View source for Musashino and Wista

'''Musashino''' was the name of at least one and perhaps two separate Japanese companies making camera elements. The better known Musashino Kōki made the '''Rittreck''' cameras from 1955, and closed its doors in 1972. It resurrected the same year as '''Wista''', which still makes field and technical cameras.

== Wartime Musashino Seisakusho ==
'''Musashino Seisakusho''' (武蔵野製作所) was a Japanese company based in Tokyo, Itabashi in 1943.<REF> Its address in 1943 was Tōkyō-to Itabashi-ku Itabashi-chō<!-- or Itabashi-machi --> (東京都板橋区板橋町) 7–266. Source: {{Inquiry1943_short}}. </REF> It was listed in the April 1943 government inquiry on Japanese camera production as the maker of the Peacock 50/6.3 two-element lens mounted on the [[Peacock]].<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item Jd2. </REF>

== Postwar Musashino Kōki, later Wista ==
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After the war, the company '''Musashino Kōki K.K.''' (武蔵野光機{{kabu}}) made the Rittreck cameras from 1955. It is not known if the two companies are related.

Musashino Kōki was based first in Tokyo, Setagaya, then in Tokyo, Musashino, whereas the plant was in Kawasaki.<REF> Its address in 1955 was Tōkyō-to Setagaya-ku Matsubara 4–210 (東京都世田谷区松原4–210) and in 1957 it was Tōkyō-to Musashino-shi Kishijōji 1836 (東京都武蔵野市吉祥寺1836). In 1957, the plant was in Kawasaki-shi Shinjō Nagashima 472 (川崎市新城長島472) Source: advertisements dated September 1955 and December 1957 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.209 and 322. </REF> The first camera produced by the company was the [[Rittreck (6×9)]].

Around 1960, the company's headquarters apparently moved to the Kawasaki plant.<REF> The advertisements dated 1961 to 1965 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.323, only show the Kawasaki address. </REF> In 1965, Musashino released the Rittreck View 5×7" view camera.

The Rittreck 6×6 was launched in 1968, somewhat inspired by the [[Pentacon Six]]. The same year, '''Rittreck Shōji''' (リトレック商事, Rittreck Trading) was founded as a separate trading company, to distribute the cameras made by Musashino.<REF name="History"> [http://www.wista.co.jp/about/index_about.html Wista company history]. </REF>

In 1969, the Musashino company went bankrupt.<ref name="hagiya82">Hagiya, p.82.</ref> The production of the [[Rittreck 6×6 and Norita 66|Rittreck 6×6]] was handed over to [[Norita|Norita Kōgaku]], and the camera was modified and renamed [[Rittreck 6×6 and Norita 66|Norita 66]]. Around 1972, the former trading company Rittreck Shōji took over the production of the view cameras.<REF name="History" /> The same year, it launched the Wista 45 technical camera, and renamed itself '''K.K. Wista''' ({{kabu}}ウイスタ).<REF name="History" />

The Wista company still exists (as at 2012), and makes 4×5" technical cameras, wooden field cameras, and monorail view cameras.<REF> [http://www.wista.co.jp/show/camera/camera.html List of Wista products]. </REF>


=== Cameras ===
* [[Rittreck (6×9)|Rittreck]], 1955
* [[Rittreck (6×9)|Rittreck IIA]], 1959
* [[Rittreck (6×9)|Optika IIA]], name variant of the Rittreck IIA sold by [[Seymour's]], a New York distributor
* [[Rittreck (6×9)|Rittreck SP]], 1961
* Rittreck View (5×7"), 1965
* [[Rittreck 6×6 and Norita 66|Rittreck 6×6]], 1968
* [[Wista 45]] technical cameras, 1972 onward
* [[Wista Field 45|Wista Field cameras]] wooden field cameras, mostly 4x5 inch.

=== Shutters ===
* Shanel-5A and Shanel-5B

=== Lenses ===
* Wistar W series

=== Other ===
* Shinox enlargers<REF> Advertisement in {{ACA}} April 1954, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.323. The "Shinox" spelling is inferred from the ''katakana'' シノックス. </REF>

{{br}}

== Notes ==
<references />

== Bibliography ==
* {{Showa10}}
* Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). "Norita 66: Yūshutsu o mein toshita 6×6 cm-ban ichiganrefu" (ノリタ66　輸出をメインとした6×6 cm判一眼レフ, Norita 66: A 6×6 SLR mainly for export)). Chapter 4 of {{Zunow10}} Originally published in {{KKS018}}
* {{Inquiry1943}}

== Links ==
In English:
* [http://www.wista.co.jp/e_wista/e_what/e_wista.htm Wista company history] in the [http://www.wista.co.jp/e_wista/english.htm English version] of the Wista official website
In Japanese:
* [http://www.wista.co.jp/about/index_about.html Wista company history] in the [http://www.wista.co.jp/ Wista official website]

[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
[[Category: Japanese shutter makers]]
[[Category: Japanese lens makers]]