Difference between revisions of "Fuji Kōgaku"
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| − | + | * Lyra auxiliary rangefinder, sold ¥12 in 1937<REF> Advertisement dated September 1937, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 100. </REF> | |
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
Revision as of 12:53, 3 December 2006
Fuji Kōgaku was a Japanese camera maker active at least between 1936 and 1944, and maybe also for some time after the war. It is unrelated to the much better known company Fuji Film.
Contents
History
The company's full name was Fuji Kōgaku Kikai Seisakusho (富士光学器械製作所) between 1936 and 1938, then Fuji Kōgaku Kōgyō K.K. (富士光学工業株式会社, Fuji Optical Industries Co Ltd) between 1939 and 1944. It was based in Tokyo.[1] The company sometimes used the short name Fujikō (富士光), and it made a range of cameras called "Lyra" (ライラ, raira). This name was certainly meant to recall "Leica" (ライカ, raika in Japanese).
The Fujikō cameras were first distributed by various dealers, among which Yamamoto Shashinki-ten[2], before the separate trade company Fuji Kōgaku Shōji K.K. (富士光学商事株式会社) was formed around 1941.[3]
The company logo is FUJI KŌGAKU written in a cemented doublet lens scheme (a type of logo used by many other optical companies). There was a protuberance on top of the logo, maybe an allusion to Mount Fuji.
The company probably survived the war: a version of the Lyra Six has been observed that is probably postwar, as indicated by the style of the top housing and the presence of a synchronized shutter with a PC connector. This camera has a logo similar in shape to the one described above, but written LYRA FUJIKŌ.
It is said that Fuji Kōgaku was split in two parts: Taisei Kōki and Katsuma Kōgaku, with the latter one keeping the Lyra brand name.[4] Katsuma made cameras called Semi Lyra and Lyraflex in the 1950s. All three companies used the Terionar lens name and have similar logos.
120 film
4.5×6 rangefinder, collapsible
4.5×6 folding
The Bakyna strut-folder is attributed by some sources[5] to Fuji Kōgaku, but this is unsure.
6×6 folding
6×6 TLR
- Lyra Flex (prewar camera)
127 film
3×4 folding
McKeown mentions a Baby Balnet 3×4 folder, copy of the Baby Ikonta, with a Nomular 50/2.9 and a Balnet shutter, in two variants, with rigid or folding finder.
4×6.5 folding
Special film
McKeown mentions a Comex subminiature in 14×14mm format made after the war.[6]
Other
- Lyra auxiliary rangefinder, sold ¥12 in 1937[7]
Notes
- ↑ The address of the company was Tōkyō-shi Hongō-ku Hongō 3-chōme (東京市本郷区本郷三丁目) at least between 1937 and 1942. The address of the first plant is mentioned between 1937 and 1939 as Tōkyō-shi Toshima-ku Ikebukuro 6-chōme (東京市豊島区池袋六丁目), and a second plant is mentioned in 1939 at Tōkyō-shi Itabashi-ku Itabashi 1-chōme (東京市板橋区板橋一丁目). Source: advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 100–1.
- ↑ Advertisement by the distributor Yamamoto Shashinki-ten published in the December 13, 1936 issue of Sunday Mainichi, reproduced in the camera company page of the Gochamaze website. Other dealers are mentioned in a September 1937 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 100.
- ↑ The address of Fuji Kōgaku Shōji was Tōkyō-shi Kyōbashi-ku Ginza Nishi-6-chōme (東京市京橋区銀座西六丁目) at least in 1941 and 1942. Source: advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 100–1.
- ↑ According to Tanaka, p. 44, and this page at Japan Family Camera.
- ↑ McKeown, p. 328.
- ↑ McKeown, p. 328.
- ↑ Advertisement dated September 1937, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 100.
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7.
- 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). Pp. 328–9.
- Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). Nihon no niganrefu: Zenpen (日本の二眼レフ：前編, The TLRs of Japan, vol. 1). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1983. ISBN 4-257-08088-4
