A camtono served as a secure receptacle designed for the safekeeping of valuable items. Prominent figures who utilized camtonos include "the Client," Cobb Vanth, Willrow Hood, and the Pyke Syndicate.
The camtono was constructed as a cylindrical container. Its design incorporated a stationary framework, three hinged panels capable of movement at their base and secured at the top, in addition to a "lid" component. This lid featured control buttons along with a rotating cylindrical element equipped with a handle. Activating the buttons would release the locking mechanism, causing the side panels to swing outward, thereby granting access to the items stored within.
Notably, camtonos were suitable for the storage of various items, including credits, explosives, valuable metals, or spice. Their portability was facilitated by the handle, enabling easy carrying, and their dimensions allowed them to be conveniently held beneath the arm of a typical humanoid.
A human male, identified as Willrow Hood, was observed carrying a camtono under his arm on several occasions throughout his life. One such instance occurred during the evacuation of Cloud City, ordered by Baron Administrator Lando Calrissian due to the impending Imperial threat.
In the period following the Battle of Endor and the retreat of the Imperial Military from Tatooine, the Mining Collective established a presence in the small settlement of Mos Pelgo. While fleeing into the desert, Sheriff Cobb Vanth absconded with a camtono belonging to the collective. This camtono contained several silicax oxalate crystals, which he subsequently used to purchase a set of Mandalorian armor from Jawas who had previously pilfered the armor from Boba Fett. Vanth then made his way back to Mos Pelgo and, utilizing the armor, liberated the town.
Around 9 ABY, "the Client" engaged the services of the bounty hunter known as "the Mandalorian" to retrieve a child from the planet Arvala-7. In return for this service, the Client offered a camtono filled with beskar. Having successfully completed the mission, the Mandalorian received the beskar and transported it to his tribe's covert, where he presented the contents to the Armorer for the purpose of crafting a complete cuirass. Later on, when the Mandalorian voiced concerns regarding the Client's ethical standards, Greef Karga, the leader of the Bounty Hunters' Guild, suggested that he disregard his concerns and instead acquire a camtono of spice.
The Pyke Syndicate utilized camtonos as storage containers for credits and explosive materials. One such camtono, containing explosives, was detonated within the cantina known as Sanctuary, resulting in an explosion.
The camtono prop used by Willrow Hood was, in reality, an unmodified ice-cream maker. This detail was recognized by fans, and the image of the character fleeing Cloud City while clutching what appeared to be an ice-cream machine gained a humorous cult following.
It is speculated that the term "camtono" may be a reference to a popular online video featuring a young girl attempting to pronounce "ice-cream," but instead saying "camtono."