March 2025, Nikon Kenkyukai 4

March 2025, Nikon Kenkyukai 4

Historical Binoculars

JOCO Spectrometer

JAPAN OPTICAL CO. TOKYO

This is a JOCO spectrometer, not a JOICO. You can view the spectrum directly with your eye through the eyepiece. The actual size is about the size of lipstick. It is an extremely rare and important historical cultural property. This product is over 100 years old.

JOCO Spectrometer

JOCO and JOICO. JOICO is a trademark created from the initials of "Japan Optical Industry Co.", a direct translation of the company name at the time, Nippon Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki-gaisha. Nikon introduced the JOICO microscope in 1925. The name still remains today as the NIKON JOICO AWARD.

JOCO Spectrometer

This is an optical instrument that measures the spectrum of light. You can see the light split into different wavelengths with your eyes.

JOCO Spectrometer

RGB Spectral Image

Historical Binoculars

JOICO VICTOR No. 5a 6X

This is JOICO VICTOR No. 5a 6X binoculars, making it over 100 years old. It is believed to have been manufactured between 1914 and 1917.

FUJII BROS. VICTOR 8X

This is JFUJII BROS. VICTOR 8X binoculars, making it over 100 years old. For more information about the Fujii Lens Factory, please see the explanation of the special exhibition held at the Nikon Museum in 2018.

Fujii Lens Factory

Fujii Lens Factory (hereafter referred to as Fujii Lens) was founded in October 1909 by Ryuzo Fujii, who was interested in optical instruments since boyhood. He studied optics while on an official visit to the UK as a Japanese Imperial Navy engineer, using technical books about optics that he ordered from Germany. He recognized the importance of optical instruments and the difficulty of learning optical techniques. He launched Fujii Lens together with his brother Mitsuzo Fujii as managing director.

Fujii Lens started business with about ten employees, repairing imported optical instruments for military use using optical measuring instruments, grinders and glass cutters imported from Germany, as well as a few lathes. The company worked hard to establish lens manufacturing methods using modern instruments, dispensing with old methods while accumulating unique research, and soon started manufacturing high quality products that compared well with imported ones. Fujii Lens produced telescopes for ocean-going vessels and educational use, as well as microscopes and photographic lenses.

Fujii Lens merged with Nikon (formerly Nippon Kogaku K.K.), when it was founded in 1917.

Color SPICA

Black and Green SPICA 3.5X

Black SPICA 3.5X

Green SPICA 3.5X

Black and Green SPICA 3.5X

Presentation Session

Color Variations of SPICA

MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN

Here is the PowerPoint content (PDF) : Old Nikon Opera Glasses

MIKRON

This is a black MIKRON binoculars with the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries mark on them.

MIKRON Black 7X 15 CF Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

After the Meeting

At this month's meeting we came across a valuable collection, ranging from the newly released NIKKOR Z 35mm F1.2 S to the Ai Nikkor 13mm F5.6, as well as binoculars that are over 100 years old.

I took the subway back to Shinjuku Station from Ginza. Large-scale construction work is ongoing in Shinjuku. The wind in the city was as cold as a spring evening.

Shinjuku West Exit

Mid Spring Evening

Next Page Articles

→ Return to Chapter 0 Top Page

Shortcuts

Chapter 0      Top Page
Chapter 1      Zunow and Nikkor
Chapter 2      Colon Nikkor Lenses
Chapter 3      My Nikon Z Camera Today
Chapter 4      Historical Binoculars

Return to the top page of Nikon Kenkyukai