Difference between revisions of "Kajiro Kōgaku"

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(misunderstood something about the Mamiya Six in Inoue, biblio +1)
(better understanding of Inoue's article, might be improved yet)
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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.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.
 
'''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.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.
  
The company became '''Gojō Kōki Seisakusho''' (五城光機製作所) in 1941. It is said that the company became controlled from the end of the same year by [[Kokusaku|Kokusaku Seikō]], a camera maker which was already buying lenses for its [[Auto Keef]] model.<REF> Inoue, p.132. </REF> plant and brand names were transfered to [[Kokusaku|Kokusaku Seikō]], a camera maker which was already buying lenses for its [[Auto Keef]] model.<REF> Inoue, p.132. </REF> Advertisements mention the two company names K.O.L. Gojō Kōki Seisakusho and Kokusaku Seikō K.K. together. The address of K.O.L. Gojō in 1944 was Yodobashi Shimoochiai 2–969 in Tokyo (東京・淀橋・下落合二ノ九六九).<REF> Advertisement on p.6 of ''Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin'', February 15, 1944, reproduced on p.70 of ''Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku''. </REF>
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The company became '''Gojō Kōki Seisakusho''' (五城光機製作所) in 1941, apparently building a new plant.<REF name="Inoue 132"> Inoue, p.132. </REF> It is said that the old plant and brand names were transfered to [[Kokusaku|Kokusaku Seikō]], a camera maker which was already buying lenses for its [[Auto Keef]] model.<REF name="Inoue 132" /> However the relation between the two companies is not yet clearly understood: advertisements mention the two company names "K.O.L. Gojō Kōki Seisakusho" and "Kokusaku Seikō K.K." together, and the April 1943 government inquiry on camera production attributes the K.O.L. lenses to "Gojō", "[[Kokusaku]]" or "[[Kokusaku|Tōa Kokusaku]]" with no apparent logic. The address of K.O.L. Gojō in 1944 was Yodobashi Shimo-ochiai 2–969 in Tokyo (東京・淀橋・下落合二ノ九六九).<REF> Advertisement on p.6 of ''Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin'', February 15, 1944, reproduced on p.70 of ''Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku''. </REF>
  
After the war, the company was revived as [[Sun|Sun Kōki]].<REF> Inoue, p.132. </REF>
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Activity stopped in 1945, but some time after the company Gojō Kōki was revived as [[Sun|Sun Kōki]].<REF name="Inoue 132" />
  
 
== Lenses ==
 
== Lenses ==
 
=== K.O.L. range ===
 
=== K.O.L. range ===
An advertisement for the K.O.L. lenses, mentioning both Gojō and Kokusaku, listed the following lenses:<REF> Advertisement reproduced in Inoue, p.132, and in Hagiya, p.179 of ''Sekai no Raika renzu''. </REF>
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An advertisement for the K.O.L. lenses, mentioning both Gojō and Kokusaku, lists the following lenses:<REF> Advertisement reproduced in Inoue, p.132, and in Hagiya, p.179 of ''Sekai no Raika renzu''. </REF>
 
* K.O.L. Anastigmat f/4.5, 75mm;
 
* K.O.L. Anastigmat f/4.5, 75mm;
 
* K.O.L. Anastigmat f/3.5, 60mm and 75mm;
 
* K.O.L. Anastigmat f/3.5, 60mm and 75mm;
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* K.O.L. Gōka<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' ゴーカ. </REF> f/2.8, 60mm, 75mm and 80mm, four elements;
 
* K.O.L. Gōka<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' ゴーカ. </REF> f/2.8, 60mm, 75mm and 80mm, four elements;
 
* K.O.L. Xebec f/2, 50mm, six elements.
 
* K.O.L. Xebec f/2, 50mm, six elements.
The K.O.L. Xebec is a collapsible lens in [[39mm screw lenses|Leica screw mount]].
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The K.O.L. Xebec is a collapsible lens in [[39mm screw lenses|Leica screw mount]], and has six elements in four groups.<REF name="Inoue 132" /> It is said that a 50mm f/1.5 lens with seven elements in five groups was developed in 1943, but it was only used for X-ray photography.<REF name="Inoue 132" />
  
 
Other K.O.L. lens names are as follows:
 
Other K.O.L. lens names are as follows:
* K.O.L. Elmo 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item Lb29, attributed to Kokusaku. </REF>
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* K.O.L. Elmo 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item Lb29, attributed to [[Kokusaku]]. </REF>
* K.O.L. Keef 60mm f/3.5 (three elements),<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item Lb29, attributed to Tōa Kokusaku. </REF> on the [[Auto Keef]]
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* K.O.L. Keef 60mm f/3.5 (three elements),<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item Lb29, attributed to [[Kokusaku|Tōa Kokusaku]]. </REF> on the [[Auto Keef]]
 
