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Taiyodo Koki (TKK), Japan

Taiyodo (or Taiyo-do) Koki made a lot of TLRs! Around 1958, it changed its name to Beauty Camera Co., reflecting the predominance of the Beauty, Beautycord, Beautyflex model names in its output. I have had limited success in trying to track down any details of the company, either before or after the change. However, The History of the Japanese Camera (ed. Gordon Lewis, 1991) says that Taiyodo went bankrupt in 1957, so "Beauty" was probably a new business taking over the old, whether with new owners I know not.

Neither McKeown nor Sugiyama (Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras, Tokyo, 1985) give any details and some of the cameras in here are not identified by either of these authorities as being from TKK. However, I have examined each one for similarity to definitively identified TKK models. I have only included a camera here if it has so many common parts and such a clearly-related build style that I consider it to more than probable that it was built by them.

However, I have to admit to having significant difficulties in distinguishing Taiyodo and Tougodo models; even some which are definitively identified by the authorities as from one often have strong similarities with the other. Clearly, the manufacturers at least shared suppliers - they may perhaps have had a closer association? As always, I am interested in any additional information anyone can provide and will update this section if any better knowledge of the history emerges.

If you find any errors on this page or have any camera I might be interested in, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. Click on the small "thumbnail pictures below to go to larger ones.

Beauty Models

These are by far the most prominent - and presumably the largest - part of the output of TKK/Beauty. The company's style was clearly to produce huge numbers of model variants, often with very similar - or identical - components under variant names. In arriving at conclusions as to which models I have, it has sometimes been necessary to take this into account - several have no direct counterpart in either McKeown or Sugiyama.

Beautycord TKK
So-called because it has "TKK" in large letters on the nameplate. A pretty basic camera, well-made with a rim-set shutter. Early '50s - rather scruffy.
Taking lens is J Beauty 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Beauty FB 1/10 to 1/200

Beautycord S

The S model from around 1955 is fairly similar to the "TKK" (left), and looks to use the same body, possibly produced simultaneously. Slightly more upmarket.
Taking lens is Tri-Lausar 80mm f3.5
Shutter is TKK 1/10 to 1/200

Beautycord (unknown model)

This is a bit of an oddball item. Neither Sugiyama nor McKeown mentions it, and it looks like a bit of a hybrid between the Beautycord and Beautyflex (although the boudaries are very blurred anyway). So far as I know, the better shutter on this appears on no other Beauty model, but Taiyodo were known to use mixed parts in the course of a model run, presumably as availability and price varied.
Taking lens is Tri-Lausar 80mm f3.5
Shutter is CHY-FB 1 to 1/300

Beautyflex III

An early geared-lens model, with a "T" logo on the lid. It has only a marginally better specification than the 'Cords; the Doimer lens seems to have been used generally on early 'Flexes, although whether it is much better than the Tri-Lausar I doubt. Thought to be c1950.

Taking lens is Doimer 80mm f3.5
Shutter is TKK 1/10 to 1/200

Beautyflex IV (early model)

Differs from the later model IV shown in Sugiyama, and I'm sure this is a transitional model c.1951 from the III to the later IV. It lacks the stylised and Amiflex-like lens surround of the later IV and V in Sugiyama.

Taking lens is Doimer 80mm f3.5
Shutter is TKK 1/10 to 1/200

Beautyflex V

The model V is similar to the later model IV shown in Sugiyama, with its ratherodd Amiflex-like lens surround. Key differences are the standard Beauty rounded triangle logo on the top, with a change to an "Etoal" shutter with front-mounted release, a synch plug socket bottom right, and a modified catch for the back.
Taking lens is Doimer 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Etoal 1/10 to 1/200

Beautyflex D (Synchro)

The D model seems to have been produced in several variants around 1955, all pretty similar, with only shutters differing, and a varying angle of the small M-X plate under the synch switch (above and right of taking lens). They all have an unusual lens combination, with Tri-Lausar viewing lens matching the Biokor.
Taking lens is Biokor 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Synchro MX 1 to 1/300

Beautyflex D (Rectus)

This one has an interesting metal telescoping lenshood fitted, with which it came. Rather a nice feature allowing it to stay on in the ever-ready carrying case. As the previous one, this has the M-X plate on the diagonal.

Taking lens is Biokor 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Rectus MX 1 to 1/300

Beautyflex D (Copal)

This camera is the same as the D shown in Sugiyama - I don't know whether this makes it the original version D. Unlike my other two, this one has the M-X plate vertical, not diagonal.
Taking lens is Biokor 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Copal MX 1 to 1/300

Beautyflex S

Rather confusingly, this is an earlier model than the D from 1954. This particular camera is quite nice condition and well-looked-after

Taking lens is Beauty 80mm f3.5
Shutter is NKS-FB MX 1 to 1/300

Beautyflex T

This (1954) is fairly similar to the S above, but lacks the linking moulding between the lenses. Cosmetic differences and minor lens/shutter variations also distinguish it from its predecessor.

