Difference between revisions of "Misuzu Kōgaku"

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(much more details on the company, from a precious article by Hagiya)
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'''Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō K.K.''' (三鈴光学工業{{kabu}})<REF> Full name: advertisement in ''[[Nihon Camera]]'' June 1958, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.222. </REF> was a Japanese company active in the second half of the 1950s, based in Azusawa, Tokyo.<REF> Its address was Tōkyō-to Itabashi-ku Azusawa 1–35 (東京都板橋区小豆沢1の35). Source: column in {{ACA}} September 1957, reproduced in Awano, p.3 of {{CCN}} no.38, and advertisement in ''[[Nihon Camera]]'' June 1958, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.222. </REF> It released the [[Alta]], a Leica copy, in September 1957. It was already active before that date, and was best known as the maker of the Altair bright screen for TLR cameras.<REF> The company was presented as the maker of the Altair bright screen (ライトスクリーン[フレネルレンズ]"アルタイル"のメーカーである、東京の三鈴光学工業) in the column announcing the Alta in {{ACA}} September 1957, reproduced in Awano, p.3 of {{CCN}} no.38. </REF>
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'''Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō K.K.''' (三鈴光学工業{{kabu}})<REF> Full name: advertisement in ''[[Nihon Camera]]'' June 1958, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.222. </REF> was a Japanese company based in Azusawa, Tokyo, in the 1950s.<REF> Its address was Tōkyō-to Itabashi-ku Azusawa 1–35 (東京都板橋区小豆沢1の35). Source: column in {{ACA}} September 1957, reproduced in Awano, p.3 of {{CCN}} no.38, and advertisement in {{NCA}} June 1958, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.222. </REF>
  
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The Alta camera is very similar to the [[Chiyoca and Chiyotax|Chiyotax IIIF]] previously made by [[Reise]], whose last appearance in a Japanese publication is dated Summer 1957. It seems likely that there is a connection between the two models. Reise was perhaps absorbed by Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō, or acted as a subcontractor for Misuzu, or less likely sold the Chiyotax design and tooling to the latter.
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The company was founded by Mr. Suzuki (鈴木正一)<REF> Hagiya, reproduced in Mabuchi. The first name can read Shōichi, Masaichi or Masakazu. </REF> at an unknown date. Misuzu Kōgaku hired Arae Taikichi (荒江泰吉),<REF name="Hagiya"> Hagiya, reproduced in Mabuchi. </REF> designer of the [[Altair]] SLR prototype announced in early 1955 by [[Arae|Arae Kōgaku]], certainly after he abandoned that ambitious project. Before entering the company, Arae was making the Altair bright screens on his own account — these were originally designed by his friend Kurebayashi Juichi (樽林寿一). Prior to that, he worked on binoculars at [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]].<REF name="Hagiya" />
  
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At least one source suggests that Reise was hired by the trading company [[Misuzu Shōkai]] and turned its name to Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō for that reason;<REF> HPR, pp.126 and 175–6. </REF> this is surely a guess based on the apparent homonymy of the two company names. However the Japanese characters used in the two names are completely different (Misuzu is 美篶 for the trading company and 三鈴 for the camera maker), and this rules out the possibility of a direct relationship between the two companies. Moreover Misuzu Kōgaku was already in existence before the release of the Alta, as said above.
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The production of the bright screens was taken over by Misuzu, under the same Altair brand name,<REF> Altair bright screens by Misuzu Kōgaku are mentioned in the column announcing the Alta in {{ACA}} September 1957 (ライトスクリーン[フレネルレンズ]"アルタイル"のメーカーである、東京の三鈴光学工業), and in an advertisement in {{NCA}} June 1958 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.222. </REF> and Arae presumably developed Misuzu's Altax binocular line.<REF> Altax binoculars by Misuzu Kōgaku are mentioned in an advertisement in {{NCA}} June 1958 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.222. </REF>
  
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In addition to the the Altair bright screen, other products made by Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō include the Altax binoculars.<REF name="kokusan 222"> Advertisement in ''[[Nihon Camera]]'' June 1958, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.222. </REF> All trace of the company is lost after mid-1958.
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In September 1957, Misuzu Kōgaku released the [[Alta]], a Leica copy. This camera was produced by the former manager of the [[Reise]] factory, maker of the [[Chiyoca and Chiyotax|Chiyotax]], who entered Misuzu with a team of workers, certainly after he lost financial backing from the distributor [[Chiyoda Shōkai]].<REF name="Hagiya" />
  
