Nagaoka cameras are still made in Japan. The story of a wooden LF craftsman.

[mhayashi]

I want to share you that there is a column about Nagaoka cameras.
Nagaoka-san still makes wooden LF cameras, who is 82 years old now
and is the last wooden LF craftsman in Japan.

Here is a link in Japanese but you can use google chrome and translator in your language.

https://serai.jp/hobby/1002833

[Oren Grad]

Hayashi-san, that is fantastic, thank you!

Do you know if his workshop is still in Ueno? And is there any way to contact him? I know he communicates only in Japanese, and he has not wanted to deal directly with foreign customers. Does Gin-Ichi still serve as an agent?

Interesting tidbits:

Company was started in 1962.

He now has to make his own metal parts.

He's still tinkering with different kinds of wood.

He made a 20x24 once!

[mhayashi]

Oren, yes his workshop is still in Ueno, Tokyo.

（有）長岡製作所 2 Chome-11-4 Kitaueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0014 03-3841-3678 https://goo.gl/maps/FxnuAxcNvVSvW22U7

I happen to live in 4km or 10 minutes away from his workshop by car,
but have never met him before because I don’t own one of his cameras.
Gin-ichi is still in business. They are probably still a dealer of Nagaoka.

Here is another link of youtube taken in 2019. Japanese narration only.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlvlp_Q02pI

Here is his workshop address.
Maybe you could write a letter to him with some pictures
or I could translate your letter to him if you wish.

Nagaoka Seisakujo
2-11-4 Kita-Ueno
Taito-ku,Tokyo
Japan
Postal code 110-0014

[Oren Grad]

Thank you for those details!

Street view, for those who are curious what a factory that makes wooden view cameras looks like from the outside: :)

https://www.google.com/maps/place/%EF%BC%88%E6%9C%89%EF%BC%89%E9%95%B7%E5%B2%A1%E8%A3%BD%E4%BD%9C%E6%89%80/@35.7164538,139.7846471,3a,75y,100.24h,91.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s4RDrUdG7XluDm6udBGG7lw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D4RDrUdG7XluDm6udBGG7lw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D91.844086%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192!4m7!3m6!1s0x60188e90cca560f1:0x712933a9e26f642d!8m2!3d35.716448!4d139.784728!14m1!1BCgIgARICCAI?hl=en-JP

The box in front is labeled "Nagaoka" in katakana (ナガオカ).

The video that Hayashi-san linked gives a feel for the inside.

[Tin Can]

https://www.cameraeccentric.com/static/img/pdfs/nagaoka_1.pdf

[John Kasaian]

I remember seeing ads for Nagaoka cameras in Popular Science, placed by some distributor on King St in Honolulu. How I wish I had ordered one but I was a broke college kid whose big night out consisted of a dollar draft and a 25 cent hardboiled egg at the Silver Dollar Hofbrau.

I've always wanted one of his 5x7s for when I get too old to sugar ant a "biten" around the mountains.

Thank you for a posting a delightful article!

[Steve Goldstein]

A few years ago I got a made-to-order Nagaoka 5x7 with the help of a Japanese colleague. It's the "Woody" model, not the one on the cover of the brochure Randy linked. At the time Nagaoka-san said he couldn't get the metal parts to build the more traditional version. The bellows was installed slightly misaligned so it has some "personality". I used to think it was the last camera Nagaoka-san made, but now it seems that may not be true.

[Oren Grad]

The thing that stands out for me in that Gin-Ichi brochure is the reference to a 6.5 x 8.5 model. Quite a few years back now I made an inquiry through a Japanese friend but didn't get very far - ended up with a barely-legible fax in Japanese that amounted to a polite brush-off. Not sure whether that was just because I was overseas. But based on an article I saw in Japanese a while back it's probably moot now anyway, as possibly apart from pinhole stuff, it sounded like he was down to making only 4x5 and 8x10.

He's gone to the Phillips-like front standard in at least some of his recent cameras - certainly 5x7 and 8x10. I wonder whether that's because the parts are easier to make now that he has to do his own.

