Difference between revisions of "Tomioka"

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(much more info, from Hagiya's article on Ofuna)
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== History ==
 
== History ==
 
=== Prewar and wartime ===
 
=== Prewar and wartime ===
−
The company was founded in 1924 in Tokyo, Shinagawa (品川) by Tomioka Masashige (冨岡正重) as '''Tomioka Kōgaku Kenkyūsho''' (冨岡光学研究所, meaning Tomioka Optical Laboratory).<REF> Name of the founder, company name, 1924 date: Inoue, p.129; Baird, p.59. Location in Shinagawa: Inoue, p.129. </REF> The first lenses were released around 1932.<REF> Date: Baird, p.59. </REF> They were the Lausar (ローザー) four-element Tessar-type lenses, available in 50mm, 75mm and 105mm focal lengths.<REF> Focal lengths: Inoue, p.129. </REF>
+
The founder Toshioka Masashige (冨岡正重) graduated from the Tokyo School of Physics (東京物理学校) in 1913 and worked at the optical factory of the Army Artillery Arsenal, then for [[Nikon|Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō]] from 1917.<REF> Hagiya, p.148 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. Part of the data is also in Inoue, p.129 of {{KKS}} no.14, and Baird, p.59. </REF> In 1924, he left this company to found '''Tomioka Kōgaku Kenkyūjo''' (冨岡光学研究所, meaning Tomioka Optical Laboratory) in Shinagawa-ku, Ebara (品川区荏原), to make civilian lenses.<REF> Hagiya, p.148 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. Part of the data is also in Inoue, p.129 of {{KKS}} no.14, and Baird, p.59. </REF>
  
−
The company name was changed to '''Tomioka Kōgaku Kikai Seizōsho''' (冨岡光学機械製造所) in 1933.<REF> Date: Baird, p.59. </REF> It was in Tokyo, Nihonbashi for some time and it was located in Tokyo, Ōmori in 1943.<REF> Its address in an undated prewar advertisement was Tōkyō, Nihonbashi, Honchō 1–1 (東京・日本橋・本町一ノ一). Source: advertisement reproduced in Inoue, p.130. In 1943 it was Tōkyō-to Ōmori-ku Yukigaya-chō<!-- or Yukigaya-machi --> 929 (東京都大森区雪ヶ谷町929). Source: {{Inquiry1943_short}}, listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943. </REF>
+
After various years of research, a manufacturing plant was opened in November 1932 in Ōmori-ku, Yukigaya (大森区雪ヶ谷), and the first Lausar (ローザー) four-element Tessar-type lenses were released.<REF> Hagiya, p.148 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. Year also in Baird, p.59. The company's address is Yukigaya-chō<!-- or Yukigaya-machi --> 864 (東京市大森区雪ヶ谷町八六四) in the advertisement in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' January 1938 reproduced on p.150 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari'', and Yukigaya-chō<!-- or Yukigaya-machi --> 929 (東京都大森区雪ヶ谷町929) in the {{Inquiry1943_short}}. </REF> The company received a subsidy from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (商工省) in December of the same year.<REF> Hagiya, pp.148–9 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. The subsidy is also mentioned in the advertisement in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' January 1938 reproduced on p.150 of the same source. </REF> The company name was changed to '''Tomioka Kōgaku Kikai Seizōsho''' (冨岡光学機械製造所) in 1933.<REF> New name in 1933: Baird, p.59. Became a ''kabushiki-gaisha'': Hagiya, p.149 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. </REF> The company was a ''gōshi-gaisha''
 +
 
 +
An advertisement dated January 1938 mentions f/4.5 and f/3.5 Lausar, and gives the following list of f/4.5 barrel and enlarging lenses:<REF> Advertisement in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' reproduced in Hagiya, p.150 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. </REF>
 +
* 300mm barrel lens, ¥290;
 +
* 250mm barrel lens, ¥220;
 +
* 210mm barrel lens, ¥95;
 +
* 180mm barrel lens, ¥80;
 +
* 105mm enlarging lens, ¥25;
 +
* 75mm enlarging lens, ¥20;
 +
* 50mm enlarging lens, ¥20.
 +
The advertisement mentions the company as a ''kabushiki-gaisha'' (株式会社) and says that the distributor of the Tomioka lenses was [[Takashimaya|Takashimaya Iida]] (高島屋飯田). Another advertisement, where the company is mentioned as a ''gōshi-gaisha'' (合資会社), gives the distributor as [[Kigawa|Nichiei Shōkai]].<REF> Advertisement reproduced in Inoue, p.130 of {{KKS}} no.14. The address is given as Nihonbashi, Honchō 1–1 in Tokyo (東京・日本橋・本町一ノ一), but this seems to correspond to the address of Nichiei Shōkai, not of Tomioka. </REF>
 +
 
