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MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (owned?) ASHREH BINOCULARS, (handled) TELESAR BINOCULARS PRIMARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION: NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS, 1970? ASHREH SUPPLY CATALOG |
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Ashreh Supply Corporation of 425 Broadway, NY, NY. Filed for incorporation in New York on Oct 7 1964, and status is listed as active. They distributed ASREH BINOCULARS and TELESAR BINOCULARS , but there do not seem to be any US trademarks for them. TO SEE OUR ASHREH CATALOG NAVIGATE TO BINOCULAR CATALOGS #01 . |
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USA MARKET |
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Japanese External Reverse Porro Prism Binoculars. VIRTUAL MUSEUM |
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Please note: a great amount of effort has been made to try to be as accurate as possible. But information about distribution tends to be scarce and fragmentary, and errors or misinterpretation are possible and/or probable. Please keep in mind that any errors are unintentional, and will be cheerfully corrected upon notification And that this is a not for profit attempt to document otherwise unavailable aspects of binocular history by optics enthusiasts, for the benefit of optics enthusiasts. The distinction between Japanese manufacturers, exporters, and distributors and importing country wholesale and retail distribution may be blurred, so I have been generous about inclusion. |
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SEIWA KŌGAKU KŌGYŌ KABUSHIKI-GEISHA /SEIWA KOGAKU LTD./ 清和光学株式会社 (JAPAN) |
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Seiwa Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushiki-Geisha was a prolific Japanese assembling manufacturer of miniature binoculars. I have observed 55 miniature binoculars brand names for which Seiwa made binoculars, including those of well known importer brands such as Sears,Tasco, Binolux, Scope, and Selsi, and there are presumably more brands. Binoculars manufactured by Seiwa are found in every geographic market where Japanese miniature binoculars are found. I believe that PETLUX BINOCULARS was the brand used on those binoculars that Seiwa distributed on it’s own behalf. |
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MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS: (believed using/owned) PETLUX BINOCULARS PRIMARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION: DIRECT OBSERVATION |
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FRED MEYER, INC. (USA) |
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MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS: (U.S. TM owner) GOLD CUP BINOCULARS PRIMARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION: US PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS OFFICE, WIKIPEDIA |
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Fred Meyer Inc is a U.S. regional retail chain of one stop department stores which was founded in 1922 and has stores located throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. The company held US trade mark # 812978 for GOLD CUP for binoculars and for telescopes and microscopes from Aug 1966 to 1989, with first use claimed in 1952, and they presumably sold GOLD CUP BINOCULARS through their retail stores. |
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Masel Supply Co. Corp, OF 128 32nd St., Brooklyn, New York USA (and other addresses) is observed to have distributed a variety of photographic equipment items (film loaders, lenses, extension tubes, filters, photo mounts), under the “Telesar” and also the “Telesor” brand names. A number of Telesar photo equipment boxes were marked “ Imported exclusively by Masel Supply Co. Corp” suggesting some proprietary interest in the brand, and suggesting that Masel imported the TELESAR BINOCULARS . |
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MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (owned/ imported?) TELESAR BINOCULARS PRIMARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION: BOX MARKINGS |
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FUJI KŌGAKU KIKAI SEISAKUSHO/ 富士光学器械製作所 ( JAPAN - ) . FUJI KŌGAKU K Ō GY Ō K.K. / 富士光学工業㈱ / FUJI OPTICAL INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. FUJIKŌ SHŌJI K.K. / 富士光商事株式会社 |
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MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS: (owned?) RACE BINOCULARS (perhaps) FUJI STARLIT BINOCULARS PRIMARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION: CAMERAPEDIA |
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Fuji Kōgaku Kikai Seisakusho / 富士光学器械製作所 was formed around 1936. From around 1938 to until at least 1944 the company was called Fuji Kōgaku Kōgyō K.K. / 富士光学工業㈱ / Fuji Optical Industries Co., Ltd. A related but separate trading and distribution company, Fujikō Shōji K.K. ( 富士光商事株式会社 ) was formed around 1941. These companies are not related to the better known Fuji Shashin Film K.K. ( 富士写真 フィルム㈱ / Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., which also produces Fujinon binoculars. Fuji Kōgaku distributed it’s binoculars in the USA in some quantity around 1938, through L. Oppleman Inc. in NYC, and perhaps other importers. Early model RACE BINOCULARS carried only “Race” brand markings, and later ones carried both the “Fuji Kogaku” logo and the “Race”brand marking. Fuji Kōgaku is believed to have still been active in the occupied Japan period. Fuji Starlit binoculars from the occupied Japan period may be their product, but this is not certain. It is also unclear which company was connected to post occupation Fuji miniature binoculars such as the 7x25 model. |
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USA MARKET |
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Tochihara Optical Co ( 栃原光学株式会社) was a prolific Japanese assembling manufacturer of miniature binoculars. I have observed 27 miniature binoculars brand names that Tochihara made binoculars for, including those of well known importers, and there are presumably others. I believe that TOCON BINOCULARS was the brand used on those binoculars which Tochihara distributed on it’s own behalf. |
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TOCHIHARA OPTICAL CO/ 栃原光学株式会社 ( JAPAN) |
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USA MARKET |
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MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (believed owned): TOCON BINOCULARS PRIMARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION: OBSERVATION |
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JASON, JASON EMPIRE INC.,CARSON COMPANIES, INC. (USA) |
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MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS: (U.S. TM owner): EMPIRE BINOCULARS (U.S. TM owner) JASON BINOCULARS CONVENTIONAL BINOCULAR BRANDS: ABOVE PLUS JASON EMPIRE BINOCULARS PRIMARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION: OPTICS REVIEWER, MISSOURI SECRETARY OF STATE , U.S. PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS OFFICE |
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The company Jake and Son was formed in 1947 in Missouri in the USA as an importer of binoculars, pearls, and cigarettes: supplying jewelry stores and catalog showrooms. The name was soon changed to “Jason”, and was based in Kansas City, and used the brand name “Empire” on their binoculars, telescopes and other optical products. Jake Levin held US trademark #71639059 for the logo Jason for binoculars from Dec 1952, reassigned to Jake Levin & Son Inc. in 1958, then to Jason Empire Inc in 1970, then to Bausch & Lomb Inc in 1992. Similarly Jake Levin & Son Inc held US trademark #72164856 for Empire for binoculars March 1963, reassigned to Jason Empire Inc in 1971, with 4 later reassignments. Jason Empire Inc then Bushnell Corp.held Canadian trademark TMA173229 for Empire for binoculars 1970 2001. And Jason Empire held Australian trademark 417212 1984-1991.
