Difference between revisions of "Sumida"

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(connection with Proud)
(clarification about the Apollo and Mikado)
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"Sumida" is the name of a river in Tokyo, and also of one of the 23 boroughs (区, ''ku,'' conventionally if misleadingly translated as "wards") of the Japanese capital. The company was installed there, first in Arakawa-ku from 1950 to 1952, then in Setagaya-ku in 1953.<REF> Source: advertisements reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.&nbsp;172&ndash;3. The main address from 1950 to 1952 was Tōkyō-to Arakawa-ku Minami-Senju 2, 13 (東京都荒川区南千住2の13), with the sales department (営業所) at the following address Tōkyō-to Minato-ku Shibasakurada Bizen-chō 12 (東京都港区芝桜田備前町12). In 1953 the only address is Tōkyō-to Setagaya-ku Daita 1, 748 (東京都世田谷区代田1の748). </REF>
 
"Sumida" is the name of a river in Tokyo, and also of one of the 23 boroughs (区, ''ku,'' conventionally if misleadingly translated as "wards") of the Japanese capital. The company was installed there, first in Arakawa-ku from 1950 to 1952, then in Setagaya-ku in 1953.<REF> Source: advertisements reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.&nbsp;172&ndash;3. The main address from 1950 to 1952 was Tōkyō-to Arakawa-ku Minami-Senju 2, 13 (東京都荒川区南千住2の13), with the sales department (営業所) at the following address Tōkyō-to Minato-ku Shibasakurada Bizen-chō 12 (東京都港区芝桜田備前町12). In 1953 the only address is Tōkyō-to Setagaya-ku Daita 1, 748 (東京都世田谷区代田1の748). </REF>
  
The ancestor of Sumida was the company [[Proud|Proud-sha]], founded by Miyazaki Shizuma (宮崎静馬) and apparently merged into [[Miyoshi|Miyoshi Kōgaku]] around 1940. Sumida made a number of cameras called Proud, and the sales department briefly used the name "Proud-sha". From 1950 to 1952, the company's logo was formed by the letters ''KSK'', with the "S" vertically elongated to draw some sort of cross. From late 1952 onwards, it used a logo formed by the words ''KSK Proud'' inside an oval, with a stylized "P". This logo is very close to the one used by Proud-sha before the war.
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The ancestor of Sumida was the company [[Proud|Proud-sha]], founded by Miyazaki Shizuma (宮崎静馬) and apparently merged into [[Miyoshi|Miyoshi Kōgaku]] around 1940. The first cameras made by Sumida were perhaps the [[Apollo and Mikado]] folders, a direct continuation of the [[Roavic]] by [[Miyoshi|Miyoshi Kōgaku]], itself descending from the [[Semi Prux]] by [[Proud]]. The Apollo and Mikado are sometimes attributed to [[Nishida]], which provided the lenses and shutters, but this is probably a mistake.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;345, attributes the "Apollo II" both to Sumida and to Nishida. {{Sugiyama}}, items 1269 and 1350, attributes the "Apollo Semi II" and "Mikado Semi" to Nishida. {{McKeown}}, pp.&nbsp;737&ndash;8 and 907, tries to distinguish between the "Apollo 120" (or "Apollo Semi II") and "Mikado" attributed to Nishida, and the "Mikado 120" and "Mikado Semi" attributed to Sumida. These distinctions seem pointless. </REF>
  
It seems that Sumida worked in cooperation with [[Nishida]] to produce the [[Apollo and Mikado]] folders.<REF> They are attributed to both companies in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;345 (for the Apollo II), and in {{McKeown}}, pp.&nbsp;737&ndash;8 and 907. </REF> It is likely that the body was made by Sumida while Nishida provided the lens and shutter, and maybe marketed the camera. These cameras are the continuation the [[Roavic]] by [[Miyoshi|Miyoshi Kōgaku]], itself descending from the [[Semi Prux]] by [[Proud]].
+
Sumida made a number of cameras called Proud, and the sales department briefly used the name "Proud-sha". From 1950 to 1952, the company's logo was formed by the letters ''KSK'', with the "S" vertically elongated to draw some sort of cross. From late 1952 onwards, it used a logo formed by the words ''KSK Proud'' inside an oval, with a stylized "P". This logo is very close to the one used by Proud-sha before the war.
  
