Condor Camera
Nissan Kōgaku Kōgyō-sha (日産光學工業社) is a Japanese company that produced the Condor folders from 1939. Its name appears in 1939 advertisements for the Semi Condor and Condor Six[1]. ("Nissan" is the same as that in Nissan Motor; it is an acronym meaning "manufactured in Japan".) The address was Tōkyō-shi Hongō-ku Yushima-Tenjin-chō 1-chōme 105 (東京市本郷區湯島天神町一丁目一〇五). Later advertisements from 1940 or 1941[2] show the company name Condor Camera Works, written in Roman letters. It was also based in Tokyo, and its full address seems different.
McKeown also mentions and pictures a Centre Six 6×6 horizontal folder under the "Nissan Kogaku" entry. Indeed the lens is written CENTRE ACHROMAT and NISSAN KOGAKU.
In the 1950s, a Condor 35mm rangefinder camera, styled after the Nikon S2, is attributed by various sources[3] to a company called Condor Camera. Moreover, the names Delta and Deller observed on one example of these cameras are very similar to the lens name (デルター, maybe Deltar) of the Condor folders. It is probable that the company is the same.
Notes
- ↑ Advertisement for the Semi Condor and Condor Six, published in the Aug 1939 and Sep 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 115–6.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Semi Condor and New Semi Condor, published in the August 1940 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 114.—Advertisement for the New Semi Condor, published in the Jan 1941 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 114.
- ↑ McKeown, this page of the AJCC and this page at Asacame.
Printed bibliography
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover).
