Walz camera family list
Walz camera family list
Walz camera origins are shrouded in mystery; there are two versions, one siding with the opinion that they were distributors that sourced cameras from third parties, namely Zenobia, Tougudo, and Okada, while the other version suggests that they were actual manufacturers. There is no cut-and-dry evidence either way.
The company first appeared in 1936 as Nihon Shokai and was renamed Walz Shokai in 1951, and finally folded in 1961. A hint about the company’s activity can be found in the term “Shokai,” loosely translated from Japanese as “commercial” or “trading.” Note that the company had selected a name with a German flavour, choosing this spelling instead of the English ‘Waltz’ style.
The years pre- and post-war were the TLR golden era, where dozens of companies produced Rollei-inspired (read copied) models, which were the simplest style to manufacture. There is no complex casting or machining, just a punched metal body, a shutter and a lens borrowed from specialized manufacturers, and the camera was ready for the shelf. My database lists over 400 TLR models manufactured in Japan during these two decades, and my modest collection includes more than 60 such cameras. The TLR was simple enough for relaxed use, but did not perform as well for tasks such as catching the kids horsing around. Therefore, other than the glorified Rollei models, photographers gladly replaced them with pocketable, compact 35mm cameras.
- Walz had begun selling photography accessories, such as timers, fan lites, light meters, filters and 8mm editors. Sources say that at their height, they were the largest filter suppliers in Japan. Today, only a few such accessories are available for sale, which is reasonable, as users may keep cameras but would likely dispose of other fittings. It seems that they have acquired an appetite for selling cameras as well. The Japanese sites suggest that Tougudo, Okada, and Zenobia manufactured Walz cameras. Most lenses were marked as Nitto Kogaku, with some exceptions; see the table below.
- The first Walz camera was introduced in 1952 under Wagoflex, where ‘Wago’ is loosely translated as ‘authentic Japanese’. The name was changed to Walzflex in 1955.
- In 1956, they offered three Klap cameras under the Walcon brand, presumably to be manufactured by Zenobia. It seems there was some cross-pollination between Zenobia and Walz.
- The same year saw the introduction of the first 35 mm rangefinders as the Walz 35, a basic rangefinder. The 35S was restyled, and the 35SV added EV system. The Envoy had added a better lens, and the Envoy M an uncoupled selenium meter. The Walz Wide was a Comet with a slightly wider lens.
- Walz had deviated from this naming legacy with export models, the Comet rangefinder and the Starline TLR. The most popular camera, the Walz Envoy, was presented in 1959, with the last two models, the Lafayette Electrick and Walz Electric, in 1960.
- In the US, Walz sold through its own distributors under its own name, as well as made cameras for Sears, the Tower Reflex 64 and 65. There is a mention of a Tower Reflex 63, but I have been unable to find this camera. The Lafayette Electrick was branded for Lafayette Radio Electronics, of New York, a company that is now long gone. There was no official distribution in Europe.
At the time, there were numerous camera makers, and most left behind hardly any exemplars. Walz, despite its short existence, continues to offer many cameras for sale to this day. I do not see quality as a contributing factor in this; neither do I believe they were imminently popular in the 1950s US, so I view this as an unexplained anomaly. For collectors, these models are inexpensive and represent Japan’s aspirations of the post-war years. Worth a place on the shelf.
Walz camera list
| Model | Year | Type | Format | Shutter | Lens | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Comet | 1958 | Rangefinder | 35mm | Copal B, 1-300 | Walzer 2.8/45 | 35S simplified | |
 | Lafayette Electrick | 1960 | Rangefinder | 35mm | Copal SV B, 1-500 | Kominar 2.8/45 | Selenium, Walz Electric | |
 | Starline | 1957 | TLR | 120 | Copal B, 1-300 | Kominar 3.5/75 | ||
 | Wagoflex 6×6 TLR | 1952 | TLR | 120 | Copal B, 1-300 | Walzer 2.8/35 | ||
| Wagoflex 6×6 TLR | 1952 | TLR | 120 | Copal B, 1-300 | Kominar 3.5/75 | ||
| Wagoflex 6×6 TLR | 1952 | TLR | 120 | Copal B, 1-300 | Zuiko 3.5/75 | ||
| Wagoflex Autotop | 1952 | TLR | 120 | Copal B, 1-300 | Kominar 3.5/75 | |||
 | Walcon Semi 4.5×6 | 1955 | Klapp | 120 | Copal B, 1-300 | Kominar 3.5/75 | Zenobia? | |
| Walcon Six I | 1956 | Klapp | 120 | Copal B, 1-300 | Kominar 3.5/75 | |||
| Walcon Six II | 1956 | Klapp | 120 | Copal B, 1-300 | Kominar 3.5/75 | |||
 | Walz 35 | 1956 | Rangefinder | 35mm | Copal MX B, 1-300 | Kominar 3.5/45 | ||
 | Walz 35 S | 1957 | Rangefinder | 35mm | Copal MXV B, 1-500 | Walzer 2.8/45 | ||
 | Walz 35 SV | 1958 | Rangefinder | 35mm | Copal SVL B, 1-500 | Walzer 2.8/45 | ||
 | Walz Automat 44 | 1959 | TLR | 127 | Copal B B, 1-500 | Zunow 2.8/60 | ||
 | Walz Automat M44 | 1960 | TLR | 127 | Copal B B, 1-500 | Zunow 2.8/60 | Selenium | |
 | Walz Electrick | 1960 | Rangefinder | 35mm | Copal SV B, 1-500 | Kominar 2.8/45 | Selenium, Lafayette Electrick | |
 | Walz Envoy 35 | 1959 | Rangefinder | 35mm | Copal SVL B, 1-500 | Kominar 1.9/48 | ||
 | Walz Envoy M-35 | 1959 | Rangefinder | 35mm | Copal B, 1-500 | Kominar 2.8/45 | Selenium | |
| Walz Envoy M-35 | 1959 | Rangefinder | 35mm | Copal B, 1-500 | Kominar 1.9/45 | Selenium | |
 | Walz Wide | 1959 | Rangefinder | 35mm | Copal B, 1-300 | Walzer 3.5/45 | As Comet with 35mm lens | |
 | Walzflex | 1955 | TLR | 120 | Copal XB B, 10-200 | Kominar 3.5/75 | ||
 | Walzflex I | 1955 | TLR | 120 | Copal X B, 1-300 | Kominar 3.5/75 | Bayonet over lens | |
 | Walzflex II | 1956 | TLR | 120 | Copal MX B, 1-300 | Kominar 3.5/75 | ||
 | Walzflex IIIa | 1957 | TLR | 120 | Copal MXV B, 1-500 | Kominar 3.5/75 |