 +
The company was required to make military optical ordnance, including the [[Japanese military cameras|2m telephoto camera]].<REF> Hagiya, p.149 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. </REF> It opened a secundary plant in the city of Kamakura (prefecture of Kanagawa), which mainly produced binoculars.<REF> Hagiya, p.149 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. The address was Kanagawa-ken Kamakura-shi Dai 659 (神奈川県鎌倉市台659番地). </REF> (After the war, this plant was separated from the main company and became [[Ōfuna Kōgaku]].) Towards the end of the war, part of the main plant tooling was evacuated to another location in the village of Osogi (小曽木村), in the district of Nishitama (西多摩郡), Tokyo, which would later be merged into the city of Ōme (青梅市).<REF> Hagiya, p.149 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. </REF> This allowed the company to survive the war despite the complete destruction of the main plant by an aerial bombing on May 24, 1945.<REF> Hagiya, p.149 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. </REF>
  
 
=== Postwar ===
 
=== Postwar ===
−
After the war, the company was incorporated as '''K.K. Tomioka Kōgaku Kikai Seizōsho''' ({{kabu}}冨岡光学機械製造所), based in Tokyo, Ōme (青梅).<REF> [http://www.kop.co.jp/outline.html Kyocera Optec company history]. </REF> The company supplied lenses to a number of Japanese camera makers like [[Yashica]] and [[Royal Camera]]. In addition to the Lausar, other types and brand names include Tominon, Tominor, Tri-Lausar, Tomi-Kogaku, Auto-Tominon, Tomi-Yashinon, Yashimar, Yashikor, Yashinon, Heliotar and Lumaxar. (Yashinon lenses have a reputation of good quality.) Tomioka was bought by [[Yashica]] in 1968 and changed its name to '''Tomioka Kōgaku K.K.''' (冨岡光学{{kabu}}, Tomioka Optical Co., Ltd.) in 1969.<REF> [http://www.kop.co.jp/outline.html Kyocera Optec company history]. </REF>  
+
After the war, a new factory was opened in October 1945 in the village of Osogi.<REF> The [http://www.kop.co.jp/company/history.html company history] in the [http://www.kop.co.jp/english/index.html official website of its successor Kyocera Optec] says that the company was established in 1949 as '''K.K. Tomioka Kōgaku Kikai Seizōsho''' ({{kabu}}冨岡光学機械製造所), based in Tokyo, Ōme (青梅). This source does not mention any event prior to 1949, and this information is therefore dubious. </REF> The company supplied lenses to a number of Japanese camera makers such as [[Yashica]] and [[Royal Camera]]. In addition to the Lausar, other types and brand names include Tominon, Tominor, Tri-Lausar, Tomi-Kogaku, Auto-Tominon, Tomi-Yashinon, Yashimar, Yashikor, Yashinon, Heliotar and Lumaxar. (Yashinon lenses have a reputation of good quality.)
−
The Tomioka plant made [[Carl Zeiss]] licensed optics for use on some Japanese cameras, like the [[Contax (Yashica/Kyocera)|Contax]]. These were made with at least some Zeiss tooling and personnel.<REF> [http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A8003B8B6F/EmbedTitelIntern/CLN03e/$File/CLN3.pdf ''Camera Lens News'' no.3]. </REF> Tomioka became part of the [[Kyocera]] group in 1983 after the merge of Kyocera and Yashica and became '''Kyocera Optec Co., Ltd.''' (京セラオプテック{{kabu}}) in 1991.<REF> [http://www.kop.co.jp/outline.html Kyocera Optec company history]. </REF> Rumours say that Carl Zeiss progressively took control of the production facility and closed down the plant but they seem wrong (though the production line of the Zeiss licensed lenses has obviously stopped).<REF> See for example [http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009faY&tag= this post at photo.net]. </REF> The company currently (2007) still exists.
+
 
