Canon Camera History 1937-1945

The Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory that established its reputation for developing the "Hansa Canon" was transformed into the Precision Optical Industry, Co., Ltd. to start the full-scale production and sales of cameras. The company specialized in manufacturing high-quality 35mm cameras, and developed the unique "Serenar" lens with the motto that it would produce world class cameras. From the rubble in the war-torn plants, the company resumed the production of cameras by overcoming the difficulties in procuring basic materials. New Steps as the Precision Optical Industry Co., Ltd.
Along with the move to Meguro Ward, manufacturing the "Hansa Canon" and hiring more employees, Japan Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory appeared to have made steady growth during those days, but the actual situation was different. It was reported that the production volume ranged from a maximum of 10 cameras per month to barely one camera per week. Despite the fact that the company had introduced Japan's first 35mm rangefinder camera, its production capability did not increase, resulting in tough business conditions. In order to overcome the financial difficulties, it decided to incorporate the company.	Factory scene in 1938
To start anew, on August 10, l937, the laboratory was reorganized as a joint-stock company and the name was changed to Precision Optical Industry Co., Ltd. Canon now designates this date as the official founding date.

Cameras that Bears the Name of Canon With the incorporation, the company's business began to take off. Following the "Hansa Canon (Standard Model)," the company successively introduced the "S or Newest Model" and the "J or Popular Model" in February l939 and the "NS or New Standard Model" by the end of the same year. Yet, the company's production system was literally manual, especially in the finishing processes: using files to smooth the rough surfaces of the individual parts, or filling in the unwanted cracks in the camera bodies, etc.

After the introduction of the "Newest Model," the word "Hansa" disappeared from the brand name, and was replaced with just "Canon." This, however, did not mean a break in the relationship with Omiya Shashin Yohin Co., Ltd. In fact, Omiya continued to provide strong assistance, especially in the sales promotion. At the time when the general monthly income of salaried workers was 40 ~ 50 yen, the base monthly wage of Omiya's sales personnel was approximately 20 yen, not high indeed. It was reported that these sales personnel received commissions of 5 yen per sale of a "Standard Model." At the time, even the "Popular Model" was too expensive for an average salaried worker to purchase. With the limited consumer market size for cameras, the sales personnel of Omiya developed a strategy to target specific individuals with purchasing power, rather than focusing on retail camera stores. Their strategy was so effective that the income and morale of the camera sales personnel increased dramatically. Since the sales of the high-grade 35mm cameras had been increasing rapidly, Omiya Shashin Yohin, as a sole sales agent of the camera, seemed even to have a fantastic plan to introduce the camera to the European markets, the stronghold of the Leica and Contax. Their intent was shown in an advertisement for the "Hansa Canon" that Omiya placed in the March l938 issue of the UK photography magazine, the British Journal of Photography.

English ad placed by Omiya Shashin Yohin Co., Ltd. [Larger image]

Production of "Serenar" Lens, Original Products of Canon The high-grade 35mm cameras of Precision Optical Industry were represented by a series of new models including the "Standard Model," "S or Newest Model," "J or Popular Model" and "NS or New Standard Model." The lineup established the reputation that Seiki Canon (Canon of the Precision Optical Industry Co.) was synonymous with Japanese high-grade 35mm camera. In the middle of 1937, strong voices were raised calling for production of the company's own lenses. Yoshizo Furukawa, the company's first optical engineer, developed some lenses on a trial basis such as the "50mm f/4.5" lens, the "45mm f/0.85" lens for 16mm cinecameras. He was also involved in developing lenses such as the "50mm f/3.5", a non-rangefinder coupled "135mm f/4," and lenses for the indirect X-ray camera.

An early type of Canon's indirect X-ray camera [Larger image]

Through the contest held within the company to name the original "50mm f/3.5" and "135mm f/4" lenses, "Serenar" was chosen as the brand name given to these lenses. The "Serenar" connotes the word "serene" indicating "clear, calm and tranquil," and originates in the Sea of Serenity on the moon.

Appointment of Takeshi Mitarai as President, and Post-War Recovery
In 1942, Takeshi Mitarai (1901 - 1984), a friend of Saburo Uchida, became president of the company. Although he was an obstetrician by profession, Mitarai had long been an enthusiastic supporter of Uchida since the early days of Precision Optical Industry Co., Ltd. He was rather a unique individual, and had been the auditor of Precision Optical Industry before assuming the presidency. Even earlier, Mitarai had established Mitarai Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in Mejiro Ward of Tokyo after working in the obstetrics department of a large hospital.	Takeshi Mitarai (1901 - 1984)
The post-war goal of the company advocated by President Mitarai was "Catch-up with, and surpass the Leica." The spirit of this goal, shared enthusiastically by all the company employees, became the engine for the post-war recovery of the company. He stressed the so-called "Sanbun-setsu System (the three-division system)" to share the company’s profits by labor (employees), capital (shareholders), and management (the company). He advocated the three-pillar guidelines: "Competence-Based Promotion," "Top Priority to Health," and the "Family Comes First," all of which are pertinent even today, and these became the foundation of the company's management philosophy. The "Family Comes First" guideline was translated into the G-H-Q (go-home-quickly) activity, a play on words of the occupation forces’ GHQ, or General Headquarters. Other changes implemented by President Mitarai included a bonus system to boost the morale of the company employees.