[Mark Sampson]

A Nagaoka was the first field 4x5 I ever saw, at South Plaza Camera in Rochester in 1981. I was instantly smitten with the whole idea, but by '82 when I had enough money, I bought a Tachihara. Finding any of the Japanese cameras in the USA was a difficult task back then... The Tachi was a fine machine but the Nagaoka always remained in my mind. Now I want a Nagaoka again, although I don't need it and my gear budget is tiny. I'm very glad to know that Nagaoka-san is still plying his craft. Thanks for letting us know!

[Joseph Kashi]

Oren, yes his workshop is still in Ueno, Tokyo.

（有）長岡製作所 2 Chome-11-4 Kitaueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0014 03-3841-3678 https://goo.gl/maps/FxnuAxcNvVSvW22U7

I happen to live in 4km or 10 minutes away from his workshop by car,
but haven’t never met him before because I don’t own one of his cameras.
Gin-ichi is still in business. They are probably still a dealer of Nagaoka.

Here is another link of youtube taken in 2019. Japanese narration only.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlvlp_Q02pI

Here is his workshop address.
Maybe you could write a letter to him with some pictures
or I could translate your letter to him if you wish.

Nagaoka Seisakujo
2-11-4 Kita-Ueno
Taito-ku,Tokyo
Japan
Postal code 110-0014


44 years ago, my wedding present from my new wife was a 4x5 Nagaoka. I still have and use that camera and it's still in wonderful condition. Since then, I have moved mostly to 5x7 and I would like to obtain a new 5x7 from Mr. Nagaoka.

Can some one help me make contact with Mr. Nagaoka so that I can order a new 5x7 camera. I would be deeply appreciative. I am not in a hurry.

Thank you

Joe Kashi
Soldotna, Alaska, USA

[mhayashi]

Joe, I will attempt to contact him what’s the best way to order from abroad.
I found another blog of a Nagaoka user. The page can be translated by google chrome and translator.
It shows nice pics of the working space and tools he uses to make LF cameras.

http://modernism.jugem.jp/?cid=263

[Joseph Kashi]

Joe, I will attempt to contact him what’s the best way to order from abroad.
I found another blog of a Nagaoka user. The page can be translated by google chrome and translator.
It shows nice pics of the working space and tools he uses to make LF cameras.

http://modernism.jugem.jp/?cid=263


Thank you very much. I appreciate your help and I look forward to communicating with Mr. Nagaoka.

[David R Munson]

I had no idea! I would love to go, especially if I could get permission to photograph him in his workshop, but my Japanese is still too rough for that. I live nearby. This is going to dominate my mind this weekend.

[mhayashi]

I called the phone number and left the mesaage in a voice mail a few days ago, but no response yet.
My last attempt would be via a merchant like Gin-ichi and Shinbashi-ichi-camera.
I will let you know when the circumstances change.

[Joseph Kashi]

Thank you!

[Duolab123]

Seems like a nice fellow

[mhayashi]

Joseph, I managed to get his son’s phone number and succeeded to contact.
He is sick right now so I was told to wait until his recovery.

Shinbashi-ichi camera sells a nice conditioned Nagaoka camera too.

https://www.shinbashi-camera.net/p/search?keyword=nagaoka

[Helcio J Tagliolatto]

Thank you for those details!

Street view, for those who are curious what a factory that makes wooden view cameras looks like from the outside: :)

The box in front is labeled "Nagaoka" in katakana (ナガオカ).

The video that Hayashi-san linked gives a feel for the inside.

And it's the last detached house in the neighborhood!
I assume he resides in the upper storey of the property.

[tdicorcia]

Wonderful. So glad I found this thread. I also live nearby (well, west Tokyo, anyway).

Last Friday, I went to see the annual exhibition of the Ebony Camera Club at Fuji Film Square in central Tokyo. One of the club members had his Ebony 8x10 on display. Ebony stopped business just a few years ago. Coincidentally, three or four large lots of Ebony camera wooden, unfinished parts went for sale on Yahoo Auction. It was kind of sad to see inventory go like that. 207774207775. The mahogany parts went for about $175 and the ebony wood parts went for about $225.

