Difference between revisions of "Tanaka"
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== History == | == History == | ||
| − | Tanaka Kōgaku was perhaps already active in the early 1950s, making screw lenses and camera accessories.<REF> Awano, p.52 of {{KKS}} no.37. </REF> It was founded by a former employee of [[Kōgaku Seiki]] (predecessor of [[Nicca]]), who worked under [[Kumagai Genji]] on the [[Nippon (35mm)|Nippon]] Leica copy.<REF> Shirai, pp.25–6 of ''Maboroshi no kamera o otte'': 熊谷氏の会社の職人だった人々が作ったカメラに、やはりライカそっくりの「タナック」、「チヨタックス」、「メルコン」があるという. </REF> The company announced a Leica copy called [[Tanack 35 to IV-S|Tanack 35]] in late 1952, improved in 1954 as the [[Tanack 35 to IV-S|Tanack IIIS]] and in 1955 as the [[Tanack 35 to IV-S|Tanack IV-S]]. The latter model met some success and was produced until 1958. At the same time, Tanaka was making a series of [[Tanar lenses]] in [[39mm screw lenses|Leica mount]], to | + | '''Tanaka Kōgaku K.K.''' (田中光学{{kabu}})<REF> Full name confirmed by advertisements dated May 1953 to May 1955 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.145–6. </REF> was perhaps already active in the early 1950s, making screw lenses and camera accessories.<REF> Awano, p.52 of {{KKS}} no.37. </REF> It was founded by a former employee of [[Kōgaku Seiki]] (predecessor of [[Nicca]]), who worked under [[Kumagai Genji]] on the [[Nippon (35mm)|Nippon]] Leica copy.<REF> Shirai, pp.25–6 of ''Maboroshi no kamera o otte'': 熊谷氏の会社の職人だった人々が作ったカメラに、やはりライカそっくりの「タナック」、「チヨタックス」、「メルコン」があるという. </REF> The factory was in Kawasaki, Kanagawa (a distant suburb of Tokyo),<REF> The address was Kanagawa-ken Kawasaki-shi Noborito 2828 (神奈川県川崎市登戸2828). Source: advertisements dated May 1953 to May 1955 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.145–6. </REF> and the company installed headquarters in Ginza in 1954.<REF> The address was Tōkyō-to Chūō-ku Ginza 3–5 (東京都中央区銀座3丁目5) in late 1954, then Ginza 1–3 in mid-1955. Source: advertisements dated December 1954 to May 1955 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.146. </REF> |
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| + | The company announced a Leica copy called [[Tanack 35 to IV-S|Tanack 35]] in late 1952, improved in 1954 as the [[Tanack 35 to IV-S|Tanack IIIS]] and in 1955 as the [[Tanack 35 to IV-S|Tanack IV-S]]. The latter model met some success and was produced until 1958. At the same time, Tanaka was making a series of [[Tanar lenses]] in [[39mm screw lenses|Leica mount]], to equip the Tanack cameras. | ||
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| + | Documents dated 1956 show the company name '''Tanaka Kōgaku Kōgyō K.K.''' (田中光学工業{{kabu}}, meaning Tanaka Optical Industries);<REF> Column in {{SK}} September 1956, p.217, and article in {{SK}} October 1956, p.259. </REF> from that time the cameras were advertised by '''Tanack Camera K.K.''' (タナックカメラ{{kabu}}), new name of the Ginza commercial branch.<REF> The address of that company is that in Ginza 1–3. Source: advertisements dated December 1956 to January 1959 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.146 and 253. </REF> | ||
In 1957, Tanaka released an ambitious rangefinder camera called [[Tanack SD]], inspired by the [[Nikon S2]] but taking [[39mm screw lenses|Leica mount lenses]]. The camera was produced until 1959 but met very limited success. | In 1957, Tanaka released an ambitious rangefinder camera called [[Tanack SD]], inspired by the [[Nikon S2]] but taking [[39mm screw lenses|Leica mount lenses]]. The camera was produced until 1959 but met very limited success. | ||
Revision as of 09:53, 23 April 2009
See also the wartime Tanaka, maker of the Mulix, and Tanaka Shōkai, an unrelated distributor.