Recovery from the Wartime Rubble
On August 15, l945, World War II ended with many large cities throughout Japan in ruins. Fortunately, Precision Optical Industry Co., Ltd. escaped major damage except for the partial loss of the Itabashi factory, which had been established in 1944 by the merger with Yamato Kogaku Seisakusho (Yamato Optical Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) Even this loss was not directly related to the war and was due to an accidental fire during the final days of the war. The headquarters factory in Meguro Ward, as well as the Takara-mura factory and the Yamura-machi factory (both were facilities evacuated from Tokyo) in Yamanashi Prefecture survived the war without major damage, and had continued to produce cameras in small-scale operations. Yet, all of these factories were closed immediately after the war when the entire country was in the state of chaos, resulting from all essential materials being scarce. Precision Optical Industry Co., Ltd. was temporarily disbanded with President Mitarai's declaration: "Since I am at a loss about what to do, I will shut down the plants and disband the company immediately. But, remember to come back as soon as I call you back for restoration."	"J II (Post-War Popular Model)," the first camera launched during the post-war restoration period[Larger image]
The restoration opportunity for the company had arrived sooner than expected since the Allied Occupation Forces (centered on the U.S. Forces) showed great interest in Japanese cameras. Mitarai felt that it was not impossible to restart camera production, and submitted an application for production of consumer goods to the GHQ (the Allied Army General Headquarters). The application was granted on October 1, l945, two months after the end of the war, for Precision Optical Industry Co., Ltd. to resume the production of cameras. The first post-war model was called the "J II (Post-War Popular Model)," which was produced by scrounging up the components of previous models such as the "Standard Model." Being made of scrap, the post-war model had a unique shape to the viewfinder cover, which was different from that used for the "Popular Model." The record showing that only three cameras were produced in that year indicates the hardships endured by the company during its restoration.

Valuable Suggestions Received from an Individual Outside the Company There was an unusual American engineer whose name was William R. Gorham. He became a naturalized citizen of Japan in l941, and made strong contributions to the establishment of Nissan Motor Company. He had his Japanese name as Katsundo Gorham, and visited Canon often during the 1940s to provide valuable suggestions and recommendations regarding the procurement of machinery and technological innovation. He proposed and implemented the concept of "Scheduled Daily Production," in which the daily target of the production was predetermined to achieve the uniform flow of camera production. Gorham also suggested a system in which the product inspection department becomes independent of the plant manager and is placed directly under the president. In this manner, the inspection could be performed without regard to the whims of the plant manager. In addition to the introduction of the rational improvement plan, which was somewhat akin to the American method, Gorham made a tremendous contribution to the modernization of Canon through his warm and energetic personality. When Gorham passed away in October 1949, at his bedside was none other than Takeshi Mitarai.

Canon Camera History 1933-1936

 

• 1933-1936
• 1937-1945
• 1946-1954
• 1955-1969
• 1970-1975
• 1976-1986
• 1987-1991
• 1992-1996
• 1997-2000
• 2001-2004
• 2005-201

