Difference between revisions of "Musashino and Wista"

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'''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 --> 7&ndash;266 (東京都板橋区板橋町7&ndash;266). Source: {{Inquiry1943_short}}, listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943. </REF> It was listed in the {{Inquiry1943_short}} as the maker of the Peacock 50/6.3 two-element lens mounted on the [[Peacock]].
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'''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.
  
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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&ndash;210 (東京都世田谷区松原4&ndash;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.&nbsp;209 and 322. </REF> Around 1960 it moved to its Kawasaki plant.<REF> Advertisements dated 1961 to 1965 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;323, only show the Kawasaki address. </REF>
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== Wartime Musashino Seisakusho ==
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'''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>
  
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in 1968 the '''Rittreck Trading Co.''' was founded as separate trading unit. After Musashino closed Rittreck became trader and maker of the company's professional photography products. With the introduction of the ''Wista 45'' camera in 1972 the company was renamed to '''Wista'''.
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== Postwar Musashino Kōki, later Wista ==
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{{Flickr image
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{|class=floatright
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| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2253/2056592866_c1c705a998.jpg
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/sim4nee/4862414548/in/pool-camerawiki
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| image_text=lens/shutter unit: [[Fuji]]nar lens and Musashino-Kiko Shanel-5A [[leaf shutter|shutter]]
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|image= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4075/4862414548_f4ec1b9b1e.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Musashino Kōki '''[[Rittreck (6×9)|Rittreck]]''' camera system
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|image_by= sim4nee
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterlerman/5132804001/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1204/5132804001_b93b1c6fef.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Wista nameplate on '''DX II''' field camera
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|image_by= Peter M Lerman
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|image_rights= wp
 
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===Cameras===
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|}
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* Rittreck
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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.
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* [[Rittreck IIA]]
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* Rittreck SP
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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)]].
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* Rittreck View 5x7
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* Wista 45
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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.
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===Shutters===
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* Shanel-5A
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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>
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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" />
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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>
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=== Cameras ===
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* [[Rittreck (6×9)|Rittreck]], 1955
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* [[Rittreck (6×9)|Rittreck IIA]], 1959
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* [[Rittreck (6×9)|Optika IIA]], name variant of the Rittreck IIA sold by [[Seymour's]], a New York distributor
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* [[Rittreck (6×9)|Rittreck SP]], 1961
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* Rittreck View (5×7"), 1965
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* [[Rittreck 6×6 and Norita 66|Rittreck 6×6]], 1968
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* [[Wista 45]] technical cameras, 1972 onward
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* [[Wista Field 45|Wista Field cameras]] wooden field cameras, mostly 4x5 inch.
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=== Shutters ===
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* Shanel-5A and Shanel-5B
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=== Lenses ===
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* Wistar W series
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=== Other ===
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* 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>
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{{br}}
 
{{br}}
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== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
 
<references />
 
<references />
Line 24: Line 65:
 
== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
 
* {{Showa10}}
 
* {{Showa10}}
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* 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}}
 
* {{Inquiry1943}}
  
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==Links==
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== Links ==
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* [http://www.wista.co.jp/e_wista/e_what/e_wista.htm Wista company history] including the Rittreck SP
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In English:
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* [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
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* [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/rittreck/rittreck_sp.htm Rittreck SP SLR PDF manual] at [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/index.html OrphanCameras.com]
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In Japanese:
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* [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 camera makers]]
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[[Category: Japanese shutter makers]]
 
[[Category: Japanese lens makers]]
 
[[Category: Japanese lens makers]]

Revision as of 06:22, 4 May 2023

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.[1] 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.[2]

Postwar Musashino Kōki, later Wista

5132804001_b93b1c6fef.jpg
Wista nameplate on DX II field camera
image by Peter M Lerman (Image rights)

After the war, the company Musashino Kōki K.K. (武蔵野光機㈱) 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.[3] The first camera produced by the company was the Rittreck (6×9).

Around 1960, the company's headquarters apparently moved to the Kawasaki plant.[4] 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.[5]

In 1969, the Musashino company went bankrupt.[6] The production of the Rittreck 6×6 was handed over to Norita Kōgaku, and the camera was modified and renamed Norita 66. Around 1972, the former trading company Rittreck Shōji took over the production of the view cameras.[5] The same year, it launched the Wista 45 technical camera, and renamed itself K.K. Wista (㈱ウイスタ).[5]

The Wista company still exists (as at 2012), and makes 4×5" technical cameras, wooden field cameras, and monorail view cameras.[7]


Cameras

Shutters

  • Shanel-5A and Shanel-5B

Lenses

  • Wistar W series

Other

  • Shinox enlargers[8]


Notes

  1. ↑ Its address in 1943 was Tōkyō-to Itabashi-ku Itabashi-chō (東京都板橋区板橋町) 7–266. Source: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras").
  2. ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Jd2.
  3. ↑ 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 kamera no rekishi, pp.209 and 322.
  4. ↑ The advertisements dated 1961 to 1965 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.323, only show the Kawasaki address.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Wista company history.
  6. ↑ Hagiya, p.82.
  7. ↑ List of Wista products.
  8. ↑ Advertisement in Asahi Camera April 1954, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.323. The "Shinox" spelling is inferred from the katakana シノックス.

Bibliography

Links

In English:

In Japanese:

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