Taiyodo Koki and the Beauty Camera Company

Odds & Ends (that don't quite fit elsewhere)

Non-existent Models

The Lightomatic LM, LM2 and Lightmatic III are cited in various corners of the Internet, but none of them actually existed: each is attributable to perpetuated typos. There is no such thing as a Beauty 35 I, as detailed at Collectiblend($).

Lens caps

Until 1959, Taiyodo Koki and Beauty 35mm cameras had a unique, push-fit, lens caps, with logos in a font that matched the model name engraved into the camera body (except for the Super II and Super L, which shared a common cap with a non-matching font). These were good quality, made of aluminium with matt black painted insides and a strip of flocking on the inside flange to aid grip.

In 1960, the caps were made of 3mm thick black plastic, but still of good quality (Beaumat & Lightomatic II).

1961 marked a change to thin, and cheap looking black plastic lens caps, lacking a camera-matching design (not shown).

35 - 36mm, black, Beauty in stylised script.
Super 35 - 42mm, silver, BEAUTY in capitals.
Canter 35 - 42mm, silver, Canter in lower case.
Super II - 42mm and Super L - 48mm, silver, BEAUTY in italic capitals with an offset background circle.
Lightomatic - 48mm, silver, LIGHTOMATIC in small capitals.
LM - 48mm, silver, Beauty in lower case italics.
Beaumat - 48mm, black, Beaumat in lower case.
Lightomatic II - 48mm, black , "LIGHTOMATIC" in small capitals.

Planet Accessories

These are mysterious things. They are known (exclusively from Camera Taiyodo advertising) to comprise Rollei and Leica compatible film roll spools, filters and lens caps.

I imagine these accessories were made of metal, because Taiyodo Koki's own lens caps were metal, and Beauty didn't use plastics in their cameras until the early 1960s. If they were aimed at Leica and Rollei users, then they must have surely been of reasonable quality?

Known advertising of Planet products dates between December 1947, and May 1948 (a window of six months).

Taiyodo Koki were manufacturing cameras from January 1948, so it's reasonable to suspect they may have started with less complex Planet items, especially since the hand of any other company is invisible. They advertised the items for sale to the public from their shop, but no traces of other outlets advertising the Planet brand are known?

A Camera Taiyodo advertisement in a May 1948 issue of Ars Camera stated that the company were Planet product "distributors". It is my personal opinion that "distribution" might have been an unrealised goal. Indeed, whilst Planet products are feebly cited (elsewhere) as evidence of Camera Taiyodo being a distributor, I think the evidence suggests the opposite - that is, a total lack of any experience or ability to place Taiyodo Koki's products with other retailers. This is what a "distributor" does.

I can add nothing further. All searches have drawn a blank.

References

Planet roll film holders and filters - December 1947 of Kohga Gekkan (a Japanese magazine for photography enthusiasts) found on Flickr($).
No specific products - May 1948 issue of Ars Camera (a Japanese magazine for photography enthusiasts) found on Flickr($).
Moulin Rouge Shinjukuza Theatre Pamphlet (No 10) from1947 included an advertisements for Camera Taiyodo on the back page. The text is difficult to extract due to the small image size but says something about Planet Roll Holders,

Zoom-Biokor Lens

The Beauty Camera company made one of the earliest Japanese zoom lenses, which was built with an M42 Praktica screw fitting. The 50-100mm f/3 "Zoom-Biokor" featured a direct lever zoom mechanism that was completely different to the twist or push/pull zoom lenses that were to become conventional. Details can be found on the Omocane World($)website (written in Japanese).

Varicon Exposure Meters

Varicon branded Sekonic LC-2 clip-on light meter was sold as an accessory for the Varicon SII (a.k.a. Beauty Super II) in 1958 (see the Varicon page).

TTK Flash

The following images of a TKK branded - 1950s style - flash and its packaging were found on a Japanese auction site. There were no details given in the description.

A new camera for the early 1990s?

Here's something odd - a 35mm manual focus SLR called "Manual" (make?) "45camera" (model?). That must be the most bland name possible? "45" makes no sense in photographic terms, but maybe it relates to something else ... perhaps a 45 year anniversary? What has this got to do with Beauty cameras? ... well the lens is a Beauty MC.

I have only seen this item in search results and on Japanese auction sites, most of which - as a "foreigner" - I am unable to access.

The camera appears to be a 1979 Cosina CT1 Super, a model which seeded many children over a lifespan of 38 years($). Here's a list($) as long as your arm.

Who on earth could have commissioned the Manual 45camera? Well, in the UK the camera store Jessops had the rebadged Centon, Dixons sold rebadged Prinz and Miranda models, while Boots the chemist stocked rebadged Ricohs (and others) all wearing the Boots name.

Maybe a Japanese shop requisitioned the Manual 45 Camera and Beauty lens? I am not one for wild speculation, but can imagine one particular store selling a camera with a Beauty lens - just for old-time sake - to mark a 45th anniversary.

Next page of more odds & ends

Moulin Rouge Shinjukuza Theatre Pamphlets (No 10 & 12) and an Imperial Theatre Opera Programme from 1947 for a performance of "Carmen", with advertisements for Camera Taiyodo.
1971 Camera Taiyodo store catalogue cover.
English translation of 2010 Senshu University of Chiyoda article "Exploring Kanda Jimbocho with Camera Taiyodo".

more odds & ends