Toyoca Ace
The Toyoca Ace is a Japanese subminiature camera producing ten 14x14mm images on a roll of 17.5mm film. It was made by Tougodo, certainly in the mid-1960s, as a stylish, more modern and rectangular version of the Hit cameras. The Homer 16 and Prince Ruby are name variants of the same camera.
Description
The Toyoca Ace is styled the same style as the Bell 14, but it is smaller. The viewfinder is integrated in the top housing, and the front window is elongated, imitating the rangefinder cameras of the 1960s. The film is advanced by a wheel at the rear, moved by the photographer's left thumb. The rear half of the camera back is removable for film loading, together with the spool holders and crude advance mechanism. It locked by sliding bars at both sides, and has an uncovered square window in the middle.
The lens is fixed-focus and has no marking. Two apertures are available, selected by a small lever controlling Waterhouse stops; according to the instructions, "8 (for shade) and 11 (for bright)".[1] The single speed shutter is self-cocking and runs at about 1/30s.[2]
Links
- Toyoca Ace on Submin.com; also has Instructions
