Kajiro Kōgaku

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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 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. It is said that the company became controlled from the end of the same year by Kokusaku Seikō, a camera maker which was already buying lenses for its Auto Keef model.[2] plant and brand names were transfered to Kokusaku Seikō, a camera maker which was already buying lenses for its Auto Keef model.[3] 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).[4]

After the war, the company was revived as Sun Kōki.[5]

Lenses

K.O.L. range

It is said that 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.[6] However the Semi Kreis, a 4.5×6 folder, had these lenses mounted in the reverse order: the original model had the K.O.L. Special and the Semi Kreis II and III had the K.O.L. Trio.

An advertisement for the K.O.L. lenses, mentioning both Gojō and Kokusaku, listed the following lenses:[7]

  • 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[8] (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.

Other K.O.L. lenses are as follows:

  • K.O.L. Elmo 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[9]
  • K.O.L. Keef 60mm f/3.5 (three elements)[10]
  • K.O.L. Nōman Trio 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[11]
  • K.O.L. Trio 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[12]
  • K.O.L. Taro Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5, on the Taroflex

Others

  • U Hitonar 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[13]
  • Kadera 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[14]

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. ↑ Inoue, p.132.
  3. ↑ Inoue, p.132.
  4. ↑ Advertisement on p.6 of Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin, February 15, 1944, reproduced on p.70 of Hyaku-gō goto jūkai no kiroku.
  5. ↑ Inoue, p.132.
  6. ↑ Inoue, p.132.
  7. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Inoue, p.132.
  8. ↑ Inferred from the katakana ゴーカ.
  9. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb29, attributed to Kokusaku.
  10. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb29, attributed to Tōa Kokusaku.
  11. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb30, attributed to Gojō.
  12. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb7, attributed to Kokusaku.
  13. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb32, attributed to Kokusaku.
  14. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb10, attributed to Gojō.

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). 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:

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