The History of Nikon Binoculars

Table of Contents

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Before Fujii Lens Seizo-sho
• 3 Fujii Lens Seizo-sho
• 4 Nippon Kogaku K.K.
• 5 Other Binocular Companies
  • 5.1 Earth Kogaku
• 6 Justification
  • 6.1 Credits
  • 6.2 Links for more binoculars and telescopes
  • 6.3 Literature

1 Introduction

The history of Nikon binoculars is detailed on the website http://nikon.topica.ne.jp/bi_e/history/history.htm. This site, which began documenting Nikon's binocular history, stopped updating in 2008. The information presented here is based on the site as it was on June 6, 2006.

A more comprehensive Excel list of binoculars produced by Fujii Lens Seizo-sho, Nippon Kogaku K.K., and Nikon is available on the "all Nikon bino's" page of the author's website.

The history of Nikon begins with the founding of Nippon Kogaku K.K. in 1917. Nippon Kogaku K.K. later became Nikon. One of its predecessors was Fujii Lens Seizo-sho (Fujii Optical Works).

Other sources may refer to the same factory using different names such as "Fujii Lens" or "Fujii Brothers." The complete name "Fujii Lens" is preferred.

Further information on Fujii Lens Seizo-sho can be found on the "Nikon's history" page of the Nikon Catalogus website.

2 Before Fujii Lens Seizo-sho

Barr & Stroud 4½ Feet Type FA2 Range Finders gained recognition in the 19th century. Introduced by Barr & Stroud in Glasgow in 1860 (now part of Pilkington Optronics), they were adopted by the technologically advanced Japan Navy in 1888. The first unit, serial number 4, was installed on a Japanese battleship in 1894. By May 27, 1905, all Japanese Imperial Navy battleships were equipped with this range finder, and indeed, every cannon. This represented a significant investment for Japan.

The Japanese army utilized Carl Zeiss binoculars. A monument features Admiral Togo with a "Marine-glas mit Revolver" and a binocular, which is believed to have contributed to his victories in the naval battles of Port Arthur and Tsushima in 1904/05. A bronze statue of Admiral Togo in Yokosuka, Japan, includes one of these binoculars. More information can be found at:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togo_Heihachiro
• http://akiroom.com/redbook-e/kenkyukai05b/kenkyukai200510.html

Konishi Honten (Konica) began importing Zeiss binoculars into Japan in the late 19th century, with the Japanese Navy being a significant customer. In 1904, Zeiss's optical product sales in Japan reached RM 40,000. In 1911, Zeiss established its own shop, Carl Zeiss Göshi Kaisha, in Tsukiji, Tokyo. This district also housed the Japanese army's optical research laboratory, the Tsukiji Arsenal. Mr. Michael Rauck managed the Zeiss office in Japan.

Before World War I, the Navy initiated its own production of precision optical instruments like sextants and periscopes, and established a research laboratory. These facilities were destroyed in the Great Kanto earthquake in September 1923.

During World War I, Japan allied with the Allied Forces, leading to a halt in German Zeiss binocular and lens imports, as well as Schott optical glass imports. This necessitated Japan's development of its own furnace and plant for manufacturing optical glass.

3 Fujii Lens Seizo-sho

In 1909, the Japanese Photo Industry 1958 reported that industrial-scale production began in 1907 with the establishment of the Fujii Lens Factory, which manufactured binoculars for both civilian use and the Imperial Japanese Navy (page 140). Fujii Lens Seizo-sho opened a factory in Tokyo, initially renting a dirt floor room for research.

To produce binoculars in Japan at that time, polishing machines, measuring instruments, and optical glass materials were imported from Germany. It is remarkable that Ryuzo and Kozo Fujii produced the first Japanese prismatic binoculars only about 15 years after Zeiss released theirs.

Fujii Lens Seizo-sho was Japan's first binocular manufacturer, releasing their first prism model in 1911, the Fujii Brothers Victor 8x20, which was sold to the Imperial Navy. The Imperial Army and Navy placed significant orders for telescopes and binoculars.

The first Victor model is also known as "Tenyu." It was designed after studying prismatic binoculars made by Ross (Britain). Krauss in Paris is also mentioned. The book "Kogaku Kaikoroku" states that Ryuzo Fujii visited Britain around 1897 and purchased a pair of Ross binoculars, likely one of the first Ross 6x prismatic models.

