Difference between revisions of "Toyoca 35 (TLR)"

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|| ''Direct release lever (angulous and round). {{with permission}}''
 
|| ''Direct release lever (angulous and round). {{with permission}}''
 
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The camera pictured in this article, with body no.55059, is presumably very early — it is perhaps the 59th manufactured. It has a number of early features. There is a cylindrical post on the focusing tab, but its shape slightly differs from that of regular production cameras. The direct release lever on the side of the shutter casing has an angulous shape. The accessory shoe is retained by screws instead of rivets. Another early camera is known with the same release lever, and a regular focusing tab.<REF> Example observed in an online auction. </REF> Slightly later cameras with the same nameplate have the regular round release lever.<REF> Example pictured in {{SUG}}, item 3823, and example pictured in Awano, p.155 of {{KKS}} no.35, in ''Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten'', p.31, and in ''Kamera no ayumi'', p.228. </REF>
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The camera pictured in this article, with body no.55059, is presumably very early — it is perhaps the 59th manufactured. It has a number of early features. There is a cylindrical post on the focusing tab, but its shape slightly differs from that of regular production cameras. The direct release lever on the side of the shutter casing has an angulous shape. The accessory shoe is retained by screws instead of rivets. Another early camera is known with the same release lever and a regular focusing tab.<REF> Example observed in an online auction. </REF> Slightly later cameras with the same nameplate, around body no.554xx, have the regular round release lever.<REF> Example (taking lens no.541367) pictured in {{SUG}}, item 3823, and example (no.55444) pictured in Awano, p.155 of {{KKS}} no.35, in ''Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten'', p.31, and in ''Kamera no ayumi'', p.228. </REF>
  
 
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|| ''Toyoca 35 (TLR) no.55673, taking lens no.541121, viewing lens no.541446, [[NKS]] shutter (B, 1–200), third nameplate variant.''<br>''Picture courtesy of Alexander Schulz. {{with permission}}''
 
|| ''Toyoca 35 (TLR) no.55673, taking lens no.541121, viewing lens no.541446, [[NKS]] shutter (B, 1–200), third nameplate variant.''<br>''Picture courtesy of Alexander Schulz. {{with permission}}''
 
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The '''third nameplate''' has the word ''Toyoca'' underlined from the bottom of the "T" to the end of the "a", with a round "y" letter and no quotes around ''35''.<REF> Examples pictured in this article (no.55673), in [http://www.ne.jp/asahi/clacame/club/toyoca35.html this page at Kamera Tenjiba], in [http://www.cameraguild.jp/nekosan/0002.htm this page at Nekosan], and observed in online auctions. </REF>
+
The '''third nameplate''' has the word ''Toyoca'' underlined from the bottom of the "T" to the end of the "a", with a round "y" letter and no quotes around ''35''. Examples are known with a body number in the 556xx and 558xx range.<REF> Examples pictured in this article (no.55673), in [http://www.ne.jp/asahi/clacame/club/toyoca35.html this page at Kamera Tenjiba], in [http://www.cameraguild.jp/nekosan/0002.htm this page at Nekosan], and observed in online auctions. </REF>
  
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The '''fourth nameplate''' has long bars coming out of the "T" and "y" letters and double quotes.<REF> Examples pictured in {{SUG}}, item 3822, in [http://www.historiccamera.com/cgi-bin/librarium/pm.cgi?action=display&login=toyoca this page at Historic Camera], sold as [http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=1859752 lot no.226] of Christies sale no.8852 (August 24, 2000), and sold as [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=13874&acat=13874&offset=1&_ssl=off lot no.403] of Westlicht Photographica auction no.1 (November 15, 2002). The fourth and fifth nameplates mentioned in Schulz, p.20, are actually identical, and correspond to this fourth nameplate. </REF>
+
The '''fourth nameplate''' has long bars coming out of the "T" and "y" letters and double quotes. It is the same as fitted on the cameras of the second version, with 1/300 top speed. It is sometimes found on quite early cameras, including that pictured in {{SUG}} with the older angulous direct release lever.<REF> Example pictured in {{SUG}}, item 3822. </REF><REF> Examples pictured in {{SUG}}, item 3822, in [http://www.historiccamera.com/cgi-bin/librarium/pm.cgi?action=display&login=toyoca this page at Historic Camera], sold as [http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=1859752 lot no.226] of Christies sale no.8852 (August 24, 2000), and sold as [http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=13874&acat=13874&offset=1&_ssl=off lot no.403] of Westlicht Photographica auction no.1 (November 15, 2002). The fourth and fifth nameplates mentioned in Schulz, p.20, are actually identical, and correspond to this fourth nameplate. </REF>
  
