Difference between revisions of "Matsushima"

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At some point between 1955 and 1958, the company became '''Matsushima Shashin-yōhin K.K.''' (松島写真用品{{kabu}}, meaning Matsushima Photo Supply Co., Ltd.).<REF> The name Matsushima Megane-ten appears in the advertisement in {{ACA}} August 1955 (p.206), and Matsushima Shashin-yōhin K.K. in the advertisement in {{SK}} April 1958 (p.317). </REF> In addition to the Orion and Miranda products, it was also selling various accessories under other brands, such as '''Unik''' c.1955<REF name="advert FAR80"> Advertisement in the June 1955 special issue of Photo Art, p.22. </REF><REF name="adverts ACA 1955"> Advertisement in {{ACA}} January 1955 (p.229), February 1955 (p.190), March 1955 (p.180), April 1955 (p.211) and August 1955 (p.206). </REF> and '''Macott''' c.1958.<REF name="advert SK 04/58"> Advertisement in {{SK}} April 1958 (p.317). </REF>
 
At some point between 1955 and 1958, the company became '''Matsushima Shashin-yōhin K.K.''' (松島写真用品{{kabu}}, meaning Matsushima Photo Supply Co., Ltd.).<REF> The name Matsushima Megane-ten appears in the advertisement in {{ACA}} August 1955 (p.206), and Matsushima Shashin-yōhin K.K. in the advertisement in {{SK}} April 1958 (p.317). </REF> In addition to the Orion and Miranda products, it was also selling various accessories under other brands, such as '''Unik''' c.1955<REF name="advert FAR80"> Advertisement in the June 1955 special issue of Photo Art, p.22. </REF><REF name="adverts ACA 1955"> Advertisement in {{ACA}} January 1955 (p.229), February 1955 (p.190), March 1955 (p.180), April 1955 (p.211) and August 1955 (p.206). </REF> and '''Macott''' c.1958.<REF name="advert SK 04/58"> Advertisement in {{SK}} April 1958 (p.317). </REF>
  
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Matsushima ceased its cooperation with [[Miranda]] around 1959 — at the time, the latter briefly entered distribution agreements with [[Riken|Ricoh]] before pulling back from the Japanese market. Matsushima ceased the camera retail business around the same time, and specialized in the design and manufacture of optical products for special needs, notably for TV cameras.<REF name="KKS64 p11" />
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Matsushima became gradually less involved in the distribution of [[Miranda]] products;<REF> The advertisement for Miranda cameras dated October 1955 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.200, was placed by Matsushima whereas those dated October 1957 and February 1959 reproduced on p.306 were placed by Miranda Camera itself. The last advertisement by Matsushima showing Miranda products known so far is that in {{SK}} April 1958 (p.317). </REF> by 1959, the cooperation had completely ceased and Miranda briefly entered distribution agreements with [[Riken|Ricoh]] before pulling back from the Japanese market. Matsushima ceased the camera retail business around the same time, and specialized in the design and manufacture of optical products for special needs, notably for TV cameras.<REF name="KKS64 p11" />
  
 
== Unik accessories ==
 
== Unik accessories ==

Revision as of 21:25, 11 May 2009

3496842970_8f51b949be_m_d.jpg
Envelope for a cleaning cloth by Matsushima, offered with the Mirax. Scan by Jeffrey Felton. (Image rights).

Matsushima was a Japanese camera store active in the 1950s, which notably distributed the Orion and Miranda products.

History

The Matsushima camera store was founded in 1947 by Mikami Makoto (三神誠), who previously worked for Ishii Shōkai from 1937 before he was mobilized.[1] The store started as the photographic department (写真部) of Matsushima Megane-ten (松島眼鏡店, meaning Matsushima Glasses Shop), using a corner of the eyeglasses store.[1] It was situated in Ginza, Tokyo,[2] next to Hattori Tokei-ten.[1]

At some time, Mikami met Ogihara Akira (荻原彰), founder of Orion Seiki, who was presented by their common acquaintance Nukui Teikichi (貫井提吉).[1] He was favourably impressed by the Orion products and decided to distribute them[1] at least as early as 1953;[3] this included the Mirax reflex housing, Focabell bellows and Supreme lenses, as well as the Coupler and other adapters.[4]

Some times later, Ogihara, who was seeking capital to develop its Miranda T SLR project, approached Mikami with the blueprints.[5] Mikami decided to support the project, and provided funds to Orion Seiki, that became Orion Camera in 1955;[5] Matsushima thus became the first distributor of the Miranda T.

