Tōhōkōken was perhaps a Japanese company in the first half of the 1950s. The engraving Tōhōkōken camera is found on the top housing of the Camel, a 35mm viewfinder camera. Sugiyama and McKeown attribute the Camel and the Kikuca 35 (a rangefinder derivative) to "Tohokoken Camera Co." or "Tohokoken Camera Works".^[1]

"Kōken" is probably written 光研, an abbreviation of kōgaku kenkyū meaning "optical research".

Notes Edit

1. ↑ Sugiyama, items 3137 and 3290, McKeown, p.922.

Bibliography Edit

• McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover).
• Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5.