Japan's first 35mm focal-plane shutter rangefinder camera was introduced into the market during this period. This all started in a small streetside shop in Tokyo, the "Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory," to produce the prototype camera called "Kwanon," which later evolved into the "Hansa Canon." This is the origin of Canon's camera making which always involves many trial and error processes. Small but steady steps for Canon cameras were initiated here. Prelude to the Domestically Produced High-End 35mm Camera Leica and Contax — two great brands for the most advanced 35mm focal-plane-shutter cameras —. The "Leica Model II," was introduced in 1932 followed by the debut of the "Contax Model I" in 1933. These cameras, the pride of Germany, the camera kingdom of the world, were considered super grade cameras satisfying the needs of camera fans throughout the world, and receiving enthusiastic support.
In those days, the average starting salary of a graduate of an elite university in Japan who was hired by bank, the best-paying job, was around 70 yen per month. In contrast, the price of the Leica camera was 420 yen. This high-end camera was considered to be a "takane no hana (something far beyond reach)" for ordinary people. During those years, there was a Japanese man who attempted to make the first domestic 35mm focal-plane-shutter rangefinder camera (hereafter called as the 35mm rangefinder camera) by disassembling and studying the inner workings of a "Leica Model II." This person was Goro Yoshida (1900-1993).	Goro Yoshida (1900 - 1993)
Yoshida was born in Hiroshima. He came to Tokyo before completing his middle school education and apprenticed at a company repairing and remodeling motion picture cameras and projectors. During the latter half of the 1920s, when Yoshida was in his late 20s, he frequently travelled to Shanghai, China to procure the necessary parts for his jobs. A story was told that Yoshida decided to make high-grade 35mm rangefinder cameras when he met an American trader, Roy E. Delay in Shanghai, who told him: ------"Why do you come over here to buy camera parts? Your country has already produced good battleships and airplanes. If your people can produce such good battleships, there is no reason why you cannot make your own camera parts."------ By nature, Yoshida liked to tinker with machines and instruments, and he was already engaged in repairing and remodeling motion picture cameras and projectors. It was natural that Yoshida would be attracted to the making of cameras.

When asked about his motives in disassembling a Leica to produce Japanese made high-grade 35mm cameras, Yoshida explained in later years: "I just disassembled the camera without any specific plan, but simply to take a look at each part. I found there were no special items like diamonds inside the camera. The parts were made from brass, aluminum, iron and rubber. I was surprised that when these inexpensive materials were put together into a camera, it demanded an exorbitant price. This made me angry".

Saburo Uchida (1899 - 1982) Takeo Maeda (1909 - 1977)

The Takekawaya Building where the Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory was established

With his brother-in-law, Saburo Uchida (1899-1982) and Takeo Maeda (1909-1977), a former subordinate of Uchida, Yoshida established the Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory to develop a 35mm rangefinder camera in November 1933. The laboratory was located in a room of an elegant three-story apartment (Takekawaya Building), located in Roppongi, Azabu Ward (presently Minato Ward) in Tokyo. Yoshida, however, left the laboratory in the fall of l934 because the approach taken by the laboratory in producing cameras was no longer consistent with what he wanted to do.

Dreams for the Prototype Camera "Kwanon" The right figure is an advertisement about "Kwanon," a prototype of the Japanese produced 35mm rangefinder camera that appeared in the June l934 issue of the Asahi Camera magazine. The prototype camera was named "Kwanon" because Yoshida was a believer in "Kwannon, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy." The camera's logo depicted a thousand-arm Kwannon Goddess, and even its lens was named "Kasyapa" which came from Mahakasyapa, a disciple of the Buddha.	Ad for "Kwanon," a prototype camera
A total of three Kwanon camera variations appeared in ads but the cameras were all either an illustration or wooden models, not actual products. In other words, the "Kwanon" was never actually put on the market. Although Yoshida testified that he had completed ten "Kwanon" cameras, no one had actually seen any one of them. There was a camera called the "Kwanon Model D," discovered in Osaka around l955, however, it was a copy of a "Leica Model II," and was not made by Yoshida. The manufacturer of the "Kwanon Model D" is still shrouded in mystery. Nevertheless, the manufacture of the first Japanese high-end 35mm rangefinder camera resulted from the pride and the dream of an engineer who did not want to take a backseat to Germany, or any other western nation.
The "Kasyapa" lens named by Yoshida "Kwanon"

Release of "Hansa Canon (Standard Model)," the First Canon Camera In spite of the intensive trial and efforts made to commercialize the "Kwanon" camera, Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory still had no prospects to procure lenses and rangefinders, essential components of a camera. After agonizing deliberations, the laboratory decided to elicit cooperation from Nippon Kogaku Kogyo (Japan Optical Industries, Inc., the predecessor of Nikon Corporation) to use their Nikkor lens.
Nippon Kogaku, at that time, had already established its position as the largest optical equipment manufacturer in Japan with advanced manufacturing system specializing in military equipment. Since Saburo Uchida's brother, Ryonosuke Uchida, was once an auditor at Nippon Kogaku, Saburo Uchida was introduced to Toyotaro Hori, the executive vice president and the counsel of Nippon Kogaku. Those days, under Nippon Kogaku's policy to enter the civilian product market, Hori was in charge of studying non-military products. He was interested in the application of high-grade lenses for civilian use. The timing of the request for cooperation by Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory was perfect. Recognizing benefits on both sides, Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory and Nippon Kogaku came to an agreement to develop the "Hansa Canon (Standard Model with Nikkor 50mm f/3.5 lens)" with the full support of Nippon Kogaku. The first Canon camera under this joint development was introduced to the market in February l936 (although some have said that the actual date was October l935). In manufacturing the "Hansa Canon," Nippon Kogaku was responsible for the lens, the lens mount, the optical system of viewfinder and the rangefinder mechanism, while Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory was responsible for the main body including the focal-plane-shutter, the rangefinder cover as well as the assembly of the camera body.	"Hansa Canon (Standard Model)," Canon's first commercial camera
Later, the name of the "Kwanon" was changed to "Canon," which means "standard for judgement or biblical scriptures." "Canon," the new trademark for a precision industry company striving for precision as its motto, was born at this time. When the "Hansa Canon" was released, the name of Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory was not included. Since the company did not have any sales channels, it had previously concluded an exclusive sales and trademark display agreement with Omiya Shashin Yohin Co., Ltd. (Omiya camera and accessory shop). "Hansa" was the trademark of Omiya, and was originated from the Hansa Treaty among the trade unions of Europe during the middle ages. In June l936, Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory moved to Meguro Ward, and changed its name, to reflect the general nationalistic mood prevailing throughout the country at the time, to Japan Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory. The first time that the new company name appeared in the public media was in an advertisement for the "Hansa Canon" in the August l936 issue of the Asahi Camera.

