Pentax Museum closed - what happened to the exhibits?

angerdan · 03-09-2018, 09:16 AM

Since the Pentax museum doesn't exist anymore, who knows about the remain of the exhibits?
Opening of the first camera museum in Japan owned by a camera manufacturer was in 1967 and moved to Mashiko plant in 1993.
PENTAX About PENTAX
PENTAX Camera museum

More information about the history of the museum can be found there:
Pentax camera museum to close - PentaxForums.com

Last edited by angerdan; 03-09-2018 at 09:22 AM.

**THoog** · 03-09-2018, 11:24 AM - **1 Like**

See discussion here:

The sky is not falling! - Page 3 - PentaxForums.com

**ChrisPlatt** · 03-09-2018, 06:05 PM

I am confident it was part of the corporations 500 Year Plan.

Chris

Winder · 03-10-2018, 07:35 AM

If they don't get busy the only place you will be able to find Pentax cameras is in museums.

angerdan · 06-06-2018, 02:10 PM

I wonder why Pentax don't run a museum for their lenses.
Especially the lens designers like Jun Hirakawa should be mentioned somehow.

angerdan · 09-19-2018, 12:19 PM

Anyone has current pictures of inside and outside of the Ricoh Imaging Square ?
Pentax camera museum to close - PentaxForums.com

JPT · 04-30-2019, 07:28 PM - **3 Likes**

A recent post on the Ricoh Facebook page sheds light on this. There is a former employee who has a large portion of the collection, and maintains his own "Camera Museum" in Ibaraki Prefecture.

There were recent Pentax Fan Day events at the Ricoh Imaging Squares in Tokyo and Osaka, and some rare items were borrowed from this museum. I think that's why they are in contact and featuring the museum at this time. The report also makes mention of the company's own collection, so some of the museum's exhibits may still be with the company.

It's possible to visit the museum free of charge, but you have to call in advance to make sure that it is convenient for the owner. Also, I have no idea if he is an English speaker or not. Contact information:

「カメラ博物館」「写真はうす」
住所：〒321-3707 栃木県芳賀郡茂木町小深101-2
電話番号：0285-61-1650（来館前には必ず電話で確認を）
開館時間：10時～17時
入館料：無料
休館日：特に設けていないものの、不在のこともあるので、来館の際は事前に電話で確認をとのこと。

There's a report in Japanese and several photos on the Ricoh Imaging FB page, posted on April 28, 2019.

?????? (PENTAX by RICOH IMAGING) - Home | Facebook

Last edited by JPT; 04-30-2019 at 07:37 PM.

angerdan · 05-02-2019, 10:31 AM

Thanks for this information - really great to know this!

Here's the private colletion on Google Maps:
Google Maps

JPT · 05-03-2019, 12:57 AM

Sorry. I should correct my reading. The address is in Tochigi Prefecture, not Ibaraki. It is right near the border with Ibaraki though. It would probably take a few hours to get there from Tokyo. You’d need to take a local railway line and then a bus.

**LaurenOE** · 06-08-2019, 02:22 PM - **3 Likes**

Well...I still have the (the only one?) EI-3000 prototype.
I was asked to sell it to a "museum" a while ago, but no...until someone in Japan asks or someone famous at Pentax/Ricoh, it will be in my good care.
Too risky to let it go to places that can disappear.

angerdan · 02-23-2021, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by angerdan

Here's the private colletion on Google Maps:
Google Maps

Here are collected locations of former and current pentax facilities in Japan:
The sky is not falling! - PentaxForums.com

lesmore49 · 02-23-2021, 02:25 PM

Originally posted by LaurenOE

Well...I still have the (the only one?) EI-3000 prototype.
I was asked to sell it to a "museum" a while ago, but no...until someone in Japan asks or someone famous at Pentax/Ricoh, it will be in my good care.
Too risky to let it go to places that can disappear.

Exactly. I have some rare non camera items that at one time I thought I would donate to a museum. No longer as there are cases of museums that come under new management and/or new ownership, etc. that then decide to sell the donations...and to use the money as the new management/owners see fit.

**LaurenOE** · 02-23-2021, 08:49 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by lesmore49

Exactly. I have some rare non camera items that at one time I thought I would donate to a museum. No longer as there are cases of museums that come under new management and/or new ownership, etc. that then decide to sell the donations...and to use the money as the new management/owners see fit.

Yep. Still have my Pentaxian artifacts. Still in perfect condition.

