Sankō

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At least three Japanese camera-related companies were called Sankō.

Sankō Shōkai

Around 1942, a company called Sankō Shōkai (三光商会) and based in Tokyo, Ginza[1] distributed the Oko Six and Oko Semi made by Ōki Kōgaku Seiki Seisakusho.

Sankō-sha

In 1943, a company called Sankō-sha (三光社) and based in Tokyo, Asakusa[2] offered rangefinder conversions for the Gelto, Arsen, Picny, Boltax, Roico and Molby. It was also mentioned in the April 1943 government inquiry as the distributor of the Cyclon, a 3×4cm camera with perhaps a focal-plane shutter.[3]

K.K. Sankō

Between 1951 and 1954, K.K. Sankō (㈱三光), based in Tokyo, Taito[4] made or sold the Baby Suzuka 3×4 camera. A company called Sankō K.K. (三光㈱) exists today (2007), and currently makes chemical products. It was founded as Sankō Shōkai (三光商会) in 1946 and became Sankō K.K. in 1949, so it might be the same company.

The relationship between all these companies is unknown.

Other

The Sun subminiature pseudo TLR has a Sanko 35mm lens, and the Baby Flex has a Sanko 20mm f/3.5. The origin of these lens names is completely unknown.

Notes

  1. Its address in 1942 was Tōkyō Kyōbashi-ku Ginza 5–4 Tsuchida Building (東京・京橋区銀座五ノ四ツチダビル). Source: advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.61.
  2. Its address in 1943 was Tōkyō-shi Asakusa-ku Asakusa-bashi 2-chōme 4-banchi (東京市浅草区浅草橋二丁目四番地). Source: advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.111–2.
  3. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), item 162.
  4. Its address in 1952 was Tōkyō-to Taitō-ku Okachi-machi 1–58 (東京都台東区御徒町1~58). Source: advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.142.

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