 
=== Second version, 1/300 top speed ===
 
=== Second version, 1/300 top speed ===

Revision as of 13:12, 6 December 2008

This is a work in progress.
2150674108_6a7b074815_m_d.jpg
Picture courtesy of Bernard Guéant. (Image rights)
Japanese 35mm TLR (edit)
24×36mm Haco 35 | Hulda 35 | Samocaflex 35 | Toyoca 35 | Yallu Flex
Japanese 4×4 TLR, 6×6 TLR and pseudo TLR ->

The Toyoca 35[1] (トヨカ35) TLR, sometimes called "Toyocaflex 35" (トヨカフレックス35), is a Japanese 35mm TLR made by Tougodo from 1955 to 1957. The Haco 35 and Hulda 35 are name variants.

Description

The Toyoca 35 TLR is shaped as a conventional 35mm camera with a mirror box and viewing lens grafted on one side of the taking lens. There is an additional direct vision finder in the top housing, above the taking lens, essential to frame vertical pictures.

The film runs horizontally and is advanced by a knob at the right end of the top plate, as seen by the photographer. The knob has an arrow indicating the turning direction, and its base is surrounded by an exposure counter; it is not coupled to the shutter, which must be cocked separately by hand. Next to the advance knob is the shutter release, surrounded by a removable milled cup which is sometimes missing on the examples found today; this release button is interlocked with the film advance for double exposure prevention. The accessory shoe is to the right of the direct vision finder. The viewing hood for the reflex finder is on the left, and contains a magnifying lens hinged at the front and erected by a small lever on the side. There is a condenser in the reflex finder, for brighter illumination of the corners, and the viewing screen has a cross and parallax indications on the left.[2] The rewind knob is at the left end of the top plate.

The camera name Toyoca 35, is engraved on a nameplate screwed above the viewing lens; variations in the engraving are known (see below), sometimes with quotes around "35". A lens-shaped logo, usually reading TOYOCA FLEX, is engraved above the direct vision finder, together with the number "35". The body serial number is inscribed in front of the accessory shoe.

2150674108_6a7b074815_m_d.jpg 2150674110_aee1572c0a_m_d.jpg 2150674112_779b4b224d_m_d.jpg
2150674126_db1a040081_m_d.jpg 2150674116_daa75cd830_m_d.jpg 2150674120_504f75b80e_m_d.jpg
Toyoca 35 (TLR) no.56881, B, 1–300 speeds, silver lens rim.
Pictures courtesy of Bernard Guéant. (Image rights)

The back is hinged to the right; inside the camera the exposure chamber and pressure plate appear offset to the right because of the mirror box. There are knob-like flanges at both ends of the bottom plate. The one on the advance side contains a tripod thread, there is a smaller knob next to it, with A and R indications, to unlock the sprocket shaft for film rewind. The bottom plate also has the words MADE IN JAPAN engraved in small characters, at least on some examples.

The two lenses and the shutter unit move together for focusing; the helix surrounding the taking lens is driven by a focusing tab. The shutter gives B, 1–200 or B, 1–300 speeds (see below) and has a self-timer. It has an additional release lever on the side, opposite the self-timer lever, used in case the user accidentally trips the main release without having cocked the shutter first: the lock for double exposure prevention then makes the main release inoperable and the loaded film frame would otherwise be lost.[3] There are two PC synch sockets buried in the main body under the viewing lens, with F and X indications corresponding to flash bulbs or electronic flash.

The taking lens is an Owla Anastigmat 4.5cm f/3.5 and the viewing lens is a Viewer Owla Anastigmat 4.5cm f/3.5; it is not known if their optical formula is the same.

Evolution of the Toyoca 35

The Toyoca 35 slightly evolved during its production run.

