NKT 5cm f1.4 - Odd Engraving on Barrel

[Miles.]

I recently acquired this early NKT 5cm f1.4 lens and noticed an odd engraving on the barrel. Any ideas what it means? Dealer engraving? Old corporation or government logo?

Mr. Rotoloni has not seen it before.

 

[farlymac]

Something having to do with GN (flash Guide Number) calculation?

PF

 

[Sonnar Brian]

It looks more like a "Cattle Brand"- maybe a company bought the lens, and that is a "branding".

It is cool.

 

[Miles.]

Haruo Sato, who runs Nikon's "The Thousand and One Nights" replied in a different forum:

"This is thought to be a mark meaning "tool (工具＝kougu)" that was used by Nippon Kogaku."

He said he couldn't be certain, but that is the prevailing thought amongst people who know much more about Nikon than I do.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

SO- this lens was a benchmark lens USED by Nikon!

No need for certainty- sounds good to me!

 

[splitimageview]

Coming from Sato-san, it seems likely. 🙂 I did some searches for a similar icon/logo/symbol (including AI) but didn't come up with anything.

 

[Miles.]

Coming from Sato-san, it seems likely. 🙂 I did some searches for a similar icon/logo/symbol (including AI) but didn't come up with anything.

I agree, but I wanted to respect his restraint.

 

[splitimageview]

I've seen his posts on fb, always measured.

 

[farlymac]

Haruo Sato, who runs Nikon's "The Thousand and One Nights" replied in a different forum:

"This is thought to be a mark meaning "tool (工具＝kougu)" that was used by Nippon Kogaku."

He said he couldn't be certain, but that is the prevailing thought amongst people who know much more about Nikon than I do.

That actually was my first thought, but it looked so much like a lightning bolt I went with the GN hypothesis, though seeing as it was not something that showed up in any production runs that it might have been an experimental unit.

PF

 

[Miles.]

I really don’t know what the odds are but I just found another on the big auction site — this one is an f2, and seems to be in better condition, optically, than the one I purchased.

Nikon NIKKOR-H.C 5cm F2 Standard Prime Lens L39 Leica Nippon Kogaku Japan Ex5 | eBay

[Excellent5]Nikon NIKKOR-H. Optical system. There are tiny dusts inside,which never affect photos.

www.ebay.com

 

[splitimageview]

Nice catch, I wonder if the seller has any info. Likely not, but maybe worth an ask.

 

[Miles.]

Nice catch, I wonder if the seller has any info. Likely not, but maybe worth an ask.

Knowing my lens is c. 1952, and this example is likely c. 1958, suggests it might’ve been a pretty established practice.

 

[xayraa33]

I wonder if it is the logo of a large chain of Japanese photographic equipment stores or the Japanese version of a Japanese PX store for its Self Defence Force ?