Vokar A

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Vokar A with box and instructions image by J. Adrian Wylie (Image rights)

"Variocoupled" shutter & aperture image by J. Adrian Wylie (Image rights)

Interior of camera showing "Model FC" and "P" mold mark image by J. Adrian Wylie (Image rights)

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 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 .

This camera was not originally identified as "Vokar A"; but later it distinguished this model from the 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 & References

Vokar folder advertised in April, 1940 Popular Photography magazine pg. 96 image by scan courtesy Voxphoto (Image rights)