First version, NKS shutter

The first version has an NKS shutter (B, 1–200), with either one of four different nameplates. The aperture scale is above the shutter casing and has the NKS logo. The black shutter plate sometimes has TOYOCA at the bottom, but this is not the sign of a shutter change.[4] The first version is also distinguished by the shape of the focusing tab, reproducing the shape of the fixed part of the focus mount.

The early examples of the first version have a spring-loaded infinity lock, and their distance scale runs from 2.5ft to 25ft and ∞. The late examples have no infinity lock but an additional screw acting as an infinity stop, and their distance scale runs from 3ft to 35ft and ∞. The exact details of the transition between these two configurations are unknown.

2439738194_8051038dda_m_d.jpg 2438914097_8c05d6c2e8_m_d.jpg 2439738078_89efcb94f5_m_d.jpg
Second, third and fourth nameplate variants (from left to right). (Image rights)

At least four nameplate variants exist with the NKS shutter, presented in the presumed chronological order. The first nameplate has no underlining, a plain Toyoca with a squarish "y" letter and perhaps '35' in single quotes. It is only known from the April 1955 advertisement in Asahi Camera.[5] The pictured camera seems to have only a small button on the focus tab, instead of the larger cylindrical part found on most cameras.

2439729492_a9860a6d4b_d.jpg
Toyoca 35 (TLR), taking lens no.54134x, NKS shutter (B, 1–200), second nameplate variant.
From the October 1955 special issue of Photo Art. (Image rights)

The second nameplate has bars coming out of the letters "y" and "a", underlining the word Toyoca, and has "35" in double quotes. Pictures of a very early camera with this nameplate and the small button on the focus tab appear in various original documents.[6]

3084925119_d5728abd19_m_d.jpg 3084925125_919306cb24_m_d.jpg
Toyoca 35 (TLR) no.55059, taking lens no.541532, viewing lens no.541203, NKS shutter (B, 1–200), second nameplate variant.
Pictures courtesy of Alexander Schulz. (Image rights)
3086032365_456545e1b4_t_d.jpg 3086032369_09325288f3_t_d.jpg
Direct release lever (angulous and round). (Image rights)

The camera pictured in this article, with body no.55059, is presumably very early — it is perhaps the 59th manufactured. It has a number of early features. There is a cylindrical post on the focusing tab, but its shape slightly differs from that of regular production cameras. The direct release lever on the side of the shutter casing has an angulous shape. The accessory shoe is retained by screws instead of rivets. Another early camera is known with the same release lever and a regular focusing tab.[7] Slightly later cameras with the same nameplate, around body no.554xx, have the regular round release lever.[8]

2438790677_bac38bf26e_d.jpg
Toyoca 35 (TLR) no.55673, taking lens no.541121, viewing lens no.541446, NKS shutter (B, 1–200), third nameplate variant.
Picture courtesy of Alexander Schulz. (Image rights)

The third nameplate has the word Toyoca underlined from the bottom of the "T" to the end of the "a", with a round "y" letter and no quotes around 35. Examples are known with a body number in the 556xx and 558xx range.[9]

The fourth nameplate has long bars coming out of the "T" and "y" letters and double quotes. It is the same as fitted on the cameras of the second version, with 1/300 top speed. It is sometimes found on quite early cameras, including that pictured in Sugiyama with the older angulous direct release lever.[10][11]

Second version, 1/300 top speed

2441204173_8bc7546983_t_d.jpg 2441204177_ce880e32fa_t_d.jpg
Old and new focusing tab. (Image rights)
2449915748_5cb85085e7_m_d.jpg
Distance scale going down to 3.5ft. (Image rights)

On the second version, the NKS shutter was replaced by a different model, giving B, 1–300 speeds. The new shutter is also distinguished by a different position and shape of the shutter cocking lever, and by the aperture scale moved to the bottom of the shutter plate. The second version is also distinguished by a new focusing tab with no infinity stop, and by a close focusing distance of 3.5ft instead of 2.5ft.[12]

2438790665_64ee575a36_m_d.jpg 2438790669_e57ebc8bcc_m_d.jpg
Toyoca 35 (TLR) no.57205, taking lens no.56818, viewing lens no.541247, B, 1–300 speeds, black lens rim.
Pictures courtesy of Alexander Schulz. (Image rights)

