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Tougodo camera family list

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Tougodo camera family list

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The Tougodo company was established in Japan in 1930 as a maker of Yen cameras. During the war, production shifted to military devices. After the war, the company continued in the camera trade, producing an impressive array of Hit as well as TLR models, some styled after the Rollei brand and others with side-by-side lenses. Furthermore, towards the end of the company’s life, they added a line of cheap 35mm viewfinders.

The company changed names several times, with the Tougo motif present. In the post-war years, Tougodo split into two closely named companies, both producing cameras; one promptly went out of business, and the other continued until the 1960s.

The cameras made by Tougodo were the early Yen models, cheap, miniature box cameras with the revolutionary daylight-loading feature. Little information is found about these models. Thereafter, they switched to the Hit-style sub-miniature models, together with other manufacturers that made them in the 1930s. Seems that Tougodo was the most prolific as their name became associated with the Hit style.

The Hit camera format, 17.5mm film, is derived from splitting a 35 mm film. Other Japanese sub-mini formats that were less successful were 20mm and 18mm, and later the 16mm format became the standard for Ricoh, Konica, Minolta, and Mamiya. The camera’s target market was the half-million-strong contingent of GI forces stationed there in the post-war years. It is noted that, while it was not a ‘serious’ camera and despite the lack of suitable labs outside Japan, the cameras were sold as novelty items, with total sales in the hundreds of thousands. The interest wore off with the introduction of the capable 16mm miniature cameras, so the Hit models all but died in the early 1970s.

The vast number of Hit models means that different manufacturers shared lines and parts, so it cannot be determined which is original and which is not. I do not know if Tougodo was the largest of the lot, but the name stuck.

Tougodo, and the other ere camera makers were going overboard with model naming. Some probably had a Japanese-language meaning, but most names were meant to appeal to GIs, and the results sound kind of strange, at least from today’s perspective. Note that many of the models differ only in name; otherwise, they are identical to their sisters.

After the company’s demise, Tougodo’s name was acquired by a Chinese company that offered point-and-shoot models, some of which are listed below. The Tougodo brand still exists in Japan as a media distribution company.

More about Hit cameras

Tougodo cameras table

Note that the information below is sourced from several sources, so duplications, omissions, and errors are probably present. Corrects would be welcomed.