 +
Tomioka was bought by [[Yashica]] in 1968 and changed its name to '''Tomioka Kōgaku K.K.''' (冨岡光学{{kabu}}, Tomioka Optical Co., Ltd.) in 1969.<REF> [http://www.kop.co.jp/company/history.html Kyocera Optec company history]. </REF> The Tomioka plant made [[Carl Zeiss]] licensed optics for use on some Japanese cameras, like the [[Contax (Yashica/Kyocera)|Contax]]. These were made with at least some Zeiss tooling and personnel.<REF> [http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A8003B8B6F/EmbedTitelIntern/CLN03e/$File/CLN3.pdf ''Camera Lens News'' no.3]. </REF> Tomioka became part of the [[Kyocera]] group in 1983 after the merge of Kyocera and Yashica and became '''Kyocera Optec Co., Ltd.''' (京セラオプテック{{kabu}}) in 1991.<REF> [http://www.kop.co.jp/company/history.html Kyocera Optec company history]. </REF> Rumours say that Carl Zeiss progressively took control of the production facility and closed down the plant but they seem wrong (though the production line of the Zeiss licensed lenses has obviously stopped).<REF> See for example [http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009faY&tag= this post at photo.net]. </REF> The company currently (2008) still exists.
  
 
== Camera production ==
 
== Camera production ==
−
Around 1937, Tomioka made about ten prototypes of at least one camera model called [[Gokoku and Ricohl|Lausar]], a possible predecessor of the [[Gokoku and Ricohl|Gokoku]] by [[Ricoh|Riken]].<REF> ''Dokusha-dayori,'' p.161–2 of ''Kurashikku Kamera Senka'' no.14. </REF>
+
Around 1937, Tomioka made about ten prototypes of at least one camera model called [[Gokoku and Ricohl|Lausar]], a possible predecessor of the [[Gokoku and Ricohl|Gokoku]] by [[Ricoh|Riken]].<REF> ''Dokusha-dayori'', p.161–2 of {{KKS}} no.14. </REF>
  
 
== Lens list ==
 
== Lens list ==
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== Links ==
 
== Links ==
 
In English:
 
In English:
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* [http://www.kop.co.jp/english/outline.html Company outline] (and [http://www.kop.co.jp/outline.html Japanese version]) at the [http://www.kop.co.jp/english/index.html Kyocera Optec official website] (former Tomioka)
+
* [http://www.kop.co.jp/english/company/history.html Company history] (and [http://www.kop.co.jp/company/history.html Japanese version]) at the [http://www.kop.co.jp/english/index.html Kyocera Optec official website] (former Tomioka)
 
* [http://www.tlr-cameras.com/Japanese/Tomioka%20Lenses.html Tomioka lenses] in Barry Toogood's [http://www.tlr-cameras.com tlr-cameras.com]<!-- [http://www.mflenses.com/content/view/30/ Tomioka company history] is a copyvio of the former -->
 
* [http://www.tlr-cameras.com/Japanese/Tomioka%20Lenses.html Tomioka lenses] in Barry Toogood's [http://www.tlr-cameras.com tlr-cameras.com]<!-- [http://www.mflenses.com/content/view/30/ Tomioka company history] is a copyvio of the former -->
 
* [http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009faY&tag= Post at photo.net] with unverified information about the fate of the Tomioka plant
 
* [http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009faY&tag= Post at photo.net] with unverified information about the fate of the Tomioka plant

Revision as of 17:12, 18 April 2008

Tomioka, now Kyocera Optec is a Japanese optical company. It is primarily a lens maker, but it also produced a camera prototype in the 1930s.

History

Prewar and wartime

The founder Toshioka Masashige (冨岡正重) graduated from the Tokyo School of Physics (東京物理学校) in 1913 and worked at the optical factory of the Army Artillery Arsenal, then for Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō from 1917.[1] In 1924, he left this company to found Tomioka Kōgaku Kenkyūjo (冨岡光学研究所, meaning Tomioka Optical Laboratory) in Shinagawa-ku, Ebara (品川区荏原), to make civilian lenses.[2]

After various years of research, a manufacturing plant was opened in November 1932 in Ōmori-ku, Yukigaya (大森区雪ヶ谷), and the first Lausar (ローザー) four-element Tessar-type lenses were released.[3] The company received a subsidy from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (商工省) in December of the same year.[4] The company name was changed to Tomioka Kōgaku Kikai Seizōsho (冨岡光学機械製造所) in 1933.[5] The company was a gōshi-gaisha

An advertisement dated January 1938 mentions f/4.5 and f/3.5 Lausar, and gives the following list of f/4.5 barrel and enlarging lenses:[6]

  • 300mm barrel lens, ¥290;
  • 250mm barrel lens, ¥220;
  • 210mm barrel lens, ¥95;
  • 180mm barrel lens, ¥80;
  • 105mm enlarging lens, ¥25;
  • 75mm enlarging lens, ¥20;
  • 50mm enlarging lens, ¥20.