03-09-2018, 09:16 AM	#1
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,639	Pentax Museum closed - what happened to the exhibits? Since the Pentax museum doesn't exist anymore, who knows about the remain of the exhibits? Opening of the first camera museum in Japan owned by a camera manufacturer was in 1967 and moved to Mashiko plant in 1993. PENTAX About PENTAX PENTAX Camera museum More information about the history of the museum can be found there: Pentax camera museum to close - PentaxForums.com Last edited by angerdan; 03-09-2018 at 09:22 AM.

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03-09-2018, 11:24 AM - 1 Like	#2
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685	See discussion here: The sky is not falling! - Page 3 - PentaxForums.com

03-09-2018, 06:05 PM	#3
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	I am confident it was part of the corporations 500 Year Plan. Chris

03-10-2018, 07:35 AM	#4
Winder Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,617	If they don't get busy the only place you will be able to find Pentax cameras is in museums.

06-06-2018, 02:10 PM	#5
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,639 Original Poster	I wonder why Pentax don't run a museum for their lenses. Especially the lens designers like Jun Hirakawa should be mentioned somehow.

09-19-2018, 12:19 PM	#6
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,639 Original Poster	Anyone has current pictures of inside and outside of the Ricoh Imaging Square ? Pentax camera museum to close - PentaxForums.com

04-30-2019, 07:28 PM - 3 Likes	#7
JPT Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,821	A recent post on the Ricoh Facebook page sheds light on this. There is a former employee who has a large portion of the collection, and maintains his own "Camera Museum" in Ibaraki Prefecture. There were recent Pentax Fan Day events at the Ricoh Imaging Squares in Tokyo and Osaka, and some rare items were borrowed from this museum. I think that's why they are in contact and featuring the museum at this time. The report also makes mention of the company's own collection, so some of the museum's exhibits may still be with the company. It's possible to visit the museum free of charge, but you have to call in advance to make sure that it is convenient for the owner. Also, I have no idea if he is an English speaker or not. Contact information: 「カメラ博物館」「写真はうす」住所：〒321-3707 栃木県芳賀郡茂木町小深101-2 電話番号：0285-61-1650（来館前には必ず電話で確認を）開館時間：10時～17時入館料：無料休館日：特に設けていないものの、不在のこともあるので、来館の際は事前に電話で確認をとのこと。 There's a report in Japanese and several photos on the Ricoh Imaging FB page, posted on April 28, 2019. ?????? (PENTAX by RICOH IMAGING) - Home \| Facebook Last edited by JPT; 04-30-2019 at 07:37 PM.

05-02-2019, 10:31 AM	#8
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,639 Original Poster	Thanks for this information - really great to know this! Here's the private colletion on Google Maps: Google Maps

05-03-2019, 12:57 AM	#9
JPT Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,821	Sorry. I should correct my reading. The address is in Tochigi Prefecture, not Ibaraki. It is right near the border with Ibaraki though. It would probably take a few hours to get there from Tokyo. You’d need to take a local railway line and then a bus.

06-08-2019, 02:22 PM - 3 Likes	#10
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	Well...I still have the (the only one?) EI-3000 prototype. I was asked to sell it to a "museum" a while ago, but no...until someone in Japan asks or someone famous at Pentax/Ricoh, it will be in my good care. Too risky to let it go to places that can disappear.

02-23-2021, 01:48 PM	#11
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,639 Original Poster	Originally posted by angerdan Here's the private colletion on Google Maps: Google Maps Here are collected locations of former and current pentax facilities in Japan: The sky is not falling! - PentaxForums.com

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02-23-2021, 02:25 PM	#12
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,342	Originally posted by LaurenOE Well...I still have the (the only one?) EI-3000 prototype. I was asked to sell it to a "museum" a while ago, but no...until someone in Japan asks or someone famous at Pentax/Ricoh, it will be in my good care. Too risky to let it go to places that can disappear. Exactly. I have some rare non camera items that at one time I thought I would donate to a museum. No longer as there are cases of museums that come under new management and/or new ownership, etc. that then decide to sell the donations...and to use the money as the new management/owners see fit.

02-23-2021, 08:49 PM - 1 Like	#13
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	Originally posted by lesmore49 Exactly. I have some rare non camera items that at one time I thought I would donate to a museum. No longer as there are cases of museums that come under new management and/or new ownership, etc. that then decide to sell the donations...and to use the money as the new management/owners see fit. Yep. Still have my Pentaxian artifacts. Still in perfect condition.