Image linkModelMoreTypeFormatYearAKA
Camera shy Alome MoreHit17.5mm1950
Amerex MoreHit17.5mm1950
Arrow MoreHit17.5mm1960
Barlux Miniature17.5mm1960
Baby Lux MoreHit17.5mm1951
Baby Max MoreHit17.5mm1951Barlux
Barlux MoreHit17.5mm1951Baby Max
Beica MoreHit17.5mm1950
Camera shy Boldaflex TLRBolta1948
Buena 35 S Rangefinder35mm1957Toyoca 35
Beauty MoreHit17.5mm
C.M.C Black MoreHit17.5mm1952
Click MoreHit17.5mm1950
Colly MoreHit17.5mm1970
Crownflex TLR1201953Lionflex
C.M.C Blue MoreHit17.5mm1952
C.M.C Brown MoreHit17.5mm1952
C.M.C Gray MoreHit17.5mm1952
C.M.C Red MoreHit17.5mm1952
C.M.C Gold MoreHit17.5mm1952
C.M.C Green MoreHit17.5mm1952
Daflex TLRBolta1948Toyocaflex
Diplomat MoreHit17.5mm1960
Emson MoreHit17.5mm1970
Global MoreHit17.5mm1970
Camera shy Haco Junior
Haco 35 TLR35mm1955Toyoca 35
Haco 44 TLR1271963Toyoca-44
Happy MoreHit17.5mm1960
Hilkaflex TLR1201950
Hit Gold MoreHit17.5mm1950
Hit White Ring MoreHit17.5mm1960
Camera shy Hit-Go Yen1937
Hobby 35 J Viewfinder35mm1961
Hobiflex TLR1201951
Hobiflex III TLR1201953
Hobiflex IV TLR1201953
Camera shy Hobix TLR17.5mm1951
Hobix A MiniatureBolta1955
Hobix B MiniatureBolta1953
Hobix D I TLRBolta1952
Hobix D II TLRBolta1952
Hobix Junior MiniatureBolta1955
Camera shy Hobix S II Viewfinder8281954
Hobix S III TLR8281954
Homer MoreHit17.5mm1960Toyoca Ace
Hulda 35 TLR TLR35mm1952Toyoca 35
Hit Black Ring Hit17.5mm1970
Huldaflex TLR TLR35mm1950Toyoca 35
Hobby 16 Viewfinder17.5mmToyoca Ace
Hobix S I Viewfinder8281955
Camera shy Hero Go Folder1934
Camera shy Hobiflex V TLR1201954
Hobiflex III TCW TLR1201952
Haco 66 Medium format SLR120
Hit Green MoreHit17.5mm1937
Hobix MoreHit17.5mm1955
I.G.B. MoreHit17.5mm1950
Kino 44 TLR1271958Toyoca 44
Kino 44 Deluxe TLR1271959
Kute MoreHit17.5mm1955Toyoca 16, Saga 16
Kinoflex TLR1201961
Lionflex TLR1201953
Laqon 44 TLR1271959Toyoca 44
Camera shy Light Go Yen
Camera shy Light Go B Yen
Camera shy Lead Go Folder1934
Mighty Gift Box MoreHit17.5mm1950
Meisupii Special Viewfinder35mm half1962
Meisupii Half EL Viewfinder35mm half1960
Meikai 35 Compact35mm
Meikai 4 Shooter Compact35mm1993
Meikai 4353 SSN Compact35mm1990
Meikai EL 18 Compact35mm1965
Meikai EL 204 Compact35mm1963
Meikai EL 304 Compact35mm1964
Meikai EL X Compact35mm1965
Meikai HC 35 Compact35mm1961
Meikai No 1 TLR35mm1939
Meikai ST Compact35mm1965Meikai EL
Meikai No 2 TLR35mm1940
Meikai EL S Compact35mm1963
Meikaiflex Bolta TLRBolta1948
Meiko A Folder1935
Meiko B Folder1271936
Meiko C Folder1935
Camera shy Meiko I Folder
Camera shy Meikai Special Viewfinder35mm1939
Meisupii III TLRBolta1937
Meiritto Viewfinder1940
Camera shy Meiritto No 3 TLR1952
Camera shy Meiritto Special Viewfinder1940
Meisupii MoreTLR1937
Camera shy Meisupii A MoreViewfinder1930
Meisupii Meisuecho MoreViewfinderBolta1959
Meisupii I MoreViewfinderBolta1937
Meisupii II MoreTLRBolta1937
Meisupii IV MoreViewfinderBolta1937
Camera shy Meisupii Rollfilm MoreViewfinder35mm half1953
Camera shy Meisupii Echo MoreViewfinderBolta1957
Meisupii IA MoreViewfinderBolta1950
Meisupii IB MoreViewfinderBolta1938
Meisupii Bolta IID MoreViewfinderBolta1955
Meisupii Bolta J MoreViewfinderBolta1954Meisupii 35
Meisupii S3 MoreMoreViewfinderBolta1953
