Asanuma Shōkai
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| Addresses of Asanuma Shōkai, in a catalogue dated October 1941. (Image rights) |
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 and advertised Taron and King products.[3]
Notes
- ↑ Lewis, p. 4.
- ↑ Lewis, p. 24.
- ↑ Advertisement by Asanuma Shōkai dated March 1959 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 254.
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7.
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard).
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P. 85.
