Nikor History

[dynachrome]

I bought a Nikor tank today from an eBay seller. The bottom of the tank has the Nikor imprint and the words New York City. I don't know whether this means the tank was made in NY or that the company had a corporate address there. My other Nikor tanks show either Springfield, MA or West Springfield, MA. I know that the final metal Nikors were made in Japan. Does anyone know how long the equipment was made in each location?

 

[dynachrome]

Could someone move this to Darkroom Equipment?

 

[MattKing]

Thread moved, as per very reasonable request.

 

[BobD]

Nikor was associated with Honeywell.
See:
https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00511/00511.pdf
and
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nesster/4737788061

 

[reddesert]

My Nikor tank, which has the Massachusetts address on the bottom, also has a couple of patent numbers. Here's one of the patents: https://patents.google.com/patent/US2073978A/en?oq=us2073978 US 2073978 for what is clearly the invertible light safe tank and spiral wire reel for roll film. Applied for in 1936 by Hinsdale Smith Jr in New York, patent granted 1937. I did not realize these tanks dated back that far. The second patent number is 2218727 which appears to be the Nikor tank and reel for sheet film, patented a few years later.

Honeywell took over the business much later, I don't know if that had anything to do with the change of address.

 

[mshchem]

This has most of the story of the inventor.

https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1997-12-18-9712180258-story.html