Category: Obscure

Tohokoken Camel II Japanese camera makers’ names are sometimes difficult to carry over to Western languages. Adding poor historical record-keeping and a glut in post-war camera makers, one may end up with a confusing mix. Here is an example. Tohokoken was established in Japan in 1953 by an employee of a defunct camera maker. The company made several camera models,...

Tokyo Koken Dolca 35 The Dolca 35b is the first model made by Tokyo Koken, one of the many camera makers that flourished post WWII, just to quietly vanish after half a decade or so. The company name means Tokyo Optical, which could be associated with Tokyo Optical Works, another company with a short lifespan, makers of the Dorima TLR line....

Shinsei Monte 35 The Monte 35 was made by Shinsei Optical, one of many Japanese post-ear camera makers of whom there is hardly any information. On the camera body, the name is marked as Monte35 or Monte-35. Per McKeown, there are two models, one with the trigger on the lens barrel and the other with the trigger on top. I...