We know this was made by the Formosa Plastics Corporation because all known examples have a sticker on them reading "FPC Quality Passed".

It has not yet been possible to determine an accurate date for this camera, but the high shutter release (threaded for cable release or a timer) and lever wind suggest a date in the late 1970's or early 1980's. The Formosa Plastics Corporation had been looking for new ways to use its resin since the mid 1950's, and Kodak had made plastic cameras for many years, but the major manufacturers did not embrace plastics for 35mm cameras until the mid 1970's. 

Cameras of this type were made to be very inexpensive because they were often given away at corporate promotions and as fair ground prizes. In the right hands they seem to be capable of images similar to those of an Instamatic, but they are no good for fast film or close up photography. They are also prone to light leaks in direct sunlight, which some people seem to find appealing.

The lens has focal length of about 42mm (not 50mm), the apertures are formed by a moving slot of varying width and are reasonably accurate on this model. Cameras of this type often had metal added to give a little extra weight.

FPC made a number of 'Kinons' most of which have clones under other names. This one is probably the first of them, and appears to be unique. The other reasons for buying it were the interesting graphics, and the cheeky rearrangement of the letters N-I-K-O-N.   

The brand was registered with a simple logo in 1983 in the USA by Farsharp Industrial Corporation, Taiwan. It was abandoned on April 17, 1986. It was re-registered by the same company on November 4, 1986, with the logo featuring the characteristic shutter-like dot over the "i" and the "o" in the center of which bears the image of an optical device. It was abandoned on March 9, 1990.

This brand was registered with the second logo in France in January 1988 by Ghislain Van Der Does. It covers photographic, cinematographic apparatus, and optical equipment, as well as devices for recording, transmitting, reproducing sound, images, or text and documents. The trademark has expired, presumably in 1990.