All products of the original Takano company and the Ricoh company [which bought out Takano] can go under this entry.
Ricoh Historical Overview:
Much of this information is taken from alternate translations of pages from the "Hokkaido Watch Museum":
http://homepage3.nifty.com/dr-usapyon/museum
Other corporate information is taken from the Ricoh Fact Book 2006:
http://www.ricoh.com/abou...t/factbook/2006/fb00.pdf
Ricoh started on February 6, 1936 as Riken Corporation (or per the Fact Book, "Riken Kankoshi Co., Ltd.") based on the work of Dr. Ookawati Masatoshi [which apparantly deals with photographic paper or "sensitized paper" as the Ricoh Fact Book calls it]. March 1938, the company name was changed to Riken Optical Industry (or per the Fact Book, "Riken Optical Co., Ltd.") and started production of optical devices and equipment.
May 1962 - Ohmori Plant and General Research Laboratory completed.
Apr. 1, 1963 - Name changed (again) to Ricoh Co., Ltd.
May 1967 - Ginza Office established.
Mr. Kiyoshi Ichimura [or Itimura] is shown as having a growing career within this company, as well as having various business leadership roles outside Ricoh. From the Fact Book,
Feb. 2, 1936 Kiyoshi Ichimura appointed executive managing director [until Jan. 11, 1946]
Jan. 12, 1946 Kiyoshi Ichimura appointed president [until Dec. 16, 1968]
Per Hokkaido, he died November 17, 2004 of chronic hepatitis per Hokkaido, but per the 2006 Fact Book: "Dec. 16, 1968 Founder and President Kiyoshi Ichimura passed away" I'm inclined to believe the official Ricoh document on this one!!
It is not stated outright, but implied, that Ricoh took over (bought out) the ailing Takano firm.
In 1962, Hamilton entered into a joint venture (60% owned by Hamilton) with the Japanese watchmaking firm Ricoh to produce electric watches meant primarily for the Japanese market. The partnership was dissolved in 1965. See the "group entry" for Hamilton Ricoh watches for additional background information.
Hokkaido Museum also indicates Ricoh [probably meaning the entire corporate structure, not just the watch making arm] suffered further financial problems in the 1965 era, causing it to suspend dividends for 2 & 1/2 years [resumed in 1967].
Marketing resources:
1. Takano Ad ca. 1959:

2. Ricoh Ad ca. 1963:

Ricoh Historical Overview:
Much of this information is taken from alternate translations of pages from the "Hokkaido Watch Museum":
http://homepage3.nifty.com/dr-usapyon/museum
Other corporate information is taken from the Ricoh Fact Book 2006:
http://www.ricoh.com/abou...t/factbook/2006/fb00.pdf
Ricoh started on February 6, 1936 as Riken Corporation (or per the Fact Book, "Riken Kankoshi Co., Ltd.") based on the work of Dr. Ookawati Masatoshi [which apparantly deals with photographic paper or "sensitized paper" as the Ricoh Fact Book calls it]. March 1938, the company name was changed to Riken Optical Industry (or per the Fact Book, "Riken Optical Co., Ltd.") and started production of optical devices and equipment.
May 1962 - Ohmori Plant and General Research Laboratory completed.
Apr. 1, 1963 - Name changed (again) to Ricoh Co., Ltd.
May 1967 - Ginza Office established.
Mr. Kiyoshi Ichimura [or Itimura] is shown as having a growing career within this company, as well as having various business leadership roles outside Ricoh. From the Fact Book,
Feb. 2, 1936 Kiyoshi Ichimura appointed executive managing director [until Jan. 11, 1946]
Jan. 12, 1946 Kiyoshi Ichimura appointed president [until Dec. 16, 1968]
Per Hokkaido, he died November 17, 2004 of chronic hepatitis per Hokkaido, but per the 2006 Fact Book: "Dec. 16, 1968 Founder and President Kiyoshi Ichimura passed away" I'm inclined to believe the official Ricoh document on this one!!
It is not stated outright, but implied, that Ricoh took over (bought out) the ailing Takano firm.
In 1962, Hamilton entered into a joint venture (60% owned by Hamilton) with the Japanese watchmaking firm Ricoh to produce electric watches meant primarily for the Japanese market. The partnership was dissolved in 1965. See the "group entry" for Hamilton Ricoh watches for additional background information.
Hokkaido Museum also indicates Ricoh [probably meaning the entire corporate structure, not just the watch making arm] suffered further financial problems in the 1965 era, causing it to suspend dividends for 2 & 1/2 years [resumed in 1967].
Marketing resources:
1. Takano Ad ca. 1959:

2. Ricoh Ad ca. 1963:

