The company that sold Nikkor lenses in the 1930s started selling cameras under this brand in 1946
These folding Kodak Retina cameras are listed below with their 
respective... [DOC] [TLE] Company Seven | Nikon Special Products Index Page [PAR] As can be seen by just some of the innovative lenses mentioned below, ... 
decided to market them under a unifying name, thus the NIKKOR brand was ... By 
1946 the company was gradually returning to the manufacture of consumer items 
including cameras and to distinguish it at this new start, the 'Nikon' logo was 
adopted.