Tower
Est. 1951
Tower
Tower was a camera and photographic-equipment brand used by Sears, Roebuck and Company in the United States. Within LeicaLensList, Tower is relevant for the 35 mm rangefinder models manufactured by Nicca Camera Works in Japan and sold by Sears under Tower markings. Tower is a retail brand, not the factory that built these cameras.
History
Sears Private Label
Sears used the Tower name across multiple photographic products from different suppliers. The Leica-style Tower rangefinders covered here were made by Nicca and marketed through Sears in the 1950s.
Early Type Models
The Tower Type-3 and Type-3S correspond closely to contemporary Nicca models. Documentation and surviving cameras show running changes in flash synchronization, finder windows, speed sequences and engraving, so model attribution should use several physical features together.
Later Numbered Models
The Tower 45 and 46 used closely related Nicca bodies and were differentiated principally by kit configuration, including Nikkor 50 mm f/2 and 50 mm f/1.4 lens options. The Tower 48 is associated with the lever-wind Nicca 3-F family.
Product Lines
Tower Type-3 and Type-3S
Early Sears-branded Leica screw-mount rangefinders based on Nicca Type-III production.
Tower 45, 46 and 48
Later numbered Tower bodies continued the Nicca-made LTM system while incorporating more modern handling and, on the 48, lever film advance.
Technical Characteristics
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Make type | Sears private-label photographic brand |
| Camera manufacturer | Nicca Camera Works, Japan |
| Principal LLL models | Type-3, Type-3S, 45, 46, 48 |
| Lens mount | Leica Thread Mount, LTM, L39, M39 |
| Camera type | 35 mm coupled rangefinder |
| Collector caution | Tower was used on cameras from several manufacturers, identify the underlying model |
Market Reception
Nicca-made Tower cameras are recognized as substantial Japanese Leica copies rather than inexpensive generic rebadges. Collector interest is strongest where the Sears identity, exact Nicca-derived variant and original lens configuration can be documented. The broad use of the Tower name makes careful model-specific attribution essential.
Sources
Lenses (0)
No results found