The first Victor is also called "Tenyu." It was designed after studying prismatic binoculars made by Ross (Britain). Krauss in Paris is also mentioned. The book "Kogaku Kaikoroku" states that Ryuzo Fujii visited Britain around 1897 and purchased a pair of Ross binoculars, likely one of the first Ross 6x prismatic models.

4 Nippon Kogaku K.K.

Nippon Kogaku K.K. was established in 1917. In the same year, the company merged with the optical measuring instruments division of Tokyo Keiki (August), the reflector division of Iwaki Glass (August), and the development, manufacturing, and sales operations of Fujii Lens Seizo-sho (December). Nippon Kogaku initially lacked its own plant, necessitating the construction of the Ohi plant, which began production in late 1918. The production capacity of Fujii Lens Seizo-sho could not be halted due to the large number of employees, requiring significant production output. Furthermore, imports of German glass were nearly non-existent at that time.

Fujii Lens Seizo-sho continued to produce its own binoculars at its facility. The first binoculars, made in 1917 and later, featured a JOICO logo. JOICO was the first trademark, formed from the initial letters of the Japan Optical Industry Co., a literal translation of Nippon Kogaku K. K. By 1918, all former Fujii Lens Seizo-sho binoculars were branded with the Nippon Kogaku logo. Binocular production at the old Fujii Lens Seizo-sho plant ceased in 1921, with production shifting to the new Ohi plant.

In 1918, Nippon Kogaku exported over 15,000 prism binoculars in 18 different models to England, France, America, and Russia. Richard Lane, in NHS Journal 82, page 6, suggests that Nippon Kogaku produced 24 different types, with Nippon Kogaku selling Fujii designs under its own logo.

The period following World War II saw Japanese camera manufacturers shift their focus to non-photographic products, closely related to camera and lens production. These activities supported many Japanese camera manufacturers during the initial months of the Occupation in late 1945. Products made from wartime parts were repurposed as "sport optics" with unique "western" sounding names like Novar, Mikron, and Magna. (From John Baird: History of the Japanese Camera, 1990, page 89).

In 1921, Nippon Kogaku K.K. hired eight German scientists and engineers for a five-year term. Their initial tasks included redesigning Nippon Kogaku binoculars, leading to the Luscar, Mikron, and Atom models in 1921. The Mikron models, available in 4x and 6x, were very lightweight, weighing only 90 grams for the 6x models. The Orion 6x24 and 8x26, and the Novar 6x30, 7x50, and 8x35 were also produced. A 10x70 binocular was manufactured for military purposes.

The Orion design was released to other manufacturers during the Manchurian War (1931) to boost production and saw extensive use during World War II. The "Meibo" trademark with coated lenses (likely made or coated after WWII) and "Kaikosha KT," which a seller identified as being made by Nippon Kogaku during WWII, are seen online.

In 1921/22, the German group assisted Nippon Kogaku in designing and producing refractor telescopes, including 5 cm, 10 cm, and a 50 cm reflector model for astronomical use. In 1922, they constructed another telescope with a 50 cm mirror.

The first series of Nikko binoculars entered the market in 1922, featuring 4x, 6x, 6x, and 8x models.

The Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 led to many military personnel from the Military Research Laboratory in Tokyo transitioning to civilian roles, subsequently working for Nippon Kogaku. The Kanto earthquake in 1923 destroyed the Military Research Laboratory in Tokyo; it was not rebuilt. The staff and machinery were relocated to Ohi. Currently, this area is a tourist attraction for old binoculars, but it is also known for its fish market. (Tsukiji Fish Market). More information is available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukiji_fish_market.

Additional information can be found at: http://www.europa.com/~telscope/japanbin.txt

In September 1931, the Japanese army occupied Manchuria, creating a need for binoculars to observe the enemy. The Japanese Army decided to issue binoculars to all non-commissioned officers. However, the standard price of a prism binocular at that time was 80 Yen, which was too expensive for the Japanese Army. Nippon Kogaku could secure a large order if the price was reduced to 30 Yen. This resulted in the Imperial Army NCO field binocular Type 93, a Galilean model with a reticle for estimating distance. Reticles are typically not used in Galilean binoculars due to the absence of an internal focal plane. However, in the Nippon Kogaku design, a scale was etched onto the inner surface of the objective, and a convex lens was attached to the upper half of the ocular to focus on the scale. This design is unique among mass-produced binoculars and is highly effective. Nippon Kogaku established a factory in Manchuria.

5 Other Binocular Companies

6 Justification