Sankyō Kōki
Sankyō Kōki K.K. (三協光機㈱) was a Japanese optical company which used the brand name Komura.
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| Sankyo Kohki Komura for Bronica image by ijajac (Image rights) |
See also Sankyō Kōgaku for a similarly named Japanese lens maker.
Contents
History
Sankyō Kōki K.K. (三協光機㈱) was a Japanese optical company, which used the brand name Komura for a variety of lenses. The company's name usually appeared as Sankyo Kohki on English language product branding such as lens badges. However in English language trademark filings, the more conventional spelling of Sankyo Koki Co., Ltd. was often used.
The company was already active in the early 1950s. Before the use of the Komura brand, it used the brand name Chibanon or Chibanone, notably supplying lenses to the Tōsei Kōki company. The Chibanon brand was retained for some time on enlarging lenses and projection lenses.[1]
In 1962 the company registered Komura as a US Trademark. The filing indicates that Komura was first used as a brand name in 1953.[2] At the time of this filing the company's address is listed as:
Sankyo Koki Co., Ltd. 69 Kita-Inaricho Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan
In the 1970s, the company developed the Komura Uniadapter System that allowed their 35mm interchangeable lenses to mount to "practically all Japanese-made and a number of European-made reflexes - as well as 16mm cine cameras with C mount"[3] Komura Uniadapters known to exist include Canon FL, Exakta, M42, and Topcon.
By the mid 1970s, the company changed it's name to Komura Lens Manufacturing, Ltd. In 1975 the company registered Telemore as a trademark. The filing indicates that Telemore was first used in commerce in 1969.[4] In 1976 they registered Komuranon as a trademark. The filing indicates Komuranon was first used in commerce in 1973.[5] At the time of the US trademark filings, the company's address is listed as:
Komura Lens Mfg., Ltd. 17-3, Kasuga 2-chome Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
The Komura company became insolvent in 1980 and in 1981 was reported to be in acquisition talks with a "large binocular manufacturer".[6] The outcome is unknown, however, all trademarks owned by the company subsequently expired, suggesting the company did not survive.
Lenses
Chibanon / E-Chibanon lenses
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| Advertisement by Sankyō Kōki in Asahi Camera, January to April 1955. image by rebollo_fr (Image rights) |
Chibanon or E-Chibanon[7] lenses for enlargement or general photography:
- 50mm f/2.8, five elements, 1954–5[8][9]
- 75mm f/3.5, three or four elements, 1954–5[8][9]
- 80mm f/3.5, three or four elements, 1954–5[8][9]
- 80mm f/2.8, four elements, announced in 1955[8]
- 105mm f/3.5, manufactured on demand, 1955[8]
Cameras equipped with early lenses by Sankyō Kōki:
- some examples of the Semi Frank have an E. Chibanone lens (an early spelling variant);
- Chibanon or Chibanone (チバノン) lenses were advertised on the Copenflex and Sanon Six;
- another lens perhaps called Chibar (チバー) was advertised on the Sanon Six II.
Komura lenses
- Sankyo Kohki Komura 85mm f/1.4 preset T mount
- Sankyo Kohko Komura 85mm f/1.4 preset Nikon mount
- Sankyo Kohki Komura 100mm f/1.8 preset T mount
- Sankyo Kohki Komura 100mm f/1.8 preset Uniadapter mount (ex sn: 65508)
- Sankyo Kohki Komura 105mm f/2.0 preset T mount (ex sn: 3352534)
- Sankyo Kohki Komura 105mm f/2.0 preset Uniadapter mount (ex sn: 68317)
- Sankyo Kohki Komura 135mm f/2.0 preset Uniadapter mount (ex sn: 67053)
- Sankyo Kohki Komura 200mm f/4.5
- Sankyo Kohki Super-Komura 300mm f/5 auto Uniadapter mount (ex sn: 338100)
- see also Komura lenses in 39mm screw mount
- see also Komura lenses in 42mm screw mount
- see also Komura lenses in Bronica mounts
- see also Komura lenses in Contax rangefinder mount
- see also Komura lenses in Exakta mount
Komuranon lenses
Other products
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| Sankyō Kōki ad in Asahi Camera November 1953. (see also October 1953). image by rebollo_fr (Image rights) |
- Permanent cable release, 1953:[11]
- standard model, ¥150
- for Leica, ¥200
Notes
- ↑ Projection lenses: example observed in an online auction.
- ↑ US Trademark filing for Komura
- ↑ [International Federation of Photographic Art, Issues 7-12, p 68]
- ↑ US Trademark filing for Telemore
- ↑ US Trademark filing for Komuranon
- ↑ [British Journal of Photography, 1981, Vol 128, p. 464]
- ↑ The Roman spelling "Chivanon" found in original advertisements has not been observed on actual products, and was certainly mistaken.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Advertisement in Asahi Camera January 1955, p.234, February 1955, p.167, March 1955, p.213, and April 1955, p.224.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Advertisement dated 1954 reproduced at Shashin-Bako.
- ↑ E-Chibanon 50mm f/3.5 lens observed in an online auction, black and chrome barrel with knurled aperture ring.
- ↑ Advertisements in Asahi Camera October 1953, p.222, and November 1953, p.198.
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera. Advertisements by Sankyō Kōki:
- October 1953, p.222;
- November 1953, p.198;
- January 1955, p.234;
- February 1955, p.167;
- March 1955, p.213;
- April 1955, p.224.
Links
In Japanese:
- Pages of Terasaki Haruhisa's website:
- Tōsei Kōki and Sankyō Kōki
- Tōsei Kōki, with early lenses by Sankyō Kōki
- Advertisement by Sankyō Kōki dated 1954, reproduced in Shashin-Bako
- Komura 80mm f/3.5 for Leica at Kamera to Shashin to Neko to