The advertisement mentions the company as a kabushiki-gaisha (株式会社) and says that the distributor of the Tomioka lenses was Takashimaya Iida (高島屋飯田). Another advertisement, where the company is mentioned as a gōshi-gaisha (合資会社), gives the distributor as Nichiei Shōkai.[7]

The company was required to make military optical ordnance, including the 2m telephoto camera.[8] It opened a secundary plant in the city of Kamakura (prefecture of Kanagawa), which mainly produced binoculars.[9] (After the war, this plant was separated from the main company and became Ōfuna Kōgaku.) Towards the end of the war, part of the main plant tooling was evacuated to another location in the village of Osogi (小曽木村), in the district of Nishitama (西多摩郡), Tokyo, which would later be merged into the city of Ōme (青梅市).[10] This allowed the company to survive the war despite the complete destruction of the main plant by an aerial bombing on May 24, 1945.[11]

Postwar

After the war, a new factory was opened in October 1945 in the village of Osogi.[12] The company supplied lenses to a number of Japanese camera makers such as Yashica and Royal Camera. In addition to the Lausar, other types and brand names include Tominon, Tominor, Tri-Lausar, Tomi-Kogaku, Auto-Tominon, Tomi-Yashinon, Yashimar, Yashikor, Yashinon, Heliotar and Lumaxar. (Yashinon lenses have a reputation of good quality.)

Tomioka was bought by Yashica in 1968 and changed its name to Tomioka Kōgaku K.K. (冨岡光学㈱, Tomioka Optical Co., Ltd.) in 1969.[13] The Tomioka plant made Carl Zeiss licensed optics for use on some Japanese cameras, like the Contax. These were made with at least some Zeiss tooling and personnel.[14] Tomioka became part of the Kyocera group in 1983 after the merge of Kyocera and Yashica and became Kyocera Optec Co., Ltd. (京セラオプテック㈱) in 1991.[15] Rumours say that Carl Zeiss progressively took control of the production facility and closed down the plant but they seem wrong (though the production line of the Zeiss licensed lenses has obviously stopped).[16] The company currently (2008) still exists.

Camera production

Around 1937, Tomioka made about ten prototypes of at least one camera model called Lausar, a possible predecessor of the Gokoku by Riken.[17]

Lens list

Notes

  1. ↑ Hagiya, p.148 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari. Part of the data is also in Inoue, p.129 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.14, and Baird, p.59.
  2. ↑ Hagiya, p.148 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari. Part of the data is also in Inoue, p.129 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.14, and Baird, p.59.
  3. ↑ Hagiya, p.148 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari. Year also in Baird, p.59. The company's address is Yukigaya-chō 864 (東京市大森区雪ヶ谷町八六四) in the advertisement in Asahi Camera January 1938 reproduced on p.150 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari, and Yukigaya-chō 929 (東京都大森区雪ヶ谷町929) in the "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras").
  4. ↑ Hagiya, pp.148–9 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari. The subsidy is also mentioned in the advertisement in Asahi Camera January 1938 reproduced on p.150 of the same source.
  5. ↑ New name in 1933: Baird, p.59. Became a kabushiki-gaisha: Hagiya, p.149 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari.
  6. ↑ Advertisement in Asahi Camera reproduced in Hagiya, p.150 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari.
  7. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Inoue, p.130 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.14. The address is given as Nihonbashi, Honchō 1–1 in Tokyo (東京・日本橋・本町一ノ一), but this seems to correspond to the address of Nichiei Shōkai, not of Tomioka.
  8. ↑ Hagiya, p.149 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari.
  9. ↑ Hagiya, p.149 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari. The address was Kanagawa-ken Kamakura-shi Dai 659 (神奈川県鎌倉市台659番地).
  10. ↑ Hagiya, p.149 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari.
  11. ↑ Hagiya, p.149 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari.
  12. ↑ The company history in the official website of its successor Kyocera Optec says that the company was established in 1949 as K.K. Tomioka Kōgaku Kikai Seizōsho (㈱冨岡光学機械製造所), based in Tokyo, Ōme (青梅). This source does not mention any event prior to 1949, and this information is therefore dubious.
  13. ↑ Kyocera Optec company history.
  14. ↑ Camera Lens News no.3.
  15. ↑ Kyocera Optec company history.
  16. ↑ See for example this post at photo.net.
  17. ↑ Dokusha-dayori, p.161–2 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.14.

Sources

Links

In English:

Retrieved from "http://camera-wiki.org/index.php?title=Tomioka&oldid=73074"