All the cameras of the second version have the fourth nameplate type. The early examples retain the silver taking lens rim of the previous version.[13] The last examples have a black instead of silver taking lens bezel.[14]

Hulda 35 and Haco 35 name variants

2438790663_7b47354e8d_d.jpg
Hulda 35 no.56605, NKS shutter, HULDA FLEX logo.
Picture courtesy of Alexander Schulz. (Image rights)

The Hulda 35 is a name variant of the Toyoca 35, mainly differing by the HULDA "35" nameplate. It is only known with the NKS shutter (B, 1–200). Some examples have a HULDA FLEX logo engraved on the top housing, but at least one is known with the TOYOCA FLEX logo instead.[15]

The Haco 35 is another name variant of the Toyoca 35, probably made for export only.[16] It was certainly sold by the same distributor as the Haco-44 TLR. The only example observed so far is pictured in Sugiyama.[17] It has the newer shutter to 1/300 and the newer focusing tab, and its taking lens has a silver rim. Its nameplate reads HACO "35", and it is unclear if the top housing has TOYOCA or HACO.

Commercial life

2438835311_f220ddcdec_d.jpg
Column on the Toyoca 35 (TLR) in the October 1955 special issue of Photo Art. (Image rights)
3030726644_ce4184e358_m_d.jpg
Toyoca 35 (TLR) in Shashin Kōgyō Summer 1957. (Image rights)

The Toyoca 35 TLR was featured in Japanese magazines dated February 1955, and was first advertised on the same month.[18] Advertisements dated April, June and November 1955 give the price of ¥11,000 (case included).[19] In all these, the shutter is mentioned as an NKS (B, 1–200), and the pictured camera corresponds to the first version with 1/200 top speed, mainly recognized by the aperture scale at the top of the shutter casing. The nameplate in the April picture is of the first type, and it is of the third type in the June and November pictures.

The camera was also featured in the October 1955 special issue of Photo Art.[20] The picture and the price are the same as in the June and November advertisements.

The November 1956 advertisement in Asahi Camera gives the price of ¥1956, with ¥1,000 extra for the case.[21] The shutter name is not mentioned. In the picture, the aperture scale is at the bottom, indicating that the camera is of the second version, and the taking lens has a silver rim.

The last reported advertisement is dated January 1957.[22] The camera is listed again in the Summer 1957 special issue of Shashin Kōgyō on Japanese cameras, at an unchanged price (¥11,000).[23] The document shows an outdated picture of an early camera. This is the last known mention of the Toyoca 35 TLR.