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The name [[Altair]] was used earlier on a prototype 35mm SLR announced in 1955 by [[Arae|Arae Kōgaku]]. This camera might be related to the Misuzu company, but the details are unknown.<REF> Mabuchi, in [http://www.phsc.ca/phsc_e-mail/Vol-6/PHSC-E-Mail-V6-10.pdf ''The PHSC E-mail'', vol.6–10], attributes the Altair SLR to Misuzu, apparently after an article by Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). </REF>
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The [[Alta]] camera was an evolution of the [[Chiyoca and Chiyotax|Chiyotax IIIF]], and was already viewed as backward when it was released.<REF> See [[Alta]]. </REF> It was not a commercial success, and was abandoned in mid-1958. After that date, the company prospered for some time by producing bright screens for 35mm SLR cameras, evolved from the original Altair screens for TLR cameras.<REF name="Hagiya" /> Its final fate is unknown.
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At least one source suggests a connection between Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō and [[Misuzu Shōkai]].<REF> HPR, pp.126 and 175–6, says that Reise was hired by the trading company [[Misuzu Shōkai]] and turned its name to Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō for that reason. </REF> This is wrong, and the Japanese characters used in the two names are completely different (Misuzu is 美篶 for the trading company and 三鈴 for the camera maker).
  
 
== Product list ==
 
== Product list ==

Revision as of 18:21, 27 May 2009

Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō K.K. (三鈴光学工業㈱)[1] was a Japanese company based in Azusawa, Tokyo, in the 1950s.[2]

The company was founded by Mr. Suzuki (鈴木正一)[3] at an unknown date. Misuzu Kōgaku hired Arae Taikichi (荒江泰吉),[4] designer of the Altair SLR prototype announced in early 1955 by Arae Kōgaku, certainly after he abandoned that ambitious project. Before entering the company, Arae was making the Altair bright screens on his own account — these were originally designed by his friend Kurebayashi Juichi (樽林寿一). Prior to that, he worked on binoculars at Tōkyō Kōgaku.[4]

The production of the bright screens was taken over by Misuzu, under the same Altair brand name,[5] and Arae presumably developed Misuzu's Altax binocular line.[6]

In September 1957, Misuzu Kōgaku released the Alta, a Leica copy. This camera was produced by the former manager of the Reise factory, maker of the Chiyotax, who entered Misuzu with a team of workers, certainly after he lost financial backing from the distributor Chiyoda Shōkai.[4]

The Alta camera was an evolution of the Chiyotax IIIF, and was already viewed as backward when it was released.[7] It was not a commercial success, and was abandoned in mid-1958. After that date, the company prospered for some time by producing bright screens for 35mm SLR cameras, evolved from the original Altair screens for TLR cameras.[4] Its final fate is unknown.

At least one source suggests a connection between Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō and Misuzu Shōkai.[8] This is wrong, and the Japanese characters used in the two names are completely different (Misuzu is 美篶 for the trading company and 三鈴 for the camera maker).

Product list

Notes

  1. ↑ Full name: advertisement in Nihon Camera June 1958, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.222.
  2. ↑ Its address was Tōkyō-to Itabashi-ku Azusawa 1–35 (東京都板橋区小豆沢1の35). Source: column in Asahi Camera September 1957, reproduced in Awano, p.3 of Camera Collectors' News no.38, and advertisement in Nihon Camera June 1958, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.222.
  3. ↑ Hagiya, reproduced in Mabuchi. The first name can read Shōichi, Masaichi or Masakazu.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Hagiya, reproduced in Mabuchi.
  5. ↑ Altair bright screens by Misuzu Kōgaku are mentioned in the column announcing the Alta in Asahi Camera September 1957 (ライトスクリーン[フレネルレンズ]"アルタイル"のメーカーである、東京の三鈴光学工業), and in an advertisement in Nihon Camera June 1958 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.222.
  6. ↑ Altax binoculars by Misuzu Kōgaku are mentioned in an advertisement in Nihon Camera June 1958 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.222.
  7. ↑ See Alta.
  8. ↑ HPR, pp.126 and 175–6, says that Reise was hired by the trading company Misuzu Shōkai and turned its name to Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō for that reason.
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named kokusan 222

Bibliography

  • Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7.
  • Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Aruta 35" (アルタ35, Alta 35). In Camera Collectors' News no.38 (August 1980). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
  • HPR. Leica Copies. London: Classic Collection Publications, 1994. ISBN 1-874485-05-4.
  • Mabuchi, Sam. "In search of the missing Altair camera". In The PHSC E-mail, vol.6–10, supplement to Photographic Canadiana, Feb. 2007, pp.4–5. Also published in Camera Shopper no.173, Mar. 2007, pp.11–2.
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