Jean de Wouters
Encyclopedia
Jean de Wouters is a Belgian
inventor and aeronautical engineer. In 1957, he created the Calypso-Phot
for Jacques-Yves Cousteau
under their La Spirotechnique company name. It was later licensed to Nikon, where it became the Calypso-Nikkor and then the Nikonos
.
De Wouters apparently worked in aviation
earlier in life, possibly during World War II
, since he holds several patents for airplane improvements dating to that time period.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
inventor and aeronautical engineer. In 1957, he created the Calypso-Phot
Calypso (camera)
The self-contained amphibious underwater Calypso 35mm film camera was conceived by the marine explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau , designed by Jean de Wouters and manufactured by Atoms in France. It was distributed by La Spirotechnique in Paris from 1960 to 1962. The camera operates down to 200 feet /...
for Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water...
under their La Spirotechnique company name. It was later licensed to Nikon, where it became the Calypso-Nikkor and then the Nikonos
Nikonos
Nikonos is the name of a series of 35 mm film cameras specifically designed for underwater photography launched by Nikon in 1963. The early Nikonos cameras were improvements of the Calypso camera, which was an original design by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Belgian engineer Jean de Wouters...
.
De Wouters apparently worked in aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
earlier in life, possibly during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, since he holds several patents for airplane improvements dating to that time period.