xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
It sure does look a bit like some Canon cameras made before the IIB model and even the later Chinese Shanghai camera.
http://www.novacon.com.br/odditycameras/glc.htm
http://www.novacon.com.br/odditycameras/glc.htm
charjohncarter
Veteran
Odd, never heard of them. I worked in a camera store in 1963 and he had a junk box full of Leica knock offs. But I don't think he took any German knock offs. Most were Japanese.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
In the USA in 1963 they would be the Japanese knock offs, as firms like Nicca, Leotax and Tanack had the USA as their biggest export market and to a lesser extent Canada and maybe Australia and New Zealand.
In the USA, the rarer Japanese knock offs came with returning US Armed Forces personnel that were stationed in Japan post WW 2
Most of western Europe was still a closed shop to Japanese cameras, even as late as 1963
In Canada the Nicca cameras badged as Tower were available only because we had Sears stores (Simpson-Sears), brands like Leotax were not common and the rarer ones like Honor or Melcon or Chiyotax were unheard of.
I remember talking to a former Toronto camera shop clerk in the early 1980s and he told me that in the mid 1960s Tower (Nicca) cameras were taken as trade-ins on new SLR purchases and if there was a slight fault with the shutter, the camera body was thrown in the trash, but they kept the LTM Nikkor 50mm lens for re-sale.
charjohncarter
Veteran
Yes, I remember Nicca, I think Travis (my Boss) thought that someone would buy them. He did take in trades like your Toronto guy. So the front window had Leicas and Rolleis on display that were trade ins for Nikon Fs, and Pentax. 35mm SLRs were becoming king in LA then.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
It seems that by mid 1959, it was like someone threw a switch and ushered in the SLR age, everyone suddenly wanted to trade in their RF camera for a new SLR.
I always assumed that SLR camera ownership sold photographers more lenses then RF camera ownership, a boon to camera shops and the optics makers.
charjohncarter
Veteran
At least in Northridge, CA in 1963 there was a lot of switching to SLR. But some would bring the RF in just to sell on consignment, while they waited for a friend to return from Japan with their new Nikon. Customs stuck their finger into that scam by requiring the brand name be defaced.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
In Germany from 1963 to 1968, the Nikon F was labelled Nikkor because Zeiss complained that the name Nikon is too close to their Ikon name trademark.
45govt
Established
Hello Charjohncarter
When did you leave the Valley?
I was there late 80's into 2003, spent a lot of time at Reseda Photo.
Don
charjohncarter
Veteran
I was going into my fourth year of University of Oregon (1963). I decided to get in my MG and go to LA for the Summer. I worked at that camera store on Reseda Blvd in Nothridge near Devonshire. And I worked at a Gas Station (Wilshire) at the corner of Reseda and Van Owen. I didn't know a soul there and ended up having a great time.
1963 by John Carter, on FlickrTaken with a IIIc or a Petri 7