Difference between revisions of "Asanuma Shōkai"

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'''Asanuma Shōkai''' (浅沼商会) was a Japanese distributor founded in 1871 by Asanuma Tokichi.<REF> Lewis, p.&nbsp;4. </REF> It sold the [[Eagle plate folders]] around 1915<REF> Lewis, p.&nbsp;24. </REF> and the [[Focal Happy]] at some later date. It was certainly the owner of the Happy brand, later used on the [[Nifca and Molta plate folders|Happy plate folder]] made by [[Minolta|Molta]].
 
'''Asanuma Shōkai''' (浅沼商会) was a Japanese distributor founded in 1871 by Asanuma Tokichi.<REF> Lewis, p.&nbsp;4. </REF> It sold the [[Eagle plate folders]] around 1915<REF> Lewis, p.&nbsp;24. </REF> and the [[Focal Happy]] at some later date. It was certainly the owner of the Happy brand, later used on the [[Nifca and Molta plate folders|Happy plate folder]] made by [[Minolta|Molta]].
  
Asanuma distributed the various [[Minolta]] models of the Molta, later Chiyoda Kōgaku company. It apparently had the exclusivity of these cameras from at least as early as 1936 to the second world war. After the war it still appears as an authorized dealer of the Minolta cameras, until at least as late as 1952, often together with [[Misuzu Shōkai]]. It was still in existence in 1959&ndash;60 and advertised [[Taron]] and [[King]] products; its main address at the time was Chūō-ku Nihonbashi Takarachō 3&ndash;3 (中央区日本橋宝町3&ndash;3) in Tokyo.<REF> March 1959 advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.254; 1960 advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]] Annual '60''. </REF> It was also an authorized dealer of the Congo lenses by [[Yamasaki]] in 1960.<REF> Advertisement for the Congo lenses published in ''[[Asahi Camera]] Annual '60''. </REF>
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Asanuma distributed the various [[Minolta]] models of the Molta, later Chiyoda Kōgaku company. It apparently had the exclusivity of these cameras from at least as early as 1936 to the second world war. After the war it still appears as an authorized dealer of the Minolta cameras, until at least as late as 1952, often together with [[Misuzu Shōkai]]. It was still in existence in 1959&ndash;60 and advertised [[Taron]] and [[King]] products; its main address at the time was Chūō-ku Nihonbashi Takarachō 3&ndash;3 (中央区日本橋宝町3&ndash;3) in Tokyo.<REF> March 1959 advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.254; 1960 advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]] Annual '60''. </REF>
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Asanuma also distributed the Congo lenses by [[Yamasaki]], whose founder was a former employee of the company.<REF> [http://www.cosmonet.org/congo/history.htm Yamasaki history page]; Inoue, p.130; Baird, p.59. </REF> The Congo lenses appear in wartime Asanuma catalogues,<REF> Asanuma Shōkai. ''Shashinki to zairyō'', October 1941. </REF> and the company was still an authorized dealer of Yamasaki in 1960.<REF> Advertisement for the Congo lenses published in ''[[Asahi Camera]] Annual '60''. </REF>
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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* {{Showa10}}
 
* {{Showa10}}
 
* ''[[Asahi Camera]] Annual '60'' (アサヒカメラ年鑑'60). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbun-sha. No ISBN number.
 
* ''[[Asahi Camera]] Annual '60'' (アサヒカメラ年鑑'60). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbun-sha. No ISBN number.
 +
* Asanuma Shōkai. ''Shashinki to zairyō'' (Cameras and supplies). Catalogue dated October 1941. P.16. Document partly reproduced [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/sets/72157602475194663/ here in rebollo_fr's Flickr account].
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* {{Baird Japanese}} P.59.
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* Inoue, Mitsuo (井上光朗). "Shashin renzu no yoake. Renzu-ya Funsenki" (写真レンズの夜明け・レンズ屋奮戦記, Dawn of the photographic lens &ndash; Fierce war tales between lens shops). {{KKS014}} Pp.128&ndash;132.
 
* {{Lewis}}
 
* {{Lewis}}
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;85.
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;85.
  
 
[[Category: Japanese distributors]]
 
[[Category: Japanese distributors]]

Revision as of 15:42, 28 November 2007

Asanuma Shōkai (浅沼商会) was a Japanese distributor founded in 1871 by Asanuma Tokichi.[1] It sold the Eagle plate folders around 1915[2] and the Focal Happy at some later date. It was certainly the owner of the Happy brand, later used on the Happy plate folder made by Molta.

Asanuma distributed the various Minolta models of the Molta, later Chiyoda Kōgaku company. It apparently had the exclusivity of these cameras from at least as early as 1936 to the second world war. After the war it still appears as an authorized dealer of the Minolta cameras, until at least as late as 1952, often together with Misuzu Shōkai. It was still in existence in 1959–60 and advertised Taron and King products; its main address at the time was Chūō-ku Nihonbashi Takarachō 3–3 (中央区日本橋宝町3–3) in Tokyo.[3]

Asanuma also distributed the Congo lenses by Yamasaki, whose founder was a former employee of the company.[4] The Congo lenses appear in wartime Asanuma catalogues,[5] and the company was still an authorized dealer of Yamasaki in 1960.[6]

Notes

  1. Lewis, p. 4.
  2. Lewis, p. 24.
  3. March 1959 advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.254; 1960 advertisement published in Asahi Camera Annual '60.
  4. Yamasaki history page; Inoue, p.130; Baird, p.59.
  5. Asanuma Shōkai. Shashinki to zairyō, October 1941.
  6. Advertisement for the Congo lenses published in Asahi Camera Annual '60.

Bibliography