Difference between revisions of "Tokiwa Kōgaku"

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'''Tokiwa Kōgaku Kōgyō Y.K.''' (常盤光学工業<small>有限会社</small>) was a Japanese company based in Tokyo, Toshima, in the early 1940s.<REF> Its address was Tōkyō-shi Toshima-ku Ikebukuro 1–606 (東京市豊島区池袋1の606). Source: Advertisement dated September 1942, formerly reproduced in the [https://web.archive.org/web/20100703164808/http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze (archived)] website, advertisement dated February 1943, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.73, and {{Inquiry1943_short}}, dating April 1943. </REF> (''Tokiwa'' means "everlasting" or "evergreen", and it is also a fairly common family name in Japan.)
The name '''Tokiwa Kōgaku Kōgyō Yūgen Kaisha''' (常盤光學工業有限會社) appears in 1942 and 1943 advertisements for the [[Zeitax|Zeitax II and III]]<REF> {{Gochamaze|Zeitax II and III|22|23 Sep 1942|Asahi Graph}} {{Showa10ad|Zeitax III|119|Feb 1943|Shashin Bunka}} </REF>. [[Sources:English#McKeown's Guide|McKeown]] also mentions a Tokiwa Hand camera under the Kuribayashi entry, as "made by [[Kuribayashi]] for Tokiwa Kogaku". It is unknown if this company had a relationship with [[Tokiwa Seiki]] who made the [[First Six]] and [[Firstflex]] cameras. There is a company called K.K. Tokiwa Kōgaku (株式会社ときわ光学) existing today but it was founded in 1956<REF> According to its website [http://www.tokiwa-optical.co.jp/ www.tokiwa-optical.co.jp]. </REF>.
 
  
''See also [[Tokiwa Seiki]].''
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== Camera maker ==
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The company name Tokiwa Kōgaku Kōgyō appears in advertisements dated 1942 and 1943 for the [[Zeitax]], a camera otherwise attributed to [[Condor Camera|Motodori Kōgaku]].<REF> Advertisement dated September 1942, formerly reproduced in the [https://web.archive.org/web/20100703164808/http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze (archived)] website; advertisement dated February 1943, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.73. </REF> In the April 1943 government inquiry on Japanese cameras, Tokiwa Kōgaku Kōgyō and Motodori Kōgaku Kikai Kōgyō-sho are listed at the same address,<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}. </REF> and there is obviously a relation between the two. (See also the [[Zeitax]] page.)
  
== 120 film cameras ==
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== Lenses and shutters ==
* [[Zeitax|Zeitax II and III]] (4.5&times;6 folders)
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{| class="plainlinks" align="right" width=300px style="text-align: center;"
It is unknown if the previous models of the Zeitax were made by the same company<REF> For the earlier models, {{McKeown}} gives Motoshima Optical Works as the company name, while {{Kokusan}} and [http://rd2h-ari.hp.infoseek.co.jp/JAS_ZEITAX_QQ_PIC.htm this page] at [http://rd2h-ari.hp.infoseek.co.jp/ Japan Family Camera] both give Zeitax Camera Works (ザイタックスカメラワークス). </REF>.
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|-
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/46259346385/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7875/46259346385_716b4b5199_m_d.jpg]
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|-
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|| ''Hit-Rapid shutter and Tokiwa Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 lens on a [[First Reflex]]. Picture by Jan Wegrzyn. {{with permission}}''
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|}
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Tokiwa Kōgaku supplied lenses and shutters to [[Petri|Kuribayashi]]. The following items are confirmed:
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* Hit-Rapid shutter, T, B, 1–500 speeds (on the [[Baby Semi First]], [[First Reflex]] and [[Semi Rotte]]);<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, shutter item 18-R-1. </REF>
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* First 75/2.9 lens, four elements (on the [[Semi First and First Six]]);<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item La2. </REF>
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* First 75/3.5 lens, three elements (on the [[Semi First and First Six|Semi First, BB Semi First, First Six]] and [[Semi Rotte]]);<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item Lb18. </REF>
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* First 75/4.5 lens, three elements (on the [[Semi First and First Six|Semi First, BB Semi First, First Six]], [[Baby Semi First|Baby Semi First, BB Baby Semi First]] and [[Semi Rotte]]);<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item Lc2. </REF>
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* Rotte 60/3.5 lens, three elements (on the [[Molby]]);<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item K5. </REF>
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* Rotte 75/3.5 lens, three elements (on the [[Semi First and First Six|BB Semi First]])<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, lens item Lb21. </REF>
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* Rotte 75/4.5 lens, probably three elements (on the [[Semi First and First Six|BB Semi First]], [[Baby Semi First]] and [[Semi Rotte]]);
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* Tokiwa 75/3.5 lens, four elements (on the [[First Reflex|First Reflex II]]).<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.88. </REF>
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The Hit 7.5cm f/3.5 four-element lens (mounted on the [[Auto Semi First]] and [[First Reflex|First Reflex II]]) was likely made by Tokiwa too, but this is unconfirmed.<REF> See the discussion in the page on the [[First Reflex]]. </REF>
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== Other Tokiwa ==
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Some recent sources say that the [[Tokiwa plate folders]] of the mid-1930s were made by [[Petri|Kuribayashi]] for Tokiwa Kōgaku,<REF> Baird, pp.15 and 57; {{MK}}, p.576. </REF> but the name similarity is perhaps a mere coincidence.
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It is unknown if Tokiwa Kōgaku was related with [[Tokiwa Seiki]] which made the [[First Six]] and [[Firstflex]] cameras distributed after 1945 by [[Minagawa|Minagawa Shōten]] (owner of the "First" brand). A company called K.K. Tokiwa Kōgaku ({{kabu}}ときわ光学) exists today (2007) but it was founded in 1956.<REF> See its [http://www.tokiwa-optical.co.jp/ official website]. </REF>
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
== Printed bibliography ==
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== Bibliography ==
* {{Showa10}} Items 117&ndash;9.
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* {{Showa10}} Items 117–9.
* {{McKeown12}} Page 701.
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* {{Baird Petri}}
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* {{Inquiry1943}}
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* {{McKeown12}} Pp.576 and 701.
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== Web bibliography ==
 
