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| + | '''Nishida Kōgaku''' was a Japanese maker of cameras, lenses and shutters from 1936 to 1958. |
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| − | '''Nishida''' was a Japanese company active from at least 1941. Its full name was '''Nishida Kōgaku Kikai Seisakusho''' (西田光学器械製作所) and it was based in Tokyo, Takinogawa.<REF> Its address in 1943 was Tōkyō-shi Takinogawa-ku Takinogawa-chō 1935 (東京市滝野川区滝野川町1935). Source: advertisement dated March 1943 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 59. The {{Inquiry1943_short}}, listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943, gives the company name "Nishida Kōgaku Seiki Seisakusho" (西田光学精機製作所) and the same address with "1985" instead of 1935, apparently by mistake. </REF> After the war, the company was called '''Nishida Kōgaku Kōgyō K.K.''' (西田光学工業{{kabu}}) and its address was the same.<REF> From 1951 to 1953, it was Tōkyō-to Kita-ku Takinogawa-chō 1935 (東京都北区滝野川町1935). From 1954 to 1958 it was Tōkyō-to Kita-ku Takinogawa-chō 6–12 (東京都北区滝野川町6–12), perhaps designating the same place after some address reform. Source: advertisements dated 1951 to 1958 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp. 119–20 and 222–3. </REF> |
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| + | == History == |
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| − | Nishida made cameras, lenses and shutters called Wester. It also made the [[NKK]] shutters.<REF> Maker of the NKK shutters: [http://sendai.cool.ne.jp/ayanoshippo/profile9.html this page] of [http://sendai.cool.ne.jp/ayanoshippo/ Aya's camera page]. </REF> |
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| + | The company was founded in 1936.<REF> Tanimura, p.25 of {{KKS}} no.11. </REF> It began by making lenses and shutters for other companies, primarily under the "Wester" brand. This name is an adaptation of the company's name "Nishida", which consists of two parts: ''nishi'', meaning "west"; and ''ta'', whose pronunciation many Japanese people find indistinguishable from the "ter" sound of English "after". The "Northter" brand was also used for some shutters, obviously after "Wester". |
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| + | The company released its first camera in the early 1940s, called [[Wester (wartime 4.5×6)|Wester or Semi Wester]]. It was its only camera model before 1945. In 1943, the full name of the company was '''Nishida Kōgaku Kikai Seisakusho''' (西田光学器械製作所), and the address was in Tokyo, Takinogawa-ku Takinogawa-chō 1935 in Tokyo.<REF> Company name in an advertisement dated March 1943 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.59, with the exact address Tōkyō-shi Takinogawa-ku Takinogawa-chō 1935 (東京市滝野川区滝野川町1935). The name "Nishida Kōgaku Seiki Seisakusho" (西田光学精機製作所) and a similar address with "1985" instead of "1935" is found in the {{Inquiry1943_short}}. </REF> |
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| − | The name "Nishida" consists of two parts: ''nishi'', meaning "west"; and ''ta'', whose pronunciation many Japanese people find distinguishable from the "ter" sound of English "after". Thus the name "Wester" for Nishida's products: "west" from ''nishi'', and "ter" from ''ta.'' |
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| + | After the war, the company was called '''Nishida Kōgaku Kōgyō K.K.''' (西田光学工業{{kabu}}), and it was likely based in the same buildings.<REF> From 1951 to 1953, the address was Tōkyō-to Kita-ku Takinogawa-chō 1935 (東京都北区滝野川町1935). From 1954 to 1958 it was Tōkyō-to Kita-ku Takinogawa-chō 6–12 (東京都北区滝野川町6–12), probably designating the same place after some address reform. Source: advertisements dated 1951 to 1958 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.119–20 and 222–3. </REF> It made another [[Semi Wester (postwar)|Semi Wester]] 4.5×6cm folder followed by a series of [[Wester 6×6 folders]], and it continued to supply Wester shutters and lenses to other manufacturers. As many such companies, Nishida failed to take the turn from medium-format folders to 35mm cameras at the end of the 1950s. It sold one 35mm model called the [[Auto West]] before going bankrupt in January 1958.<REF> Bankruptcy: Lewis, p.104. </REF> |
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| − | Nishida Kōgaku went bankrupt in January 1958. |
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| − | == |
+ | == Camera list == |
| − | === |
+ | === 6×6 folders === |
| − | * [[Wester folders|Wester Model II]] |
+ | * [[Wester 6×6 folders|Wester Model II]] |
| − | * [[Wester folders|Wester Chrome Six]] |
+ | * [[Wester 6×6 folders|Wester Chrome Six]] |
| − | * [[Wester folders|Wester Chrome Six R]] |
+ | * [[Wester 6×6 folders|Wester Chrome Six R]] |
| − | * [[Wester folders|Super Wester]] |
+ | * [[Wester 6×6 folders|Super Wester]] |
| − | * [[Wester folders|Wester S2]] |
+ | * [[Wester 6×6 folders|Wester S2]] |
| − | * [[Wester folders|Wester Autorol]] |
+ | * [[Wester 6×6 folders|Wester Autorol]] |
| − | * [[Wester folders|Wester Atlasix]] |
+ | * [[Wester 6×6 folders|Wester Atlasix]], also sold as the [[Wester 6×6 folders|Fodor Six]] by [[Fodor]] |
| − | === 4. |
+ | === 4.5×6 folders === |
| ⚫ | |||
| − | * [[Apollo and Mikado|Apollo]] |
