Difference between revisions of "Tōkyō Seiki"

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(reworked to fit the new title)
(successor of Condor Camera Works)
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'''Tōkyō Seiki K.K.''' (東京精機株式会社) was a Japanese company, active from 1951 to 1955. It announced the [[Semi Rocket]] 4.5&times;6 folder in 1951 and made the New Rocket hit-type camera at an unknown date.<REF> Semi Rocket: {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;374. New Rocket: McKeown, p.&nbsp;844. </REF> From 1952, it made another 4.5&times;6 folder called [[Doris (4.5&times;6)|Doris]]. It is said that the camera was named after its maker (presumably meaning designer), a Mr Motodori (本鳥): "Dori's camera", thus "Doris".<REF> Niimi, p. 92. The name Motodori also appears in [[Motodori|Motodori Shashin Kikai Kōgyō-sho]], the maker of the [[Semi Lester]], but it is maybe a coincidence. </REF> (The name "Doris" had already been used before the war on two 3&times;4 camera models, distributed by [[Fukada Shōkai]] and sometimes attributed to [[Prince|Prince Camera Works]].)
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'''Tōkyō Seiki K.K.''' (東京精機株式会社) was a Japanese company, active from 1951 to 1955. It is said that it was a continuation of the company [[Condor Camera|Nissan Kōgaku Kōgyō-sha or Condor Camera Works]] that made the [[Condor folders]] before the war.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;374, about the Semi Rocket. </REF>
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The company announced the [[Semi Rocket]] 4.5&times;6 folder in 1951 and made the New Rocket hit-type camera at an unknown date.<REF> Semi Rocket: {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;374. New Rocket: McKeown, p.&nbsp;844. </REF> From 1952, it made another 4.5&times;6 folder called [[Doris (4.5&times;6)|Doris]]. It is said that the camera was named after its maker (presumably meaning designer), a Mr Motodori (本鳥): "Dori's camera", thus "Doris".<REF> Niimi, p. 92. The name Motodori also appears in [[Motodori|Motodori Shashin Kikai Kōgyō-sho]], the maker of the [[Semi Lester]], but it is maybe a coincidence. </REF> (The name "Doris" had already been used before the war on two 3&times;4 camera models, distributed by [[Fukada Shōkai]] and sometimes attributed to [[Prince|Prince Camera Works]].)
  
 
By 1955, the company had been renamed '''Doris Camera K.K.''' (ドリスカメラ株式会社), keeping the same address.<REF> The address was Tōkyō-to Itabashi-ku Tokiwadai 1, 16 (東京都板橋区常盤台1の16). Source: advertisements reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;153. </REF> The range of models was extended with the [[Dorisflex]] TLR and the [[Doris Six]] 6&times;6 folder.
 
By 1955, the company had been renamed '''Doris Camera K.K.''' (ドリスカメラ株式会社), keeping the same address.<REF> The address was Tōkyō-to Itabashi-ku Tokiwadai 1, 16 (東京都板橋区常盤台1の16). Source: advertisements reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;153. </REF> The range of models was extended with the [[Dorisflex]] TLR and the [[Doris Six]] 6&times;6 folder.

Revision as of 18:41, 20 October 2006

Tōkyō Seiki K.K. (東京精機株式会社) was a Japanese company, active from 1951 to 1955. It is said that it was a continuation of the company Nissan Kōgaku Kōgyō-sha or Condor Camera Works that made the Condor folders before the war.[1]

The company announced the Semi Rocket 4.5×6 folder in 1951 and made the New Rocket hit-type camera at an unknown date.[2] From 1952, it made another 4.5×6 folder called Doris. It is said that the camera was named after its maker (presumably meaning designer), a Mr Motodori (本鳥): "Dori's camera", thus "Doris".[3] (The name "Doris" had already been used before the war on two 3×4 camera models, distributed by Fukada Shōkai and sometimes attributed to Prince Camera Works.)

By 1955, the company had been renamed Doris Camera K.K. (ドリスカメラ株式会社), keeping the same address.[4] The range of models was extended with the Dorisflex TLR and the Doris Six 6×6 folder.

4.5×6 folder

6×6 folder

6×6 TLR

Hit camera

  • New Rocket

Notes

  1. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 374, about the Semi Rocket.
  2. Semi Rocket: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 374. New Rocket: McKeown, p. 844.
  3. Niimi, p. 92. The name Motodori also appears in Motodori Shashin Kikai Kōgyō-sho, the maker of the Semi Lester, but it is maybe a coincidence.
  4. The address was Tōkyō-to Itabashi-ku Tokiwadai 1, 16 (東京都板橋区常盤台1の16). Source: advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 153.

References / further reading

  • Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7.
  • McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). Pp. 250, 844, 927–8.
  • Niimi Kahee (新見嘉兵衛). Kamera-mei no gogen sanpo (カメラ名の語源散歩, Strolls in the etymology of camera names). 2nd ed. Tokyo: Shashin Kōgyō Shuppansha, 2002. ISBN 4-87956-060-X

Links