At some point between 1955 and 1958, the company became Matsushima Shashin-yōhin K.K. (松島写真用品㈱, meaning Matsushima Photo Supply Co., Ltd.).[6] In addition to the Orion and Miranda products, it was also selling various accessories under other brands, such as Unik c.1955[7][8] and Macott c.1958.[9]

Matsushima became gradually less involved in the distribution of Miranda products;[10] by 1959, the cooperation had completely ceased and Miranda briefly entered distribution agreements with Ricoh before pulling back from the Japanese market. Matsushima ceased the camera retail business around the same time, and specialized in the design and manufacture of optical products for special needs, notably for TV cameras.[5]

Unik accessories

  • Prismo pivoting brilliant finder, slipped in the camera's accessory shoe (c.1955, ¥2,800)[7][8]
  • Snap band, a hand strap attached in the tripod thread[7][8]
  • Macopy stand (c.1958, ¥6,800)[9]
  • Macott products[9]
Advertisements by Matsushima. (Image rights).
3313831217_47b1c64300_d.jpg 3312371370_3cb45f8909_d.jpg
Asahi Camera, November 1953 Photo Art special issue, June 1955
3509759105_5f964c0450_d.jpg
Shashin Kōgyō, April 1958

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Hagiya, p.10 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.64.
  2. ↑ The exact address was Tōkyō-to Chūō-ku Ginza 3–2 (東京都中央区銀座3–2). Source: advertisements listed below, dated November 1953 to April 1958.
  3. ↑ The earliest advertisement by Matushima showing Orion products found so far is in Asahi Camera November 1953, p.59. Advertisements for Orion products were previously placed by Summit Shōkai.
  4. ↑ Advertisements listed below, dated November 1953 to April 1958.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Hagiya, p.11 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.64.
  6. ↑ The name Matsushima Megane-ten appears in the advertisement in Asahi Camera August 1955 (p.206), and Matsushima Shashin-yōhin K.K. in the advertisement in Shashin Kōgyō April 1958 (p.317).
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Advertisement in the June 1955 special issue of Photo Art, p.22.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Advertisement in Asahi Camera January 1955 (p.229), February 1955 (p.190), March 1955 (p.180), April 1955 (p.211) and August 1955 (p.206).
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Advertisement in Shashin Kōgyō April 1958 (p.317).
  10. ↑ The advertisement for Miranda cameras dated October 1955 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.200, was placed by Matsushima whereas those dated October 1957 and February 1959 reproduced on p.306 were placed by Miranda Camera itself. The last advertisement by Matsushima showing Miranda products known so far is that in Shashin Kōgyō April 1958 (p.317).

Bibliography

  • Asahi Camera. Advertisement by the photo department of Matsushima or Matsushima Megane-ten in November 1953 (p.59), January 1955 (p.229), February 1955 (p.190), March 1955 (p.180), April 1955 (p.211) and August 1955 (p.206).
  • Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). "Miranda Sutōrī" (ミランダ・ストーリー, Miranda story). In 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.64, June 2002. ISBN 4-257-13048-2. Miranda no keifu (ミランダの系譜, Miranda genealogy). Pp.9–12.
  • Photo Art rinji zōkan: Kamera akusesarī zensho (フォトアート臨時増刊・カメラアクセサリー全書, Photo Art special issue: All the camera accessories). June 1955, no.80 of the magazine. Advertisement by the photo department of Matsushima Megane-ten on p.22.
  • Shashin Kōgyō no.72, April 1958. Advertisement by Matsushima Shashin-yōhin on p.317.

Links

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