Mori

Mori Seisakusho (森製作所, meaning Mori Works) was a Japanese camera manufacturer active from the mid or late 1930s. It was based in Kamihirai (Tokyo) during World War II. Various cameras are attributed to this company, but little is known for sure.

In the mid-1930s, Mori reportedly made the Semi Dymos 4.5×6cm folder. From 1938, it made the Rollekonter 6×6 TLR. Rebadged versions of the camera were sold by various other companies. The Semi Konter and Konter Six, about which little is known, were perhaps made by Mori Seisakusho as well. An original document says that the Zessan sold by Riken was produced by "Mori Kōjō" (森工場, meaning Mori Plant); it is likely that this was another name for Mori Seisakusho.

After World War II, Mori Seisakusho released the Bikor-Flex, a revised version of the Rollekonter. It was one of the first Japanese TLR cameras available on the market. It is also said that the company made three prototypes of a Morrisflex 6×6 TLR.

Mori was probably absorbed into Bikōdō, distributor of the Bikor-Flex. In late 1949, the company Bikōdō Seisakusho (meaning Bikōdō Works) released a Superflex 6×6cm TLR, again based on the Rollekonter, continuation of Mori's former camera line.

Camera list

Rollekonter image courtesy eBayer tuiteka (Image rights)

Zessan image courtesy eBayer collectablesrwcompany (Image rights)

• Zessan, 3×4cm
• Semi Dymos, 4.5×6cm folder
• Hansa Semi Rollette, name variant of the Semi Dymos
• Semi Rosen, name variant of the Semi Dymos
• Semi Konter, 4.5×6cm folder
• Konter Six, 6×6cm
• Rollekonter, 6×6cm TLR
• Ricohflex (original), name variant of the Rollekonter
• Bikor-Flex, 6×6cm TLR
• Morrisflex, 6×6cm TLR

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.
• Kitano Kunio (北野邦雄). "Mittsu no kokusan ōtomāto" (三つの国産オートマート, Three Japanese Automat). In Kohga Gekkan vol.8 no.6, June 1949. Pp.48–53.
• "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.
• McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover).
• Nihon Shashin Kōgyō Tsūshin July 20, 1967. "Gyōkai san-jū-nen no ashiato" (業界三十年の足跡, Records of thirty years in the business). Pp.12–33. Reproduced in 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. Pp.230–51.
• Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5.
• Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). Nigan-refu no hanashi (zenpen) (二眼レフのはなし[前編], TLR stories [first part]). Gendai Kamera Shinsho (現代カメラ新書) no.68. Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1980. No ISBN number. P.132.
• Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Senzen no kamera 3: Nigan-refu kamera" (戦前のカメラ3・二眼レフカメラ, Prewar cameras 3: TLR cameras). 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.19–20.

Links

• Morrisflex in the AJCC website