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| + | * [[Semi Wester (postwar)|Semi Wester]] (postwar model) |
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| − | * [[Apollo and Mikado|Mikado]] |
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| + | The [[Apollo and Mikado]] are often attributed to Nishida, but it seems that this is a mistake and that the body was made by [[Sumida]]. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | The Apollo and Mikado are attributed both to Sumida and [[Nishida]].<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p. 345, for the Apollo II; {{McKeown}}, pp. 737–8 and 907. </REF> |
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| − | == 35mm |
+ | === 35mm rangefinder === |
* Auto West |
* Auto West |
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| − | == Other |
+ | == Other == |
| + | * [[Nishida lenses]] |
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| − | The inclusion in the list does not mean that all the variants were equipped with Nishida lenses. |
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| − | * [[ |
+ | * [[Nishida shutters]] |
| − | * [[Semi Makinet]] |
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| − | * [[Semi Masmy]] |
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| − | * [[Airesflex|Aires Reflex and Airesflex]] |
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== Notes == |
== Notes == |
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| Line 39: | Line 36: | ||
* {{Showa10}} |
* {{Showa10}} |
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* {{Inquiry1943}} |
* {{Inquiry1943}} |
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| − | * {{Lewis}} |
+ | * {{Lewis}} |
| + | * Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Wester Six". {{KKS011}} Pp.25–7. |
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[[Category: Japanese camera makers]] |
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]] |
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| + | [[Category: Japanese lens makers]] |
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| + | [[Category: Japanese shutter makers]] |
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Latest revision as of 19:11, 10 February 2009
Nishida Kōgaku was a Japanese maker of cameras, lenses and shutters from 1936 to 1958.
History[]
The company was founded in 1936.[1] It began by making lenses and shutters for other companies, primarily under the "Wester" brand. This name is an adaptation of the company's name "Nishida", which consists of two parts: nishi, meaning "west"; and ta, whose pronunciation many Japanese people find indistinguishable from the "ter" sound of English "after". The "Northter" brand was also used for some shutters, obviously after "Wester".
The company released its first camera in the early 1940s, called Wester or Semi Wester. It was its only camera model before 1945. In 1943, the full name of the company was Nishida Kōgaku Kikai Seisakusho (西田光学器械製作所), and the address was in Tokyo, Takinogawa-ku Takinogawa-chō 1935 in Tokyo.[2]
After the war, the company was called Nishida Kōgaku Kōgyō K.K. (西田光学工業㈱), and it was likely based in the same buildings.[3] It made another Semi Wester 4.5×6cm folder followed by a series of Wester 6×6 folders, and it continued to supply Wester shutters and lenses to other manufacturers. As many such companies, Nishida failed to take the turn from medium-format folders to 35mm cameras at the end of the 1950s. It sold one 35mm model called the Auto West before going bankrupt in January 1958.[4]
Camera list[]
6×6 folders[]
- Wester Model II
- Wester Chrome Six
- Wester Chrome Six R
- Super Wester
- Wester S2
- Wester Autorol
- Wester Atlasix, also sold as the Fodor Six by Fodor
4.5×6 folders[]
- Wester or Semi Wester (wartime model)
- Semi Wester (postwar model)
The Apollo and Mikado are often attributed to Nishida, but it seems that this is a mistake and that the body was made by Sumida.
35mm rangefinder[]
- Auto West
Other[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Tanimura, p.25 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.11.
- ↑ Company name in an advertisement dated March 1943 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.59, with the exact address Tōkyō-shi Takinogawa-ku Takinogawa-chō 1935 (東京市滝野川区滝野川町1935). The name "Nishida Kōgaku Seiki Seisakusho" (西田光学精機製作所) and a similar address with "1985" instead of "1935" is found in the "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras").
- ↑ From 1951 to 1953, the address was Tōkyō-to Kita-ku Takinogawa-chō 1935 (東京都北区滝野川町1935). From 1954 to 1958 it was Tōkyō-to Kita-ku Takinogawa-chō 6–12 (東京都北区滝野川町6–12), probably designating the same place after some address reform. Source: advertisements dated 1951 to 1958 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.119–20 and 222–3.
- ↑ Bankruptcy: Lewis, p.104.
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.
- "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced in Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp.180–7.
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), ISBN 0-935398-16-3 (hard).
- Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Wester Six". 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.11, March 1988. No ISBN number. Shirarezaru kamera (知られざるカメラ, special issue on unknown cameras). Pp.25–7.