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USA MARKET |
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KALIMAR INC., KALIMAR INTERNATIONAL CORP . (USA) |
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Robert Lipsitz formed Kalimar in 1952, and it was incorporated in Missouri USA as Kalimar, Inc. on 6/9/1954. Kalimar imported and distributed camera equipment such as cameras, lenses, flash units, camera bags, filters etc., much of it branded as “Kalimar” and some branded as “Kent”. Kalimar also imported and distributed binoculars, telescopes, microscopes and optical products under the Kalimar brand, and possibly the Kent brand. Robert Lipsitz also formed Kalimar International which was incorporated in Missouri on 8/7/1972. Tiffen acquired the active company in 1999. Kalimar filed for a US trademark for Kalimar for cameras and accessories in 1954, for a logotype for cameras in 1954, and held US trademark #74321727 (logotype incorporating “Kalmiar) including binoculars in 1992. Kalimar Inc. held Canadian trademark #TMA108197 for binoculars, telescopes & many types of camera equipment from 10/1957 to 2017. TO SEE OUR KALIMAR CATALOGS NAVIGATE TO BINOCULAR CATALOGS #04 . |
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MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS: (owned) KALIMAR BINOCULARS (probably) KENT BINOCULARS CONVENTIONAL BINOCULAR BRANDS: KALIMAR BINOCULARS PRIMARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION: OPTICS REVIEWER, MISSOURI SECRETARY OF STATE , U.S. PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS OFFICE, CAMERAPEDIA |
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AKEBONO OPTICAL CO., LTD. (JAPAN) AKEBONO KŌGAKU KŌGYŌ AKEBONO KŌGYŌ SEISAKUJO/ 曙光学工業 |
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MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (believed owned?): LUCIFER BINOCULARS PRIMARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION: OBSERVATION |
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Since eight out of eight observed powers and variations of “Lucifer” brand binoculars from both the US and Swedish markets are either prominently marked on a prism cover “AKC” or else carry the JB-69 manufacturer’s code for Akebono Kogaku Kogyo, I therefore believe that LUCIFER BINOCULARS was the brand used on those binoculars which Akebono distributed on it’s own behalf. Akebono was a prolific Japanese assembling manufacturer of miniature binoculars. I have observed 13 miniature binoculars brand names for which Akebono made binoculars , including those of well known importer brands such as Selsi and Binolux , and there are presumably similar examples I have not yet encountered. |
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USA MARKET |
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USA MARKET |
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EUROPEAN MARKET |
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H. OGINO & CO, LTD. (JAPAN) EASTERN MERCHANDISE TRADING CO., LTD |
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USA MARKET |
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MINIATURE BINOCULAR BRANDS (TM owner): MAGNON BINOCULARS PRIMARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION: INTERNATIONAL TRADE NAMES DICTIONARY/GALE RESEARCH/ 1988, H. OGINO & CO WEBSITE |
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In October 1952 the Japanese firm Eastern Merchandise Trading Co, Ltd. was formed in Yokohama as a retail camera business and general merchandise export firm, and the retail firm Tokyo Airport Camera was formed at Haneda Airport in 1954. In 1955 Eastern was terminated and H. Ogino & Co., Ltd. was formed as a successor. From 1958 export of medical equipment, movie and 35mm cameras, and projectors was emphasized. In the 1960’s two factories were acquired and by then exports were using the Magnon brand name, and also the Cinekon brand name, and from the 1970’s Ogino exported ophthalmic instruments under the Magnon brand. Ogino Boeki Co Ltd Corp. which is presumably a variation on the name , held a US trademark for Magnon for camera goods 1970-1990. H Ogino held Singapore trademark T7049102D for “ MAGNON ” for binoculars from 5/1970 expired in 1991. And Ogino Boeki Kabushiki Kaisha held Israeli trademark #47128 for MAGNON for binoculars, opera glasses and telescopes 1979-? |