Taking lens is FC Telmer 80mm f3.5

Shutter is TKK MX 1 to 1/300

Beauty

This model, with the "Beauty" name only appears to have been primarily sold in Japan it normally doesn't turn up elsewhere. There is some confusion about which model it is. Sugiyama - I suspect authoritatively - simply names it the Beauty, but identifies a very unusual f3.1 lens variant (otherwise identical) as the Beauty IIIS - it has a visibly large lens pair in Sugiyama's photos. McKeown I think muddles the two, listing a Beauty and a Beauty S with apparently identical attributes. Either way, it is effectively a nameplate variant of the Beautyflex S above.
Taking lens is FC Telmer 80mm f3.5
Shutter is TKK MX 1 to 1/300

Beautyflex 2.8 (no bayonet)

A very rare model. The three 2.8 models are among only a very few TLRs which have these larger lenses - the best known of course being Rolleiflex models (q.v.). The 2.8 is uncommon, but most are fitted with Rollei-type Bayonet III filter mount to the object lens (see the next one here). This is earlier, and has none. I've never heard of another with this pre-bayonet lens surround.
Taking lens is Cantor 80mm f2.8
Shutter is Copal 1 to 1/200

Beautyflex 2.8 (single Bay III)

Slightly later than the previous camera, this 2.8 model is the very slightly more common Bay III Rolleiflex-compatible version. This means it can use filters which fit the Rolleiflex 2.8 Planar/Xenotar lens series (the top-end models). However, the Bay III mounting is restricted to the lower, taking lens

Taking lens is Cantor 80mm f2.8
Shutter is Copal 1 to 1/200

Beautyflex 2.8 (double Bay III)

Another very rare item, with Bay III mounts on both lenses. It's the only one I've ever seen, and I obtained it direct from a Japanese sale. Apart from this difference, it is again identical to the other 2.8 models above
Taking lens is Cantor 80mm f2.8
Shutter is Copal 1 to 1/200

Photoflex Models

I puzzled over these. The logo on top says "SCL", but the only Japanese company in McKeown's with a name like SCL was Sanwa Co Ltd, which he says produced the Mananflex TLR in 1955; the Mananflex I have is quite different in detail aspects, and I doubt there is any connection to these Photoflexes. McKeown says it's very like the Fodorflex (first model); I don't have one of these, but the photo here was sent me by a correspondent in Holland, and it's clearly a TKK model - look also at the one on Monaghan/Medium Format site. (I do have a Fodorflex II by the way, but that was made for Fodor by Tokyo Kogaku - look at my "Other Japanese TLRs" page).

The other clinching clue is the "T.K.K." on the Photoflex viewing lens. There are some notable similarities between my early Photoflex and the comparable geared-lens Beautyflexes - see the III and V above.

My later Photoflex settles the matter. Apart from the nameplate, and the logo on the lid, it's near-exactly a copy of my Beautyflex D. Even the SHAPE of the SCL logo is the same as the Beauty logo. Notably, although the front plate round the taking lens is functionally and stylistically identical, the Beautyflex has "Taiyodo" on it, but the Photoflex has only the shutter make (Synchro MX).

My conclusion is that Taiyodo/Beauty made these cameras, but for some reason under a different name, perhaps for a US distributor?

Photoflex (early)

This is essentially a Beautyflex V - it is for all practical purposes identical to that model - see the one in the Beauty section above. The residual mystery is who CSL were meant to be - anyone know??
Taking lens is Doimer 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Etoal 1 to 1/200

Photoflex (late)

As above, I this is just a rebadged Beautyflex D (Synchro shutter model), but for whom is still a mystery. It's a Rolleicord-type set-up. This one is a bit dog-eared, but then there aren't many around that I know of!
Taking lens is Biokor 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Synchro MX 1 to 1/300

Other Models

McKeown classifies these the first two of these as TKK models, and I agree - their build is clearly from the Beauty family. Sugiyama doesn't mention the Gen-flex, but has the other two as Taiyodo. I used to list the Gnoflex here as a Taiyodo model, on the basis of Sugiyama's attribution; however, I now consider this to be an error, and you'll find it in my "Other Japanese" page under Musasashi.

Wardflex

This was made for Montgomery Ward in the States, but is really a slightly enhanced Beautycord/flex, with a little more chrome. Probably from around 1953.
Taking lens is Telmar 80mm f3.5
Shutter is TKK 1 to 1/200

Wardflex II

Also made for Montgomery Ward, and regarded as a considerably improved model. I suspect it's also a Beautyflex under the skin. Probably around 1954.
Taking lens is Biokor 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Synchro MX 1 to 1/300

Gen-Flex

Apart from the nameplate, this is an exact copy of the Wardflex (left) - in fact not even a copy - it's identical! Perhaps TKK was trying to profit from MW's requirements by selling another name variant - more likely it was rebadged for a small-volume, short-lived overseas distributor.

Taking lens is Telmar 80mm f3.5
Shutter is TKK 1 to 1/200

Fodorflex

Made for the Dutch firm Fodor, who clearly bought so few that Taiyodo was able to leave its own name on the taking-lens surround! This is straightforward rebadging of the Beautyflex D (see above) with dual Bay 1 filter mounts. Details of Fodor itself are included on the linked page (click thumbnail above). Also click HERE for a picture of a rare Fodor B which looks to me to be an earlier rebadged Taiyodo model.
Taking lens is Biokor 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Copal MXV 1 to 1/300