Kikōdō

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Kikōdō (暿光堂) was a Japanese distributor based in Tokyo, which was already active in 1932. Its address at the time was Nihonbashi-ku Honshirogane-chō (日本橋区本銀町) 3–3;[1] from 1935 to 1941 it was Nihonbashi-ku Kodenma-chō (日本橋区小伝馬町) 1–1.[2]

In 1934, the company asked Umemoto Kinzaburō (梅本金三郎) to set up a camera plant, that would become Umemoto Seisakusho, founded in 1935.[3] It sold the cameras made by Umemoto until the war.

Kikōdō distributed other cameras as well: in 1935 it was selling Super, Kinka and Peter cameras.[4] It was probably the owner of the brand "Super". In 1939 it was using a KIKODO TOKYO logo.[5]

Kikōdō survived the war but it became a retailer only and was no longer a distributor.[6]

Cameras distributed

Cameras sold as authorized dealer

Other

  • Super accessory rangefinder (sold ¥15 in 1937)[7]

Notes

  1. Advertisement in Asahi Camera June 1932, p.A41.
  2. Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.74–5 and 94.
  3. Umemoto company history.
  4. Advertisement dated December 1935 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.74.
  5. Advertisement dated February 1939 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.74–5.
  6. Private communication to User:Rebollo_fr by Umemoto Akio of Umemoto Seisakusho.
  7. Advertisement dated April 1937 for the Super Makinet Six, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.94.

Bibliography

Links

In Japanese: