Difference between revisions of "Ehira"

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'''Ehira''' was a Japanese camera maker before and after World War II. Its full name was Ehira Kōki Seisakusho (江平光機製作所, meaning Ehira Optical Works) and its logo read Ehira KSK. Ehira was the name of Ehira Shinjirō (江平信次郎). Ehira made 6×6 rangefinder cameras, folding or rigid, with a coupled rangefinder looking like the [[Super Ikonta]].
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'''Ehira Kōki Seisakusho''' (江平光機製作所, meaning Ehira Optical Works) was a Japanese camera maker before and after World War II.
  
* [[Weha Chrome Six]], 1937
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The company was founded by Ehira Shinjirō<REF> First name: see the title of an article in ''Kurashikku Kamera Senka'' no.&nbsp;51, reproduced in [http://www.kanroshobo.com/KANROKANRO/CLACAMESENKA/clacame51-55.html this page] as 江平真次郎のカメラ and in [http://leicahiroba.web.infoseek.co.jp/Siryou01-06.html this page] as 江平信次郎のカメラ. </REF> and was based in Yao, in the suburbs of Osaka.<REF> Its address in 1949 was Ōsaka-fu Yao-shi Kozakai 148 (大阪府八尾市小阪合一四八). Source: advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;121. </REF> (Most Japanese camera companies were in Tokyo, with the notable exception of [[Minolta|Chiyoda Kōgaku]], later Minolta, in Osaka.) It is said that Ehira Shinjirō worked for Chiyoda Kōgaku before founding his own company.<REF> Awano, p.&nbsp;1 of ''Camera Collectors' News'' no.&nbsp;41. </REF>
* [[Weha Chrome Six II]], 1938
 
* [[Weha Chrome Six III]] or [[Ehira Chrome Six]], 1940
 
* [[Ehira Six]], postwar, reported with Lansar 85/3.5 (mistake for Lausar?), Ehira Rapid shutter
 
  
The Weha Chrome Six was distributed by [[Yamamoto Shashinki-ten]], which was probably the owner of the "Weha" brand. The Weha Light 6.5&times;9 folding plate camera is mentioned in {{McKeown}} under Ehira, but it was only distributed by Yamamoto Shashinki-ten<REF> According to [http://www.ksmt.com/eos10d/eos_nikki_body5.htm this page] and [http://www.ksmt.com/eos10d/classic2.htm this page] at [http://www.ksmt.com/ ksmt.com]. </REF> and probably unrelated to Ehira.
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It seems that the first camera designed by Ehira was the [[Weha Chrome Six]] distributed by [[Yamamoto Shashinki-ten]], notable for its coupled rangefinder device, inspired by the [[Super Ikonta]] and other [[Zeiss Ikon]] cameras. The first examples were perhaps made in Yamamoto's own workshop.<REF> An advertisement dated October 1937 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;59, mentions Yamamoto as the maker and distributor (製造発売元) of the Weha Chrome Six. </REF> Later examples have the ''Ehira KSK'' logo and were certainly made Ehira Kōki, the last ones being called Ehira Chrome Six with no mention of Weha. The name Weha certainly belonged to Yamamoto and the attribution of the other Weha cameras and accessories to Ehira is probably a mistake.<REF> McKeown, p.&nbsp;255, attributes the [[Weha plate folders|Weha Light]] plate folder and the [[Weha Six]] 6&times;6 folder. </REF>
  
A 6&times;6 folding camera has been sold at an eBay auction as a Weha Six. It had a body release, a black tubular optical finder, a 400-1-B-T shutter marked ''Kōki T.T.S.H.'' and a 75/3.5 lens marked ''Weha Anastigmat''.
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After the war, Ehira produced the [[Ehira Six]], a coupled-rangefinder 6&times;6 folder copied from the [[Super Ikonta]].
  
An accessory rangefinder marked ''WEHA'' in a box marked ''WEHA Range Finder'' has been sold at a Yahoo Japan auction. (See also [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/L1.jpg this advertisement] published in the December 13, 1936 issue of ''Sunday Mainichi'', reproduced in the [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/syasinki-c.htm camera company page] of the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website].)
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== Camera list ==
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* [[Weha Chrome Six|Weha Chrome Six I, II, III]]
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* [[Weha Chrome Six|Weha Chrome Six III New and Ehira Chrome Six]]
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* [[Ehira Six|Ehira Six IIIA and Astoria Six IIIA]]
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
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* {{Showa10}}
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* Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Weha Chrome Six" (ウエハークロームシックス). In ''Camera Collectors' News'' no.&nbsp;41 (December 1980). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;255.
 
* {{McKeown12}} P.&nbsp;255.
  
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]

Revision as of 10:19, 1 February 2007

Ehira Kōki Seisakusho (江平光機製作所, meaning Ehira Optical Works) was a Japanese camera maker before and after World War II.

The company was founded by Ehira Shinjirō[1] and was based in Yao, in the suburbs of Osaka.[2] (Most Japanese camera companies were in Tokyo, with the notable exception of Chiyoda Kōgaku, later Minolta, in Osaka.) It is said that Ehira Shinjirō worked for Chiyoda Kōgaku before founding his own company.[3]

It seems that the first camera designed by Ehira was the Weha Chrome Six distributed by Yamamoto Shashinki-ten, notable for its coupled rangefinder device, inspired by the Super Ikonta and other Zeiss Ikon cameras. The first examples were perhaps made in Yamamoto's own workshop.[4] Later examples have the Ehira KSK logo and were certainly made Ehira Kōki, the last ones being called Ehira Chrome Six with no mention of Weha. The name Weha certainly belonged to Yamamoto and the attribution of the other Weha cameras and accessories to Ehira is probably a mistake.[5]

After the war, Ehira produced the Ehira Six, a coupled-rangefinder 6×6 folder copied from the Super Ikonta.

Camera list

Notes

  1. First name: see the title of an article in Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 51, reproduced in this page as 江平真次郎のカメラ and in this page as 江平信次郎のカメラ.
  2. Its address in 1949 was Ōsaka-fu Yao-shi Kozakai 148 (大阪府八尾市小阪合一四八). Source: advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 121.
  3. Awano, p. 1 of Camera Collectors' News no. 41.
  4. An advertisement dated October 1937 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 59, mentions Yamamoto as the maker and distributor (製造発売元) of the Weha Chrome Six.
  5. McKeown, p. 255, attributes the Weha Light plate folder and the Weha Six 6×6 folder.

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.
  • Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Weha Chrome Six" (ウエハークロームシックス). In Camera Collectors' News no. 41 (December 1980). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
  • 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. 255.