Advance Announcement Article for "Hansa Canon" The following article appeared in the October l935 issue of the Asahi Camera. "Hansa Canon camera… Canon is a Leica imitation made in Japan. Although some influence of Contax is found, the majority of its features are modeled after the Leica. The dimensions of the camera are 13.5cm x 6.8cm x 4.5cm, while its weight is approximately 650g. It uses a special magazine and the lens is Nippon Kogaku’s Nikkor 50mm f/3.5. The lens is removable… The viewfinder is a box-type, and is designed to pop up to a specified position by pressing a button on the back. 275 yen with a snapshooting case included." Although some in the camera industry called the "Hansa Canon" a Japanese-made imitation of Leica, there was no question that it represented Japan's first high-quality 35mm rangefinder camera. Even though it was a product of a manufacturer whose name had not yet been well recognized, the camera attracted a great deal of interest and expectations from inside and outside of the camera industry.

Flashback from 1998: Navy SEALs training with mysterious Nikon underwater digital camera

"NAVAL AIR BASE CORONADO, California (June 8, 1998) -- Navy SEALs attached to SEAL Team One, Naval Air Base Coronado, CA, conducts training using the Nikon/Kodak DCS 425 underwater digital camera which can sends real time digital images to decision makers, and an LPI LPD tracking device uses brevity codes to send both mission status and precise longitude/latitude. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Ted Banks." (source)

This is an interesting story because when I tried to research this underwater digital camera (Nikon DCS 425) I could hardly find any info online. It seems that this model was produced for the US military/intelligence organizations and initially even its existence was denied:

"The Nikonos RS was the World's first underwater SLR camera, capable of going down to a depth of 100 meters without special underwater housing. Searching Google at the time (May 2005) produced absolutely no hits for the digital Nikonos (DCS 425 and DCS 435). Absolutely nothing. I then sent an e-mail to Kodak, asking for more information. Their reply:

"I'm sorry but those cameras never existed here at Eastman Kodak. We never made cameras for that specific use. The information you have is incorrect."

Strange, because I was certain the camera existed. Asking another Kodak source, I was told: "I think the issue is who they were made for".

In other words: The camera was made for some US military/intelligence organization. Kodak Professional support, which sent the above reply, probably didn't even know that such a beast existed. (It later turned out that the camera probably never was a big secret after all. Read on for more info..)"

The history of Nikon’s first digital camera (QV-1000C)

NikonWeb has another excellent article on the history of the first Nikon digital camera (the QV-1000C) with many interesting stories, including this one from Kenji Toyoda (the planning manager in charge of the QV-1000C):

"It was in 1988. Just before my visit to Photokina, I talked with a chief editor of a Japanese photographic magazine, a friend of mine, and made a secret plan that I would take pictures of Photokina exhibition with the QV-1000C and immediately transmit them to Japan to put them on his magazine with my brief report.

But when I arrived at Cologne, I was told we are prohibited from transmitting any pictures with QV-1010T because we had not got the certification of German regulation for communication equipments.

It was so valuable a chance to show the advantages of an electronic camera, that we could hardly give it up. So, I told the engineers who accompanied me "OK, let's go on as planned. I will take all the responsibility".

After looking around the exhibition and taking pictures with QV-1000C, two engineers came to my hotel room and began the secret work. The room telephone set was almost thoroughly disassembled to connect the line from the transmitter. They called Nikon factory in Ohi, Tokyo and tried to send the pictures while talking with the engineers there. But it could not easily done because of the telephone line condition between Germany and Japan and took almost whole night until we finally succeeded."