Vokar A
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The Vokar A was the first camera model produced by the firm, Electronic Products Mfg. Co.. (The company was later and better known for their metal rangefinder Vokar I of 1946.)
This simple Bakelite folder was introduced in late 1939[1] or early 1940. The camera is notable for two unusual features: The bottom-mounted wind knobs, and the "Variocoupled" exposure control. The latter linked shutter and aperture settings into a primitive manual version of programmed exposure, and was set along the bottom of the lens according to a scale "dull" to "bright" . Despite the advertisement's mis-statement that the camera made 8 exposures on 120 film, the 6x6 format would imply 12. Popular Photography's 1940 equipment directory listed its specs as, 75mm f/6.3 triplet lens; 1/25 to 1/100 sec. shutter speeds; 3.5 feet to infinity focus range [2].
This camera was not originally identified as "Vokar A"; but this distinguishes the original model from the later Vokar B which had metal top & bottom plates, and a top-mounted wind knob. In 1941 the Montogomery Ward catalog offered a version of the Vokar A under their own branding.
Notes
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| Vokar folder advertised in April, 1940 Popular Photography magazine pg. 96 scanned by Voxphoto (Image rights) |
