Difference between revisions of "Shōwa Kōgaku"

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'''Shōwa Kōgaku''', later renamed '''Leotax''', was a Japanese camera maker.
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'''Shōwa Kōgaku''', later renamed '''Leotax Camera''', was a Japanese camera maker.
  
It was founded in January 1938 by Nakagawa Kenzō (中川幹三) as '''Kyōei-sha''' (共栄社), based in Nippori (日暮里), Tokyo.<REF name="Sugi 47"> {{SUG}}, p.47. </REF> Nakagawa, a former engineer of [[Konica|Konishiroku]], obtained financial support from [[Minagawa|Minagawa Shōten]].<REF name="Sugi 47" /> The company was renamed '''Gōshi-gaisha Shōwa Kōgaku''' ({{goshi}}昭和光学) at the end of 1938.<REF name="Sugi 47" /> It made the [[Leotax]] rangefinder cameras until 1961, and it also made the [[Semi Leotax]] and [[Baby Leotax]] folders as well as the [[Gemflex]] subminiature TLR.
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It was founded in January 1938 by Nakagawa Kenzō (中川幹三) as '''Kyōei-sha''' (共栄社), based in Nippori (日暮里), Tokyo.<REF name="Sugi 47"> {{SUG}}, p.47. </REF> Nakagawa, a former engineer of [[Konica|Konishiroku]], obtained financial support from [[Minagawa|Minagawa Shōten]].<REF name="Sugi 47" /> The company was renamed '''G.K. Shōwa Kōgaku''' ({{goshi}}昭和光学) at the end of 1938.<REF name="Sugi 47" /> It became '''Shōwa Kōgaku Seiki K.K.''' (昭和光学精機{{kabu}}) at some time, certainly after the war, and was known under that name until 1956 or 1957,<REF> The name appears in advertisements dated August 1949 to March 1956, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.210–2 and 324. </REF> when it was renamed '''Leotax Camera K.K.''' (レオタックスカメラ{{kabu}}).<REF> The name appears in advertisements dated October 1957 to February 1960, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.324 and 326. </REF>
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It made the [[Leotax]] rangefinder cameras until 1961, and it also made the [[Semi Leotax]] and [[Baby Leotax]] folders as well as the [[Gemflex]] subminiature TLR.
  
 
== 35mm rangefinder ==
 
== 35mm rangefinder ==

Revision as of 18:23, 22 March 2009

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Shōwa Kōgaku, later renamed Leotax Camera, was a Japanese camera maker.

It was founded in January 1938 by Nakagawa Kenzō (中川幹三) as Kyōei-sha (共栄社), based in Nippori (日暮里), Tokyo.[1] Nakagawa, a former engineer of Konishiroku, obtained financial support from Minagawa Shōten.[1] The company was renamed G.K. Shōwa Kōgaku (㈾昭和光学) at the end of 1938.[1] It became Shōwa Kōgaku Seiki K.K. (昭和光学精機㈱) at some time, certainly after the war, and was known under that name until 1956 or 1957,[2] when it was renamed Leotax Camera K.K. (レオタックスカメラ㈱).[3]

It made the Leotax rangefinder cameras until 1961, and it also made the Semi Leotax and Baby Leotax folders as well as the Gemflex subminiature TLR.

35mm rangefinder

Leotax Leica copies

4.5×6 folding

3×4 folding

14×14mm TLR

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sugiyama, p.47.
  2. The name appears in advertisements dated August 1949 to March 1956, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.210–2 and 324.
  3. The name appears in advertisements dated October 1957 to February 1960, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.324 and 326.

Bibliography

  • 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.

Links

In Japanese: