Difference between revisions of "Kajiro Kōgaku"

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'''K.O.L.''' is a marking, engraved in handwritten style, that is observed on some Japanese cameras of the 1930s and 1940s and whose signification is unknown.
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'''Kajiro Kōgaku Kenkyūjo''' (上代光学研究所, Kajiro Optical Laboratory) is a Japanese optical company that was founded in 1939 by Kajiro Hitoshi (上代斉), who was previously an employee of [[Miyoshi|Miyoshi Kōgaku]].<REF> Inoue, p.&nbsp;131. </REF> The initials '''K.O.L.''' (for Kajiro Optical Laboratory) were adopted as the brand name of the lenses. ''K.O.L.'' is engraved in the lenses in handwritten style.
  
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Cameras equipped with a K.O.L. lens:
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The company became '''Gojō Kōki Seisakusho''' (五城光機製作所) in 1941, but at the end of the same year, the lens activity and K.O.L. name were transfered to [[Kokusaku|Kokusaku Seikō]], a camera maker which was already buying lenses for its [[Auto Keef]] model.<REF> Inoue, p.&nbsp;132. </REF>
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* [[Gaica II]]
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After the war, the company was revived as [[Sun|Sun Kōki]].<REF> Inoue, p.&nbsp;132. </REF>
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== Lenses ==
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The first lens, mounted on the [[Mamiya Six]] in 1940, was the K.O.L. Trio, soon followed by the K.O.L. Special. Both are three element lenses.<REF> Inoue, p.&nbsp;132. </REF>
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An advertisement<REF> Advertisement reproduced in Inoue, p.&nbsp;132. </REF> for the K.O.L. lenses, mentioning both Gojō and Kokusaku, lists the following lenses:
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* K.O.L. Anastigmat f:4.5, 75mm;
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* K.O.L. Anastigmat f:3.5, 60mm, 75mm;
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* K.O.L. Sola (four elements) f:3.5, 50mm, 75mm;
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* K.O.L. Goka<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' ゴーカ. </REF> (four elements) f:2.8, 60mm, 75mm, 80mm;
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* K.O.L. Xebec (six elements) f:2, 50mm.
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The K.O.L. Xebec is a collapsible lens in [[39mm screw lenses|Leica screw mount]].
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== Cameras equipped ==
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* [[Elmoflex]]
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* [[Gaica|Gaica II]]
 
* [[Auto Keef]]
 
* [[Auto Keef]]
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* [[Lark Six]] (K.O.L. Trio)
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* [[Mamiya Six]]
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* [[Nōman Flex]]
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== Notes ==
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<references />
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== Bibliography ==
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* Inoue, Mitsuo (井上光朗). "Shashin renzu no yoake. Renzu-ya Funsenki" (写真レンズの夜明け・レンズ屋奮戦記, Dawn of the photographic lens &ndash; Fierce war tales between lens shops). Classic Camera Senka (クラシックカメラ専科), no.14, Oct 1, 1989. Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama. Pp&nbsp;128&ndash;132.
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== Links ==
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In Japanese:
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* [http://akiroom.com/redbook/kenkyukai05b/kenkyukai200508b.html Kōgaku Seiki's Nippon camera], a page by Akiyama Michio at the [http://akiroom.com/redbook/kenkyukai/ Nikon Kenkyukai Tokyo website], with information about the K.O.L. Xebec and Sun Xebec
  
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[[Category: Japanese lenses]]
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[[Category: Japanese lens makers]]

Revision as of 19:52, 30 September 2006

Kajiro Kōgaku Kenkyūjo (上代光学研究所, Kajiro Optical Laboratory) is a Japanese optical company that was founded in 1939 by Kajiro Hitoshi (上代斉), who was previously an employee of Miyoshi Kōgaku.[1] The initials K.O.L. (for Kajiro Optical Laboratory) were adopted as the brand name of the lenses. K.O.L. is engraved in the lenses in handwritten style.

The company became Gojō Kōki Seisakusho (五城光機製作所) in 1941, but at the end of the same year, the lens activity and K.O.L. name were transfered to Kokusaku Seikō, a camera maker which was already buying lenses for its Auto Keef model.[2]

After the war, the company was revived as Sun Kōki.[3]

Lenses

The first lens, mounted on the Mamiya Six in 1940, was the K.O.L. Trio, soon followed by the K.O.L. Special. Both are three element lenses.[4]

An advertisement[5] for the K.O.L. lenses, mentioning both Gojō and Kokusaku, lists the following lenses:

  • K.O.L. Anastigmat f:4.5, 75mm;
  • K.O.L. Anastigmat f:3.5, 60mm, 75mm;
  • K.O.L. Sola (four elements) f:3.5, 50mm, 75mm;
  • K.O.L. Goka[6] (four elements) f:2.8, 60mm, 75mm, 80mm;
  • K.O.L. Xebec (six elements) f:2, 50mm.

The K.O.L. Xebec is a collapsible lens in Leica screw mount.

Cameras equipped

Notes

  1. ↑ Inoue, p. 131.
  2. ↑ Inoue, p. 132.
  3. ↑ Inoue, p. 132.
  4. ↑ Inoue, p. 132.
  5. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Inoue, p. 132.
  6. ↑ Inferred from the katakana ゴーカ.

Bibliography

  • Inoue, Mitsuo (井上光朗). "Shashin renzu no yoake. Renzu-ya Funsenki" (写真レンズの夜明け・レンズ屋奮戦記, Dawn of the photographic lens – Fierce war tales between lens shops). Classic Camera Senka (クラシックカメラ専科), no.14, Oct 1, 1989. Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama. Pp 128–132.

Links

In Japanese:

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