, and appears in the 1959 catalogue by the company. The Haco-44 is sometimes attributed to Haking, probably by mistake. The distributors of the Kino-44 and Laqon-44 are unknown.

Original box

Case and original box for the Kino-44. (Image rights)

The original box for the Toyoca-44 is black, yellow and red, and is marked TOYOCA–44 and 40^m/m×40^m/m CAMERA. The original box for the Kino-44 is black, yellow and beige, and has similar markings with Kino–44 and 40^m/m×40^m/m CAMERA. It gives no indication on the distributor's name.

Bibliography

Original documents

• Otagi Michifusa (愛宕通英). "4×4 6×6 senchi-han kamera ni tsuite" (4×4 6×6センチ判カメラについて, 4×4cm and 6×6cm cameras). In Shashin Kōgyō no.104, December 1960. Pp.28–9.
• Sears, Roebuck and Co. Sears Camera Catalog, 1959. Partly reproduced in this Flickr set by Mario Groleau. The Tower 44 appears on p.36.

Recent sources

• 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
• Toyoca-44 at Cameras Downunder
• 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
• Deluxe Toyoca-44 and Tower 44 in a page about 4×4cm TLRs and in a page of wanted Japanese TLR at 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:
  • Toyoca-44
  • List of 4×4cm TLRs
• 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