By the way, I'd love to connect locally with other LF photographers in the Tokyo area. The people at the Ebony club were very nice -- but, unfortunately, I don't own an Ebony. I'm a beginner, with a low budget, who picked up some old LF cameras that I am *slowly* modifying to 5x7 and maybe WP.

[David R Munson]

By the way, I'd love to connect locally with other LF photographers in the Tokyo area. The people at the Ebony club were very nice -- but, unfortunately, I don't own an Ebony. I'm a beginner, with a low budget, who picked up some old LF cameras that I am *slowly* modifying to 5x7 and maybe WP.

I'm in Saitama City, near Urawa Station. I currently have a 4x5, but for now no lens, film holders, or place to develop, so I'm temporarily out of the large format game, but always want to meet other photographers around here. Maybe let's plan some kind of (appropriately distanced) meetup.

[Helcio J Tagliolatto]

https://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2020/09/joe-kashi.html

[tdicorcia]

David, Yes. I'd like that. I'm a it busy the next few weeks with trade shows. Maybe could slip in a Zoom meeting. Or meet up after October 9th? I have two working cameras. A Burke & James wide angle box camera from about 1940(?). 5x7 format. Wollensak lens -- about 109mm. And a Toyo 45G monorail with SK Symmar-S 180mm 5.6. And two currently inoperative cameras. Both half-plate (4.75x6.5 inch) format -- an old metal field Toyo "Sakai Special" and an unnamed wooden field (looks like an Anba Ikeda). But I would really like to build a whole plate (6.5" x 8.5") tailboard camera that would also take 5x7. I'm in Fuchu-shi, not far from the Musashino line.

[Dann Corbit]

I want to share you that there is a column about Nagaoka cameras.
Nagaoka-san still makes wooden LF cameras, who is 82 years old now
and is the last wooden LF craftsman in Japan.

Here is a link in Japanese but you can use google chrome and translator in your language.

https://serai.jp/hobby/1002833

That is a wonderful story. There are certain skills in the world that only exist in the minds of a few men.
When they are lost they are really lost and that is a tragedy.

It can be making a saddle for a horse, or making a violin or making a view camera.
These special skills are worthy of honor.

[mhayashi]

44 years ago, my wedding present from my new wife was a 4x5 Nagaoka. I still have and use that camera and it's still in wonderful condition. Since then, I have moved mostly to 5x7 and I would like to obtain a new 5x7 from Mr. Nagaoka.

Can some one help me make contact with Mr. Nagaoka so that I can order a new 5x7 camera. I would be deeply appreciative. I am not in a hurry.

Thank you

Joe Kashi
Soldotna, Alaska, USA

Joe and everyone, I was waiting for a reply from Nagaoka-san and his son.
I have a very sad news. Nagaoka-san passed away.

I found a used 5x7 Nagaoka camera in Yahoo Japan auction if you are interested.
https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/v713765584

[Tin Can]

Sorry to hear of passing

Rest in Peace

2 hours to buy

[Helcio J Tagliolatto]

Very sorry to hear this! I'm feeling sad.

Thank you, mhayashi, for let me know the history of Nagaoka cameras, and their creator.

[Oren Grad]

Joe and everyone, I was waiting for a reply from Nagaoka-san and his son.
I have a very sad news. Nagaoka-san passed away.

長岡さんご永眠とのお知らせに驚いております. ご家族の皆様のお悲しみ,拝察申し上げます.

I am very sorry to hear this news - condolences to his family.

[John Kasaian]

長岡さんご永眠とのお知らせに驚いております. ご家族の皆様のお悲しみ,拝察申し上げます.

I am very sorry to hear this news - condolences to his family.

Sad news!

[Joseph Kashi]

I am very sad to hear of his passing. It's the end of an era. Thank you to the OP for preserving his story and bringing it to our attention as well.