In Japanese:
 
* {{Gochamaze|Zeitax II and III|22|23 Sep 1942|Asahi Graph}}
 
  
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
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[[Category: Japanese lens makers]]
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[[Category: Japanese shutter makers]]

Latest revision as of 06:12, 20 October 2020

Tokiwa Kōgaku Kōgyō Y.K. (常盤光学工業有限会社) was a Japanese company based in Tokyo, Toshima, in the early 1940s.[1] (Tokiwa means "everlasting" or "evergreen", and it is also a fairly common family name in Japan.)

Camera maker

The company name Tokiwa Kōgaku Kōgyō appears in advertisements dated 1942 and 1943 for the Zeitax, a camera otherwise attributed to Motodori Kōgaku.[2] In the April 1943 government inquiry on Japanese cameras, Tokiwa Kōgaku Kōgyō and Motodori Kōgaku Kikai Kōgyō-sho are listed at the same address,[3] and there is obviously a relation between the two. (See also the Zeitax page.)

Lenses and shutters

Tokiwa Kōgaku supplied lenses and shutters to Kuribayashi. The following items are confirmed:

The Hit 7.5cm f/3.5 four-element lens (mounted on the Auto Semi First and First Reflex II) was likely made by Tokiwa too, but this is unconfirmed.[11]

Other Tokiwa

Some recent sources say that the Tokiwa plate folders of the mid-1930s were made by Kuribayashi for Tokiwa Kōgaku,[12] but the name similarity is perhaps a mere coincidence.

It is unknown if Tokiwa Kōgaku was related with Tokiwa Seiki which made the First Six and Firstflex cameras distributed after 1945 by Minagawa Shōten (owner of the "First" brand). A company called K.K. Tokiwa Kōgaku (㈱ときわ光学) exists today (2007) but it was founded in 1956.[13]

Notes

  1. Its address was Tōkyō-shi Toshima-ku Ikebukuro 1–606 (東京市豊島区池袋1の606). Source: Advertisement dated September 1942, formerly reproduced in the Gochamaze (archived) website, advertisement dated February 1943, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.73, and "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), dating April 1943.
  2. Advertisement dated September 1942, formerly reproduced in the Gochamaze (archived) website; advertisement dated February 1943, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.73.
  3. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras").
  4. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), shutter item 18-R-1.
  5. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item La2.
  6. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb18.
  7. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lc2.
  8. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item K5.
  9. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb21.
  10. Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.88.
  11. See the discussion in the page on the First Reflex.
  12. Baird, pp.15 and 57; McKeown, p.576.
  13. See its official website.

Bibliography