* K.O.L. Nōman Trio 75mm f/3.5 (three elements),<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item Lb30, attributed to Gojō. </REF> on the [[Nōman Flex]]
 
* K.O.L. Nōman Trio 75mm f/3.5 (three elements),<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item Lb30, attributed to Gojō. </REF> on the [[Nōman Flex]]
* K.O.L. Trio 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item Lb7, attributed to Kokusaku. </REF>
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* K.O.L. Trio 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item Lb7, attributed to [[Kokusaku]]. </REF>
 
* K.O.L. Taro Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5, on the [[Taroflex]]
 
* K.O.L. Taro Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5, on the [[Taroflex]]
  

Revision as of 20:04, 3 May 2008

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, apparently building a new plant.[2] It is said that the old plant and brand names were transfered to Kokusaku Seikō, a camera maker which was already buying lenses for its Auto Keef model.[2] However the relation between the two companies is not yet clearly understood: advertisements mention the two company names "K.O.L. Gojō Kōki Seisakusho" and "Kokusaku Seikō K.K." together, and the April 1943 government inquiry on camera production attributes the K.O.L. lenses to "Gojō", "Kokusaku" or "Tōa Kokusaku" with no apparent logic. The address of K.O.L. Gojō in 1944 was Yodobashi Shimo-ochiai 2–969 in Tokyo (東京・淀橋・下落合二ノ九六九).[3]

Activity stopped in 1945, but some time after the company Gojō Kōki was revived as Sun Kōki.[2]

Lenses

K.O.L. range

An advertisement for the K.O.L. lenses, mentioning both Gojō and Kokusaku, lists the following lenses:[4]

  • K.O.L. Anastigmat f/4.5, 75mm;
  • K.O.L. Anastigmat f/3.5, 60mm and 75mm;
  • K.O.L. Sola f/3.5, 50mm and 75mm, four elements;
  • K.O.L. Gōka[5] f/2.8, 60mm, 75mm and 80mm, four elements;
  • K.O.L. Xebec f/2, 50mm, six elements.

The K.O.L. Xebec is a collapsible lens in Leica screw mount, and has six elements in four groups.[2] It is said that a 50mm f/1.5 lens with seven elements in five groups was developed in 1943, but it was only used for X-ray photography.[2]

Other K.O.L. lens names are as follows:

  • K.O.L. Elmo 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[6]
  • K.O.L. Keef 60mm f/3.5 (three elements),[7] on the Auto Keef
  • K.O.L. Nōman Trio 75mm f/3.5 (three elements),[8] on the Nōman Flex
  • K.O.L. Trio 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[9]
  • K.O.L. Taro Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5, on the Taroflex

Others

  • U Hitonar 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[10]
  • Kadera 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[11]

It is probable that the Hitonar 75mm f/3.5 and 75mm f/4.5 were made by the company too.

Cameras equipped

The following list is incomplete. That a particular model is listed should not be taken to mean that all examples were fitted with lenses made by Kajiro or Gojō.

Notes

  1. Inoue, p.131.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Inoue, p.132.
  3. Advertisement on p.6 of Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin, February 15, 1944, reproduced on p.70 of Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku.
  4. Advertisement reproduced in Inoue, p.132, and in Hagiya, p.179 of Sekai no Raika renzu.
  5. Inferred from the katakana ゴーカ.
  6. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb29, attributed to Kokusaku.
  7. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb29, attributed to Tōa Kokusaku.
  8. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb30, attributed to Gojō.
  9. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb7, attributed to Kokusaku.
  10. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb32, attributed to Kokusaku.
  11. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb10, attributed to Gojō.
  12. Chronological order: Inoue, p.132.

Bibliography

  • Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). "Raika to sekai no raika-yō renzu" (ライカと世界のライカ用レンズ, Leica and other Leica-mount lenses). In Sekai no Raika renzu (世界のライカレンズ, Leica lenses of the world) Part 1. Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2003. ISBN 4-87956-061-8. Pp.178–88.
  • 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). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.14, October 1989. No ISBN number. Rikō kamera no subete (リコーカメラのすべて, special issue on Ricoh). Pp.128–132.
  • "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced in Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp.180–7.
  • Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin (日本写真興業通信). Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku (百号ごと十回の記録, Ten records, every hundred issues). Tokyo: Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin Sha (日本写真興業通信社), 1967. No ISBN number. Advertisement on p.64, corresponding to the second cover of the February 15, 1944 issue.

Links

In Japanese: