Nikon Binoculars 100 Chapter 5

Nikon Binoculars 100 Chapter 5

100 Years of Nikon Binoculars

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.

1910's Binoculars

FUJII BROS. VICTOR 8 X 20, 1911

VICTOR No.4 (YAMATO-GO) 6 X 23, 1918

VICTOR No.6 (ASAHI-GO) 6 X 15, 1918

VICTOR No.1 (TENYU-GO) 6 X 32, 1918

VICTOR No.5 (FUJI-GO) 6 X 20, 1918

EXCEL No.5, 1919

1920's Binoculars

BRIGHT 8 X 24, 1921

LUSCAR 6 X 20, 1921

MIKRON 6 X 15 (IF), 1921

ASTER, 1922

ORION 6 X 24, 1922

ORION 8 X 26, 1922

SOLAR 6 X 42, 1923

NOVAR 6 X 42, 1923

NOVAR 7 X 50, 1923

POLAR 6 X 24, Around 1928

Marine Binocular 10 X 70, 1929

1930's Binoculars

4 X 40 Galilean Binocular, 1933

Aviation Binocular 10 X 60, 1938

Handheld Aviation Binocular 5 X 37.5 (Prototype), 1939

1940's Binoculars

12 cm Binocular Telescope, Around 1940

Aviation 10 X 70 Binoculars, 1942

Aviation 10 X 70 Binoculars (Prototype), 1943

NOVAR 12 X 50, 1944

ORION 8 X 26, 1944

After 1945

ORION 6 X 24, 1945

SPICA 3.5 X 25.5 BLACK, 1945

SPICA 3.5 X 25.5 RED, 1945

CAPELLA 2 X 25.5, 1946

MIKRON 6 X 15 (IF), 1948

ANTARES 8 X 30 CF, 1948

MIKRON 6 X 18 CF COATED, 1949

SPORTS GLASS 3 X 24, 1949

TROPICAL 7 X 50 IF, 1949

TROPICAL 6 X 30 IF, 1949

1950's Binoculars

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Shortcuts

Chapter 0      Top Page
Chapter 1      Go to the Nikon Museum
Chapter 2      12 cm Waterproof Binocular Telescope
Chapter 3      25 cm Binocular Telescope
Chapter 4      MIKRON Family
Chapter 5      Historical Nikon Binoculars
Chapter 6      Modern Nikon Binoculars
Chapter 7      Museum Tour

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