We have a ton of members that might know the history of all these companies but I don't. Sometimes it's fun to go down the rabbit hole and dig up information. Sankyo had a crappy name, it sounded like they copied other companies and to me, like a "clone" name. I think the reality is they were a big player with cassettes, motors, and a lot of other media from the 60's-90's but didn't have a big USA Footprint with their own equipment. I'll post what I find, feel free to add what you have! In 1980 they had a musical toy which seem very popular.
If you worked on tape decks you know the Sankyo Name is plastered on a lot of motors. From 1990, it looks like audio (maybe tape decks) motors were slowing going away.
This is an awesome article, 85% of the tape heads/micrometers/level meters made! From 1978. I think I know what a micrometer is but what is it for audio? Does this mean that most of the cool VU analog meters were from Sankyo, who made the others?
Sankyo is a difficult name to research. There now seem to be three companies Pharmaceuticals, Pachinko, and the one you are thinking of all using the same name. Were they once all the same company? I don't know, although we have to remember the Japanese trend for large conglomerates like Mitsubishi and Hitachi. Doing a search on eBay I get 594 results for in Photography, mainly for both 8mm and Super 8 Movie Cameras and Projectors 603 results for various motors Over 2200 results for music boxes The last isn't at all surprising. According to their website they once had 90% of the world market for music box mechanisms, a product they still make along with all the little motors and other widgets that go into cars and appliances. https://www.nidec.com/en/nidec-sankyo/ This is the sort of company who could easily make a quality cassette deck mechanism. However, their first question would probably be how many hundred thousand you would want each year. Maybe it is time for a musical interlude https://www.nidec-sankyo-orgel.server-queen.jp/triallistening.php?lang=EN&MDL=100N .
Good website Longman, here's the quote... Sankyo and the History of Suwa's Music Box. In 1946, a year after the World War II, Sankyo Seiki(now Nidec Sankyo Corporation) was established at Suwa, and 2 years later Sankyo started developing a music box. The first 6 sets of music boxes(which played "Hanschen klein") were produced experimentally but the teeth were broken soon one after another. Though remained 2 sets, it was said bad sound as like striking the bottom of a bucket. In the end of 1948, Sankyo finally was able to ship its first 500 music boxes. Later, Sankyo once provided over 90% of worldwide music box industry with the development, production engineering and the global sales network. I haven't found the Pachinko connection yet, I've got a few older ones but don't remember any branded Sankyo.
There were Sankyo bicycle Dynamos (Wheel driven Dynamo/Light sets) which were well acclaimed in my childhood - the 80's. Photo from the net:
Here is the Pachinko https://www.sankyo-fever.co.jp/en/corporate/ I don't think it is the same company as their website says they were established in 1966. I contrast Sankyo Seiki seem to be proud of their 1948 music boxes. As for Sankyo Seiki making motors here is the current range https://www.nidec.com/en/nidec-sankyo/product/motor-module/ The smallest is 3.4mm in diameter. I have seen such motors doing things like autofocus in compact cameras.
And Mabuchi. They supplied most of the motors for cheap toys from the 1960s onwards, as well as many in tape recorders. https://www.mabuchi-motor.com/company/history.html I have always thought of Mitsumi being more of a computer peripherals company.
I hate to say it but I've always thought Mitsumi and Mabuchi were the same company, only because I rarely read about them and they are spelled very similar. I'm thinking of starting a thread similar to the Vintage Knobs with random manufacturer's info or maybe just keeping it in the boombox/walkman archeaology threads. Some of this is very interesting, these guys were selling millions of little motors, I bet it was cut-throat to get the business.
They probably still are. Outside of the drive train, the only motors I can think of in my 1988 car were the heater blower and windscreen washer. I was fixing the mirror on a neighbours 2001 car and there were two motors in it. I'm thinking my car must have 13 motors in it just for mirrors, windows, and locks. Go upmarket and you start to get power adjusted seats etc needing even more motors.
The gadgets were the volume, millions of tape decks being pumped out, then motorized trays and anything else. Modern cars have a ton, 13 is a lot, I'll have to think about that. Although I think the locks would be a solenoid and not a motor. We used to dumpster dive the local adding machine dealer (Burroughs) and pull apart the decommisioned equipment, motors were always high on the list, I used to have bags full of them for little hobby builds.
Back around 1977 when this advert was published I bought these I'm sure several of the motors were Mabuchi. I recall there was a really small 2 pole one that could be fitted in the nose of a 1/72 model aircraft to spin the prop. It didn't need a switch either. flip the prop and it would start. hold it and it would stop. Regarding the car I was assuming the locks are operated by motors. Our cat microchip cat flap definitely is as I had to repair it. So back to the car, two in each door (window and lock), and one for the tailgate. There must even be a motor or solenoid for the petrol filler cover.
We also had Erector Sets, I think they were similar to Meccano's, those were so fun with the motor, used mostly for cranes. The newer motor had a clear plastic case so you could see the spinning. I still have a few basic old motors sitting around including ones from my old 70's Erector Sets, somewhere around here. I had to look up car locks, I guess they're both and I probably knew that from fixing a ton of them and looking at pictures.
They also made semiconductors like MOSFETs and other transistor packages. I remember when they were a major player in motors and semiconductors. I have several Sony amplifiers and receivers that use Sankyo output devices. Also several Sony tape decks I have use Sankyo motors. I'm not sure about the CD players. Being Sony was and is a quality name brand they used good parts.