Total production

The observed or reported body numbers of the Toyoca 35, Haco 35 and Hulda 35 have five digits in the 55xxx, 56xxx and 57xxx range; the first two digits might indicate the year of production but this is yet unclear.[24] The known taking and viewing lens numbers usually have either six digits in the 541xxx range or five digits in the 55xxx range, and a few taking lenses have a five-digit number in the 56xxx or 58xxx range.[25] The spanned range tends to indicate that the viewing and taking lenses were numbered in separate sequences; the lens number prefix might indicate the year of production too. The total production can be estimated at little less than 2,000 units.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Toyoca" is certainly the contraction of Toyohashi — Tougodo's hometown — and Camera.
  2. ↑ Details of the reflex finder: Awano, p.155 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.35.
  3. ↑ Release lever described in Awano, p.155 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.35. It is visible on the cameras with 1/200 and 1/300 top speed.
  4. ↑ Compare the cameras pictured in Sugiyama, items 3822 and 3823: the shutter controls are identical and the only difference is the TOYOCA marking (and the nameplate variant).
  5. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.152.
  6. ↑ Advertisements in Sankei Camera June 1955 and in Asahi Camera November 1955 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.152, and column in the special issue of Photo Art October 1955 Kamera no chishiki, p.73.
  7. ↑ Example observed in an online auction.
  8. ↑ Example (taking lens no.541367) pictured in Sugiyama, item 3823, and example (no.55444) pictured in Awano, p.155 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.35, in Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten, p.31, and in Kamera no ayumi, p.228.
  9. ↑ Examples pictured in this article (no.55673), in this page at Kamera Tenjiba, in this page at Nekosan, and observed in online auctions.
  10. ↑ Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 3822.
  11. ↑ Examples pictured in Sugiyama, item 3822, in this page at Historic Camera, sold as lot no.226 of Christies sale no.8852 (August 24, 2000), and sold as lot no.403 of Westlicht Photographica auction no.1 (November 15, 2002). The fourth and fifth nameplates mentioned in Schulz, p.20, are actually identical, and correspond to this fourth nameplate.
  12. ↑ Awano, p.155 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.35, says 3ft for the second version by mistake.
  13. ↑ Examples pictured in this article (no.56881), in McKeown, p.932 (where the shutter is wrongly described as an NSK), in Kuno, pp.129–30 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10, and sold as lot no.161 of Christies sale no.9193 (September 18, 2001).
  14. ↑ Examples pictured in this article (no.57205), sold as lot no.224 and lot no.225 of Christies sale no.8852 (August 24, 2000), and observed in an online auction.
  15. ↑ Hulda 35 with HULDA FLEX: examples pictured in this article (no.56605) and in Kuno, p.130 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10. Hulda 35 with TOYOCA FLEX: example pictured in the 18 December 1996 Christies auction catalogue, lot no.187.
  16. ↑ Export only: Sugiyama, item 3271.
  17. ↑ Sugiyama, item 3271.
  18. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.356.
  19. ↑ Advertisements published in Asahi Camera or Sankei Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.152.
  20. ↑ Special issue of Photo Art October 1955 Kamera no chishiki, p.73.
  21. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.152.
  22. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.356.
  23. ↑ Column in Shashin Kōgyō no.63, p.111, reproduced in this page. It is not listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.356.
  24. ↑ Known body numbers: from 55444 to 55831, from 56470 to 56881, and from 57008 to 57205.
  25. ↑ Known taking lens numbers: from 541024 to 541918, from 55126 to 55911, 56287, 56818, 58026 and 58070 (the latter three have black bezels). Known viewing lens numbers: from 541154 to 541930, and from 55115 to 55855.

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 629. (See also the advertisements for items 628 and 630.)
  • Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Aishō 'yoko-nigan' no 35mm-ki: Toyokafurekkusu 35 [Toyoka 35]" (愛称'横二眼'の35mm機・トヨカフレックス35[トヨカ35], The Toyocaflex 35 [Toyoca 35], a so-called 'horizontal TLR' 35mm camera.) Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.35, November 1995. Nihon no kamera 50nen (日本のカメラ50年, special issue on 50 years of Japanese cameras). P.155.
  • Christies auction catalogue: "Rare 35mm and Other Cameras" (18 December 1996), lot no.187 (Hulda 35).
  • Kamera no ayumi. Zen nihon shashin renmei sōritsu 50-shūnen kinen (カメラのあゆみ・全日本写真連盟創立五〇周年記念, History of cameras, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the All Japan Association of Photographic Societies). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1976. No ISBN number. P.228.
  • Kuno Mikio (久野幹雄). "35mm-han nigan-refu no sekai" (35mm判二眼レフの世界, The world of 35mm TLRs.) Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.10, September 1987. No ISBN number. Konishiroku kamera no rekishi (小西六カメラの歴史, special issue on Konishiroku). Pp.128–30.
  • 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.932.
  • Photo Art Rinji Zōkan Kamera no Chishiki (臨時増刊カメラの知識, special issue on cameras). October 1955. "Kokusan kamera no hatten 1: 35-miri kamera" (国産カメラの祭典1・35ミリカメラ), article on 35mm cameras, pp.71–82.
  • Schulz, Alexander. "Kameras aus dem Hause Tougo Teil 2" (Cameras of the Tougo firm, part 2). In Photographica Cabinett no.43 (April 2008). Pp.16–20.
  • Shashin Kōgyō no.63 (Summer 1957). "Nihon no kamera zenbō: 35-miri kamera renzu shatā tsuki" (日本のカメラ全貌・35ミリカメラ・レンズシャター付, Compendium of Japanese cameras: 35mm cameras with lens shutter.) P.111.
  • 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 3271 and 3822–3.
  • Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten (私の二眼レフカメラ展, Exhibition of twin lens reflex cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P.31.

Links

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