In 1936, the family business King KG was founded in Pforzheim. At first, parts for the electrical industry were produced in their factory. Two years later, the headquarters were moved to Bad Liebenzell in the northern Black Forest. After the Second World War, large parts of the production plant of the southern German company were dismantled by the Allies.
In 1949, production was switched to cameras and the first prototype of a 35mm camera was introduced, the Regula I. Over the years, various cameras were developed and flash units were also produced. With the change in management of the company by the King family’s son-in-law, Wilfried Bauser, the name was changed to Regula-Werk King & Bauser GmbH in the 1980s.
Some models were licensed to other companies. For example, there were models made in Romania by IOR. German developments were also built in Calcutta in India (National Instruments).
Within its 35-year history, up to five million cameras were built by King. In 1984, the company went bankrupt.