Lewis says that Sumida was first called "Million Optical".<REF> Lewis, p.&nbsp;73. </REF> No further evidence has been found to sustain this. Sumida indeed marketed a camera called Million Proud, but Million is a part of the model name.
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One source says that Sumida was first called "Million Optical",<REF> Lewis, p.&nbsp;73. </REF> but no further evidence has been found to sustain this. (Sumida indeed marketed a camera called [[Proud postwar folders|Million Proud]], where Million is a part of the model name.)
  
 
<div class="plainlinks floatright">[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/267886712/ http://static.flickr.com/101/267886712_c4593f1288_t_d.jpg]</div>
 
<div class="plainlinks floatright">[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/267886712/ http://static.flickr.com/101/267886712_c4593f1288_t_d.jpg]</div>
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* {{Showa10}}
 
* {{Showa10}}
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;907.
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;907.
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* {{Zukan}}
  
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]

Revision as of 13:15, 3 July 2007

K.K. Sumida Kōki Seisakusho (株式会社隅田光機製作所) or Sumida Optical Works was a Japanese camera maker from 1950 to 1953.[1]

Name and history

"Sumida" is the name of a river in Tokyo, and also of one of the 23 boroughs (区, ku, conventionally if misleadingly translated as "wards") of the Japanese capital. The company was installed there, first in Arakawa-ku from 1950 to 1952, then in Setagaya-ku in 1953.[2]

The ancestor of Sumida was the company Proud-sha, founded by Miyazaki Shizuma (宮崎静馬) and apparently merged into Miyoshi Kōgaku around 1940. The first cameras made by Sumida were perhaps the Apollo and Mikado folders, a direct continuation of the Roavic by Miyoshi Kōgaku, itself descending from the Semi Prux by Proud. The Apollo and Mikado are sometimes attributed to Nishida, which provided the lenses and shutters, but this is probably a mistake.[3]

Sumida made a number of cameras called Proud, and the sales department briefly used the name "Proud-sha". From 1950 to 1952, the company's logo was formed by the letters KSK, with the "S" vertically elongated to draw some sort of cross. From late 1952 onwards, it used a logo formed by the words KSK Proud inside an oval, with a stylized "P". This logo is very close to the one used by Proud-sha before the war.

One source says that Sumida was first called "Million Optical",[4] but no further evidence has been found to sustain this. (Sumida indeed marketed a camera called Million Proud, where Million is a part of the model name.)

4.5×6 folding

6×6 folding

Notes

  1. The dates correspond to the earliest and latest Sumida advertisements mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 362.
  2. Source: advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 172–3. The main address from 1950 to 1952 was Tōkyō-to Arakawa-ku Minami-Senju 2, 13 (東京都荒川区南千住2の13), with the sales department (営業所) at the following address Tōkyō-to Minato-ku Shibasakurada Bizen-chō 12 (東京都港区芝桜田備前町12). In 1953 the only address is Tōkyō-to Setagaya-ku Daita 1, 748 (東京都世田谷区代田1の748).
  3. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 345, attributes the "Apollo II" both to Sumida and to Nishida. Sugiyama, items 1269 and 1350, attributes the "Apollo Semi II" and "Mikado Semi" to Nishida. McKeown, pp. 737–8 and 907, tries to distinguish between the "Apollo 120" (or "Apollo Semi II") and "Mikado" attributed to Nishida, and the "Mikado 120" and "Mikado Semi" attributed to Sumida. These distinctions seem pointless.
  4. Lewis, p. 73.

Bibliography