Toyoca B35, Chest 35 and Pigeon 35 V

The Toyoca B35 is a Japanese viewfinder-only 35mm folder, made by Tougodo in 1955–6, and the Chest 35 is a name variant.

Description

The Toyoca B35 is a horizontal folder, unlike most other 35mm folding cameras. The design of the main body is clearly inspired from the Retina IIa, with sharp edges and a similar top cover. From right to left, there is an advance lever containing an exposure counter, the shutter release, a small step, the engraving of the name, an accessory shoe and a rewind knob containing a film reminder. This arrangement is exactly the same as on the Retina IIa and the shape of the parts is similar too. The Toyoca B35 only has a viewfinder, slightly offset to the left. The camera has double exposure prevention: the main release cannot be tripped twice unless the film is advanced first.

The back is hinged to the right and the back latch is again the same as on the Retina. The Toyoca has no strap lugs. The folding bed is hinged at the bottom, its shape is otherwise similar to that of the Retina. The bed opening button is on the front of the camera, at the top of the leatherette covering under the rewind knob. The lens standard is almost the same as on the Retina, turned 90°, it notably has the same two small buttons to close the bed. There is a PC synch post at the top front of the lens standard.

The lens is a front-cell focusing Owla 4.5cm f/3.5 on the Toyoca B35, and an S. Hasener 45mm f/3.5 on the Chest 35. The shutter gives B, 1–200 speeds and has a self-timer. Depending on the version, the shutter is either cocked by the advance lever when the film is wound or manually cocked by a lever on the shutter housing itself. The shutter plate is black with white depth-of-field indications and a light-coloured aperture scale.

Commercial life

The Toyoca B35 was announced in May and June 1955 issues of Japanese magazines, and it was advertised from June 1955 to March 1956. The Chest 35 is a name variant distributed by Super Shashin-yōhin, announced in the June 1955 issue of Sankei Camera.

The June 1955 advertisement by Tōgōdō in Sankei Camera lists the Toyoca B35 for ¥8,500 (case included) with an Owla f/3.5 lens and a synchronized NKS shutter (B, 1–200, self-timer). The pictured camera has manual shutter cocking via a small lever.

The November 1955 advertisement in Asahi Camera lists the camera at an unchanged price and gives the shutter name as IJK. The pictured camera has a self-cocking shutter; the cover for the coupling mechanism is shaped the same as on the Retina IIa and probably contains a pinion connected to a circular rack surrounding the shutter's back.

Surviving examples

The only surviving example of the Toyoca B35 observed so far is pictured in Sugiyama. It has an Owla Anastigmat 4.5cm f/3.5 lens and a shutter (B, 1–200, self-timer) reported as an NKS-SL, manually cocked by a small lever. No example of the self-cocking Toyoca B35 is yet known.

The only known example of the Chest 35 has a Chest engraving above the top plate and a minor variation in the shape of the folding bed's catch. It has an NKS shutter and the S. Hasener 45mm f/3.5 lens no.3070.

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. Items 601 and 630. (See also the advertisements for items 628–9.)
• 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.
• Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten (思い出のスプリングカメラ展, Exhibition of beloved self-erecting cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P. 32.
• 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. Item 3824.