Meisupii Seven MoreViewfinderBolta1957
Meisupii Sun MoreViewfinderBolta1958
Meisupii Half MoreViewfinder35mm half1959Mei Half
Mekai-Ref TLR1939
Camera shy Meseflex Bolta Bolta
Metraflex TLR1201955
Midget MoreHit17.5mm1945
Camera shy Mikasa-go Yen35mm1934
Minetta MoreHit17.5mm1950
Mini Camera MoreHit17.5mm1953
Moonflex TLR1201957
Museflex Bolta Model IIa TLRBolta1950
Museflex Bolta Model J TLRBolta1944
Museflex Bolta Model M TLRBolta1949
Museflex Bolta Model M II TLRBolta1944
Mighty MoreHit17.5mm1950
Meikai SL Compact35mm1974
Metascoflex TLR1201955
Metascoflex II TLR120
Mirroflex TLR1201957
Mycro IIIb MoreHit17.5mm1953
Meica 35 Viewfinder35mm1963
Meisupii Ia ViewfinderBolta1950
Meiko F Folder1935
Mycro MoreHit17.5mm1939
Meikai C35C Viewfinder35mm
Mycro IIIa MoreHit17.5mm1953
Meispee C TLR1938
Metarflex TLR1201955
Meisupii Five Delux ViewfinderBolta1957
Meiko IV Folder
Meisupii Compass ViewfinderBolta
Nice Go Folder1934
New Rocket MoreHit17.5mm1951
Prince Ruby Miniature17.5mm1954Hobby 16, Toyoca Ace
Camera shy Pocket Go Yen
P.A.C. MoreHit17.5mm1955
Prince 16 Miniature17.5mm
Queenflex TLR1201953
Regent MoreHit17.5mm1951
Skymatic TLR
Skyflex TLR1201955
Saga 16 MoreHit17.5mm1954Kute, Toyoca 16
Speed Go Reflex Yen1934
Satellite MoreHit17.5mm1960
Semi Hobix Viewfinder1201953
Semi Hobix SH II Viewfinder1201955
Shalco MoreHit17.5mm1960
Shinkoh Rabbit I Folder1201952
Camera shy Shinkoh Rabbit II Folder1201952
Camera shy Skyflex II TLR1201955
Speedex MoreHit17.5mm1955
Stereo Hit Stereo1271955
Stereo Leader Stereo1955Windsor Stereo
Sterling MoreHit17.5mm
Strato 35 Viewfinder35mm1957Toyoca 35 S
Sweet 16 A Submini17.5mm1955
Camera shy Sweet
Camera shy Sweet 16 Submini17.5mm1955
Camera shy Shinkoh Rabbit 52 Folder1201952
Toyocaflex II MoreTLR1201956
Teemee MoreHit17.5mm1945
Camera shy Toyoca 35 S Dual format MoreViewfinder35mm / Bolta1957
Camera shy Tougo No 2 Folder1271932Tougorette
Camera shy Tougo No 1 Yen1932
Camera shy Tougo B Yen1935
Camera shy Tougo C Yen1937
Camera shy Tougo No 2 Yen1933
Camera shy Tougo No 3 Yen1934
Camera shy Tougo A Yen1931
Tougodo 16 Submini17.5mm
Toyoca MoreHit17.5mm1953
Toyoca 16 MoreSubmini17.5mm1956Kute, Saga 16
Toyoca 35 TLR MoreTLR35mm1955
Toyoca 35 S MoreViewfinder35mm1957Strato
Toyoca 44 MoreTLR1271965
Toyoca Ace MoreMoreMiniature17.5mm1965Hobby 16, Homer 16, Prince Ruby.
Toyoca B 35 MoreKlapp35mm1985Chest 35
Toyoca Six MoreKlapp1201957
Toyocaflex 35 MoreTLR35mm1955Toyoca 35
Toyocaflex I TLR MoreTLR1201954Daflex, Starflex, Skyflex, Deitzflex, Europaflex, Hilkaflex,Deitzflex,
Toyocaflex IB TLR MoreTLR1201955Accuraaflex, Metraflex 1B,Hacoflex, Hilkaflex, Kinoflex, Lionflex, , Metraflex, Metascoflex, Miloflex, Mirroflex, Novelties, Prince Junior, Proskar, Rippaflex, Skyflex, Starflex , Trioflex, Zenoflex
Toyocaflex TL1 MoreTLR1201954
Traveler MoreMoreHit17.5mm1950
Trio Flex MoreTLR35mm1956
Tone MoreHit17.5mm1937Toyo Kobi ?
Toyoca 35 SA MoreViewfinder35mm1957
Toyoca 35 MoreRangefinder35mm1957Buena
Camera shy U.P. MoreHit17.5mm1940
Walklenz MoreHit17.5mm1954
Camera shy Yuuhi Go Folder1201933
Zenoflex VI MoreTLR

Categories:120​127​Bolta​Box​Hit​Japan​Rangefinder​TLR​Tougodo​Viewfinder

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