Tanaka Kōgaku (田中光学, meaning Tanaka Optical) was a Japanese camera and lens maker.
History
Tanaka Kōgaku K.K. (田中光学㈱)[1] was perhaps already active in the early 1950s, making screw lenses and camera accessories.[2] It was founded by a former employee of Kōgaku Seiki (predecessor of Nicca), who worked under Kumagai Genji on the Nippon Leica copy.[3] The factory was in Kawasaki, Kanagawa (a distant suburb of Tokyo),[4] and the company installed headquarters in Ginza in 1954.[5]
The company announced a Leica copy called Tanack 35 in late 1952, improved in 1954 as the Tanack IIIS and in 1955 as the Tanack IV-S. The latter model met some success and was produced until 1958. At the same time, Tanaka was making a series of Tanar lenses in Leica mount, to equip the Tanack cameras.
Documents dated 1956 show the company name Tanaka Kōgaku Kōgyō K.K. (田中光学工業㈱, meaning Tanaka Optical Industries);[6] from that time the cameras were advertised by Tanack Camera K.K. (タナックカメラ㈱), new name of the Ginza commercial branch.[7]
In 1957, Tanaka released an ambitious rangefinder camera called Tanack SD, inspired by the Nikon S2 but taking Leica mount lenses. The camera was produced until 1959 but met very limited success.
In early 1959, the company made an attempt to give a successor to the Tanack IV-S, releasing the Tanack V3 with a specific bayonet mount. Tanaka finally produced the Tanack VP, an evolution of the V3 turning back to the Leica screw mount, but it lacked the resource to develop it further, and disappeared in 1959 or 1960.
Camera list
Lens list
- Tanar lenses in Leica screw mount
- tele lenses for 16mm and 8mm movie cameras (announced in mid 1953)[8]
Other
- accessory finders for the Tanar lenses
- Universal zoom finder for 35mm cameras (announced in mid 1953)[9]
Notes
- ↑ Full name confirmed by advertisements dated May 1953 to May 1955 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.145–6.
- ↑ Awano, p.52 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.37.
- ↑ Shirai, pp.25–6 of Maboroshi no kamera o otte: 熊谷氏の会社の職人だった人々が作ったカメラに、やはりライカそっくりの「タナック」、「チヨタックス」、「メルコン」があるという.
- ↑ The address was Kanagawa-ken Kawasaki-shi Noborito 2828 (神奈川県川崎市登戸2828). Source: advertisements dated May 1953 to May 1955 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.145–6.
- ↑ The address was Tōkyō-to Chūō-ku Ginza 3–5 (東京都中央区銀座3丁目5) in late 1954, then Ginza 1–3 in mid-1955. Source: advertisements dated December 1954 to May 1955 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.146.
- ↑ Column in Shashin Kōgyō September 1956, p.217, and article in Shashin Kōgyō October 1956, p.259.
- ↑ The address of that company is that in Ginza 1–3. Source: advertisements dated December 1956 to January 1959 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.146 and 253.
- ↑ Advertisement in Ars Camera May 1953, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.145.
- ↑ Advertisement in Ars Camera May 1953, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.145.
Bibliography
- 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.
- Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Kokusan Barunakku-gata kamera: Tanakku" (国産バルナック型カメラ・タナック, Japanese Leica-type cameras: Tanack). In Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.37, March 1996. No ISBN number. Leica Book '96 (ライカブック'96). Pp.52–5.
- 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.913–4.
- Shirai Tatsuo (白井達男). "Nippon Kamera" (ニッポンカメラ, Nippon Camera). Pp.17–26 of Maboroshi no kamera o otte (幻のカメラを追って, Pursuing phantom cameras). Gendai Kamera Shinsho (現代カメラ新書). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1982. ISBN 4-257-08077-9. (First published in Kamera Rebyū / Camera Review no.2, February 1978.) Contains an interview of Kumagai Genji, mentioning the Tanack as made by a former employee.
